WHS 2026: what has changed and what it means for your handicap

The World Handicap System (WHS) is a living system. That is to say: it evolves with insights from practice. In 2026, two concrete changes have been introduced that directly affect how qualifying rounds are played and how your handicap can be calculated. No fundamental overhaul, but updates that, if you want to play qualifying cards all winter long, are definitely relevant.

Change 1: Preferred lies year-round qualifying

From 1 January 2026, a new NGF policy applies: if a club has put the local rule "Preferred Lies" (Model Local Rule E-3) in place, the round counts as qualifying all year. That used to be different. Before 2026, clubs that introduced the preferred-lies rule outside the winter season had no certainty that qualifying conditions would be preserved.

In concrete terms, this means: if your club decides in November to allow Preferred Lies due to heavy rainfall or frost damage, and you play a round under those conditions, that score still counts towards your handicap.

What exactly are Preferred Lies?

Preferred Lies is the informal name for the local rule that lets you place the ball, within a certain distance, on a better lie on the fairway. The rule is intended for extreme course conditions such as persistent rain, thaw or heat. Clubs may not automatically introduce it from November to May; there must be demonstrable widespread extreme conditions.

What does not change?

If a flag is on a temporary green (winter green), the course is not qualifying. That stays unchanged. Also: Preferred Lies on its own does not make the course qualifying, that requires the combination of Preferred Lies AND the right course conditions based on Model E-3.

Change 2: more flexibility in playing handicap allowances

In Great Britain and Ireland, a broader change was introduced in April 2026: clubs can adjust the playing handicap allowances in singles competitions. They may choose 85%, 90%, the current 95%, or even 100% of the Course Handicap (in which case the playing handicap concept effectively disappears), as National Club Golfer reported in April 2026.

This change is not yet in force in the Netherlands. The NGF is following the developments, but has not introduced a comparable change for 2026. Dutch players therefore do not need to worry about this in the short term.

How does the handicap calculation in the WHS still work?

For anyone who wants to refresh the basic principle: the Handicap Index is the average of the 8 best score differentials from your last 20 qualifying rounds. You calculate a score differential as follows:

Score Differential = (113 / Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC)

The PCC (Playing Conditions Calculation) adjusts the daily result based on how all players that day performed on the same course. That value only appears the next morning, so your handicap is initially provisional and becomes final overnight.

What if you don't have 20 scores yet?

The system also works with fewer rounds. The table below shows which scores are taken into account:

This makes the system accessible for new players who are still building up.

Soft cap and hard cap: protection when the handicap rises

If your handicap rises compared to your lowest index of the past year, the caps kick in:

• Soft cap: when there is a rise of more than 3.0 strokes above the Low Handicap Index, the further rise is slowed by 50%.
• Hard cap: the maximum rise above the Low Handicap Index is 5.0 strokes. Above that, the handicap does not rise further.

These mechanisms have not changed in 2026 and remain in force unchanged.

Annual handicap review: the MOT remains

Besides the automatic calculation, the handicap committee of your club performs an annual review, Golf.nl aptly described this in January 2026 as an 'MOT for your handicap'. If your played level deviates significantly from your registered index, the committee can intervene mid-season or at the end of the season. That applies both to declines and to rapid progress.

What does this mean for beginners and new players?

If you are just starting out in golf, the WHS works in your favour: you build up a handicap with your first qualifying scores, you don't have to wait for 20 rounds before your index is visible, and 9-hole rounds also count.

For anyone who wants to take that first step, getting an official NGF registration and a GVB, Zalm Golf offers a direct route. With an NGF registration for €66 per year you immediately have access to the GOLF.NL app to submit qualifying scores and track your handicap. No club membership is required, and you benefit from 15% off at 27 partner courses.

For beginners and students who want to start golf cheaply, this is one of the most accessible ways to play officially registered.

Summary of the 2026 changes

The 2026 changes are limited in scope, but the adjustment around Preferred Lies is practically relevant for anyone who wants to play qualifying year-round. For Belgian players who are also active in the Netherlands, it is also useful to know that the system works on the same WHS principles on both sides of the border, although there are local differences in policy. Read more about this in our comparison of earning your GVB in the Netherlands and Belgium.