WHS - Understanding - Official Handicap Adjustment

Thank you for contacting Golf Link regarding a review & adjustment of a players current GA Handicap under the World Handicapping System (WHS).

An Official Handicap Adjustment can only be undertaken by a players Home Club, any request for a review should be sent to that Club and they can after considering it choose to make an adjustment.

If they decide this is appropriate then they do this in their Golf Management Software, if they need assistance they can contact Golf Link.

The following is from the GA website, you may wish to review this link to the WHS Guide for further information - World Handicap System (WHS) - Golf Australia

(E) INCREASING A G.A. HANDICAP
Although the primary calculation performed by the WHS in order to determine a GA Handicap is to average a player’s current form, the basic premise of any handicap system is that a handicap should not be inconsistent with a player’s underlying ability. (That underlying ability is considered to be reflected by the player’s better performances. Although any player may lose form, it is not in the interests of equity for a GA Handicap to increase substantially due to such a loss of form.) Being mindful of this fundamental premise, Handicapping Authorities are encouraged to consider increasing the GA Handicap of a player whose circumstances reflect any of the following:
• Where a player is in the process of experiencing, or recovering from, a significant long-term injury or illness.
• Where a player has changed clubs and finds the new course to be far more challenging for them for whatever reason than the previous course.
• Where a player has been Capped due to them reaching a GA Handicap that is clearly better than any other GA Handicap they have achieved for at least two years AND that the Handicapping Authority believes was clearly better than their underlying ability.
• Where the Handicapping Authority firmly believes the player’s GA Handicap for whatever reason is not commensurate with the player’s underlying ability. 

(Note: GA encourages clubs to be especially sympathetic to the plight of a player who due to advancing age experiences a rapid deterioration of their underlying ability. It is recommended that a Handicapping Authority will move quickly to adjust a player’s GA Handicap when it has clearly established that a player is in this situation.)

Players returning to Golf after a long-term absence could also be considered for this sort of adjustment.

The Club may request the returning player submit a few Scores under their current GA Handicap and then review & adjust accordingly.

This may also lead to an adjustment down of a GA Handicap, if the players ability is found to be clearly better than that historically recorded at Golf Link.

As advised the next step for a player wanting an adjustment to be considered, would be to contact their Home Club (this is the Club that hosts their handicap and includes online Social Golf Clubs affiliated with Golf Link) who can then follow the steps and address.