A pilot scheme in Ireland is giving golf clubs the power to alter Playing Handicaps from April – and the rest of GB&I will soon follow suit.
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
Golf clubs will soon be able to change handicap allowances in competitions in a major World Handicap System upheaval in Great Britain & Ireland.
From April 1, competition and handicap committees in Ireland will have new powers over how they use the Playing Handicap in singles competitions, as well as fourball stroke play, Stableford and V-Par events.
Golf Ireland are piloting measures agreed with Golf GB&I, which has replaced CONGU in administering WHS in the four home nationals. England Golf, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf are set to follow suit in 2026.
The Playing Handicap is a golfer’s Course Handicap adjusted for any allowance. Designed to provide equity, high profile allowances include 95% in individual stroke play and Stableford events and 85% in fourball stroke play and Stableford. In GB&I, these allowances have previously been mandatory.
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But in an apparent acknowledgement of criticisms from low handicappers, who have argued they are disadvantaged in competitions under the present arrangements, Golf Ireland will now allow clubs to modify the Playing Handicap in a number of ways from the start of next month.
In singles competitions, which count for handicaps, clubs can:
- Keep the current allowance of 95%
- Reduce that allowance to 90% or 85%
- Increase the allowance to 100% of the Course Handicap. This would remove the Playing Handicap
For fourball stroke play competitions, including Stableford and V-Par where scores can sometimes count for handicaps, clubs can choose to:
- Keep the current allowance of 85%
- Reduce the allowance to 80% or 75%
- Increase the allowance to 90%
In a notice to clubs and members, Golf Ireland said feedback they had consistently received shows clubs wanted more options in competitions.
“Moreover, a similar trendline in the feedback has indicated that lower handicappers in a number of clubs feel less competitive as a result of the changeover to WHS, and in some cases are even less inclined to play in club competitions,” it states.
“In these circumstances, the option to lower the Playing Handicap allowance is one that club committees may wish to consider.”
Conversely, a higher allowance might be considered in smaller fields where there is not the breadth of difference between the lowest and highest handicaps.
Golf Ireland are advising it is “probably desirable” – should clubs wish to utilise the new options – to apply a new Playing Handicap to all competitions “in most cases to give players clarity”.
But they say it is also at the discretion of the committee and they could apply different allowances to different competitions, or take a different approach to men’s and women’s competitions.
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“Whatever approach is taken, the decision should be made following consideration of the size of fields and the spread of Handicap Indexes in order to rationalize their decision.”
As for the rest of GB&I, David Kernohan, head of commercial and partnerships at Scottish Golf and a board member of Golf GB&I, explained why the rest of the home nations are set to bring in the changes in 2026.
He said: “Golf GB&I made the decision at a recent board meeting to move from mandatory playing allowances to recommended allowances.
“This was based on a recommendation from the GB&I Technical Handicap Advisory Group who based this on data research since the implementation of WHS and feedback from golf clubs and golfers.
“Golf Ireland will be piloting the change in 2025 with England, Scotland and Wales implementing the change in 2026.
“We believe this change will allow golf clubs to set the relevant competition allowance based on the handicap make up and field size of each competition providing the best chance of creating equity in their events.
“There will be specific guidance to help support golf clubs on making the best decision. By piloting this in Ireland first it will give the home nations the chance to look at competition data from this phase to ensure we get the recommendations and guidance as accurate as possible before implementing across the whole of GB&I.”
For more information, visit Golf Ireland’s handicapping resources and download the Handicap Allowances Guidance March 2025 document.
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
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