Golf already has a unique set of playing, equipment and amateur rules, governed by the USGA and the R&A.
There were six different index calculation systems in the world: Golf Australia, the European Golf Association, the Council of National Golf Unions, the South African Golf Association, the Argentina Golf Association and the United States Golf Association.
Each helps to ensure fair play at local level, but each produces different results when calculating players' indexes.
The R&A and the USGA, in collaboration with all the federations, have proposed and enabled the harmonization of a worldwide system. The seminar for Africa was held in Marrakech.
The role of the WHS is to unify existing systems into a single one that will :
Enable golfers of all levels to play and compete on a fair and equitable basis, in any format, on any course, anywhere in the world;
Meet the varied needs and expectations of golfers, golf clubs and governing bodies around the world by adapting to all golfing cultures.