Do You Have An Official USGA Handicap?

[ragontona]

Just curious about this, and I'm not sure if it's been covered before. A lot of people I know actually don't carry a USGA handicap index, and usually figure out their average scores in relation to par and give that number (added: which is wrong, as we should know). Or they use an unofficial handicap tracker found on-line...

How about ya'll?

[rembrandt]

I'm working on mine now as we speak but you can't just go by the "par for the course" on the scorecard. You have to figure in the "Slope" and the "course rating". Both apply to your real handicap!

[BigAl5150]

I never had one before this year but finally joined the Golf Galaxy Golf Club which uses NGN . Nice when people ask you "what is your handicap" you can actually give them an answer instead of some BS of "well, I'm about a . . . "

[georgep]

I'm using the Golf Galaxy club as well. It's nice for those of us who don't play the same course all the time. Golfsmith also has one now.

[thehillgolfer]

i dont have one but i want one...i just dont know where/how to get one...since i cant get one through my muni and we dont have any golf galaxy or golfsmith around here

[Maverick]

...since i cant get one through my muni and we dont have any golf galaxy or golfsmith around here

If your muni has a men's club you should be able to get one. Is there one of those computers at your club where people are punching in their scores? if so you should be able to get an index, but probably have to join the men's club.

[thehillgolfer]

If your muni has a men's club you should be able to get one. Is there one of those computers at your club where people are punching in their scores? if so you should be able to get an index, but probably have to join the men's club.

nope, theres not...not a computer(except the one i use to do tee times and the such) or mens club. most people that play there are members at another course, but play there cuz its in town and reallly cheap. is there any way i can get an official handicap over the internet or through the mail? cuz i would really like to play in some state junior tourneys but they require an official handicap

[Jeepthrills]

I joined the Golf Association of Michigan and they allow online posting from any rated courses on their list. Which, I have yet to find one not on list. I had to select a home course/club. I signed up at a large off course golf store similar to a Golfsmith or Golf Galaxy. I can go to the website and post my scores. I have a card and get my twice monthly update stickers. The membership was $20 and well worth it.

[ragontona]

Another nice place online to get a USGA handicap index is at nethandicap.com. Signing up for the site automatically joins you to a virtual club of players in your area. However, in order to retain your handicap the following year, you have to play at least three rounds with another member of the club. Not too hard to do.... what I did was got three of my friends to sign up, and I meet the requirement easily.

[thehillgolfer]

but you still have to pay right?

[ragontona]

but you still have to pay right?

For nethandicap, yeah, but it's pretty nominal. Can't remember exactly, maybe 20 or 30 bucks.

[DDBowdoin]

I also use nethandicap... its a cool service but you don't get a GHIN number so signing up for Mass. golf tournaments was difficult for me..

[rmgators]

I also use nethandicap... its a cool service but you don't get a GHIN number so signing up for Mass. golf tournaments was difficult for me..

How difficult?

[chingali]

Being an Aussie I have an AGU handicap, not a USGA one. This links gives a pretty good overview of our handicapping system > http://www.golfvic.org.au/dir127/vga...t_HCap_Changes

From what I can gather, our current handicapping system here in Australia tends to give us a few more strokes to play with than do your USGA ones, for example an AGU handicap of 10 is about equivalent to an USGA handicap of 8 or so the common theory goes.

We've had something called Golflink up and running for about the last 3 or 4 years http://www.golflink.com.au/ and it's been a great system. Most clubs are hooked up to the system, after every competition round your scores are entered in to the golflink system and within a few hours of the competition being over everyones handicap has been updated. Members of participating clubs (and it's just about all of them) have a card you swipe when playing in Open Day comps at other courses, it's a good system that keeps everyone pretty honest. You can also log in to Golflink at any time via the internet and check your handicap as well as view a list of all the scores you have had entered.

[MaRx]

I carry my card with me.. I just put the updated stats on

[BigAl5150]

i dont have one but i want one...i just dont know where/how to get one...since i cant get one through my muni and we dont have any golf galaxy or golfsmith around here

The Golf Galaxy I picked is 45 minutes from my house so you should be able to pick any of the three in Virginia (Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach) and then just sign up to be part of their club ($30). Its all done online so you don't have to live close to a GG. I was able to pick a course that is close (20 minutes) from my house but I haven't played it yet this year. I've only played one course that wasn't on NGN. NGN also has different clubs you can join up as well. PM me if you want more details . . .

[UpandDown]

Another way is to form your own golf club. It takes a minimum of ten golfers, and you must play at least three rounds with some of the group, as well as one "sanctioned club" tournament... to be held by your club. The set-up fee is $100, and you can get the information at USGA.org. I may not have captured the language of the USGA rules, but I am in the ballpark.

It seems fairly simple to arrange a club with your golfing friends who do not belong to a private club. I used the Golf Galaxy system last year and it is very easy and affordable.

[Trick Shot]

I think Im too young to get one.