Updated 10th May 2021

In order to familiarise yourself with the new World Handicap System (WHS), we request that you read the CONGU document “Rules of Handicapping – Player Reference Guide”. This document can be found at the following link

The complete CONGU WHS Rules of Handicapping document can be found at the following link:

A Player’s Responsibility:

Under CONGU WHS “Rules of Handicapping”, a player’s responsibilities can be summarised as follows:
• To act with integrity by following the Rules of Handicapping and to refrain from using, or circumventing, the Rules of Handicapping for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage,
• Attempt to make the best score possible at each hole,
• Submit acceptable scores for handicap purposes as soon as possible after the round is completed and before midnight local time (either via the SGC Members’ Hub or Mobile Phone App, or HowDidiDo (HDID) Website or App),
• Submit acceptable scores to provide reasonable evidence of their demonstrated ability,
• Play by the Rules of Golf
• Certify the scores of fellow players.

A new member (player) with no handicap: to get your first handicap you will need to complete 54 holes of golf (this may be any combination of 18- and 9-holes*) with your card marked by someone who understands the Rules of Golf and has a WHS Handicap Index. *Note that only Holes 1 – 9 constitute a qualifying 9 hole course for Handicap purposes.
Currently, only scores from qualifying individual competitions and pre-registered General Play rounds (called Supplementary Scores in the previous system) are acceptable for handicap purposes.

The Club procedure for acceptable scores in General Play:

All Pre-registered General Play scores must be played under qualifying competition conditions and to the Rules of Golf. If in doubt, the Pro Shop will be able to advise on whether the course is a qualifying course on that day and which tees to play off.

The player must sign-in before playing to pre-register their round either in the Pro-Shop or foyer using the Touch Screen Terminal or using the HDID or Club V1 Members App. There is no charge for submitting a pre-registered General Play score card.

The scorecard must identify the player’s name, date, course handicap and a score against each hole and be signed by both player and marker. For identification purposes, the marker must also print their name on the scorecard. Non-return scorecards (marked NR) must also be signed and returned. The marker shall be a person who has witnessed the round and has a WHS Handicap Index.

Upon completion of the round, the player shall enter their gross score at each hole using the Touch Screen Terminal in the foyer or via HDID and put the signed card in the box attached to the terminal stand in the foyer, or as otherwise directed.

Please note that if you register for an acceptable round on the Touch Screen Terminal, you may not be able to record the score via the App. Therefore, if you believe you will complete your round after the pro shop and clubhouse have closed, you should ensure you register on the App and not on the Touch Screen Terminal.
Under WHS, all scores for handicap must be submitted electronically before midnight on the day of play.
Under WHS it is possible to submit a card for handicap at an ‘away’ club. This can be done using the software at the club you are playing to pre-register your round (you may need to know your CDH number) and then add the score, or by using the My England Golf (MyEG) App.
If using the MyEG App, you must pre-register before play, selecting the course and tees being played. On completion of the round, the gross score is entered directly into the App and the marker should be identified. There must be 2-step verification by a marker. The marker then must verify the score and sign electronically in their own version of the EG App. If there is a correction, then the player must amend and resend via the App.

It is the responsibility of the Club’s Handicap Committee to complete the Annual Handicap Review, as necessary. This review will be completed at a time convenient to the Handicap Committee but, generally, it will be performed in the last quarter of each year.

Handicap Index Adjustments may be applied by the Handicap Committee in exceptional circumstances where a player’s handicap does not truly reflect their playing ability.

Exceptional Scoring Reductions (ESR) may be applied for players who submit scores resulting in a Score Differential 7 strokes or more lower than their Handicap Index.

In the event that the Handicap Committee decide, after review, to adjust (or not) a player’s Handicap Index and the player does not agree with the decision, then the club will follow the England Golf Handicap Appeals Procedure, a summary of which can be found at the following link: