Golf Ireland offers WHS flexibility on Playing Handicap allowances

Golf Ireland wants to help golfers and club better understand the WHS. Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Golf Ireland is set to launch a new campaign in the coming weeks aimed at helping golfers and clubs fully understand the World Handicap System™ (WHS™).

Ahead of this initiative, golfers across Ireland may already start noticing one change, as new options relating to Playing Handicap™ allowances become available to clubs, introducing greater flexibility to club competitions.

The measure, which gives Clubs options to increase or decrease the Playing Handicap allowance in their competitions, is being rolled out following feedback from club officials and golfers, including through a tracking survey conducted by Golf Ireland in 2024.

While the options will be available from 1 April 2025, clubs will have ultimate discretion in whether they adopt a change – and may decide to retain the current Playing Handicap allowance for their club competitions. Likewise, a club may decide not to introduce a change immediately, but on another date following 1 April.

In singles counting competitions, the current 95% allowance for Playing Handicaps can be increased to 100%, or decreased to as low as 85%, at the club’s discretion.

In this regard, the measure responds to feedback Golf Ireland has received through its annual tracking survey which strongly suggests that golf clubs want additional options to address local issues they might have with the application of the WHS, and that in a number of cases clubs have found that lower handicappers are struggling to compete in club competitions – and in some cases playing less competitive golf at club level as a result. 

The change is being rolled out in Ireland with the agreement of the other Home Nations, England, Scotland and Wales, with a decision to follow ahead of the 2026 season on whether to roll it out across GB&I fully in 2026, potentially with additional options depending on feedback received.     

The option to amend the Playing Handicap allowance can also be applied to four-ball competitions.