New World Handicap System is no elixir to golf’s perennial Handicapping ills

Nyeri golf club's handicap 6 caddy Bernard Karigu in action during the Mount Kenya Championship February 3, 2020. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

There is a lot of excitement and anxiety in our golf circles about the new World Handicap System. The positive thinkers understand that the WHS is a way of providing an adjustment, or some equalization to our golf courses since, unlike Soccer or Tennis, no single course is exactly like the other one.

For a long time, golfers have complained of the inaccuracy in assuming the equality in similar numerical Handicaps issued by different clubs. For example, a Handicap 15 issued at the hilly and slope Vetlab course cannot be the same as one issued at the relatively flat Thika Club Course. Neither can a 5-single handicapper at the relatively Railways course be deemed to have similar abilities and proficiency as a 5-Handicapper rated on the longer Limuru Course.