First tournament handicap?

[cirem22]

I have never played in a tournament but would like to in the future. I know that your scores are adjusted with your handicap. My question is, how do they figure your handicap on the first tournament? or even first few tournaments if you do not have an official hanicap.

[Fourputt]

In most cases you aren't going to be allowed to compete until you have returned at least 5 scored for handicap. That is the fewest that the USGA will allow to compute a handicap index. My Men's Club has an Associates program where you can have them manage a handicap for you even if you aren't in the club. Most guys who apply to join will register in the associates and get their handicap established before becoming active members. I think that the charge is at $35 now for handicap maintenance. Active club members pay the same handicap fee, but it's just part of our $110 annual dues.

You need to contact whoever you will be playing the tournaments through, and find out what their policy is and how you can establish a handicap that they will recognize.

[Big_M]

depends on the tournament... each have their own methods... also, some tournaments are flighted, some are net.

You could just get a USGA handicap and not have to worry... various places will do it from $10-50 a year.

[cirem22]

okay, sounds like for the most part i need an established handicap prior to playing a tourny with either local association or the USGA. Thanks guys

out of curiosity, what was your handicap when you first entered tournaments?

[Lefty-Golfer]

i think it was 14 but you will see al kinds of numbers. be prepared for the sandbagging comments if you play well. just smile and buy the guy a drink.

[Fourputt]

okay, sounds like for the most part i need an established handicap prior to playing a tourny with either local association or the USGA. Thanks guys

I was a 16, but I established it a year before I joined the Men's Club and started playing tournaments. I think I played most of that first year to around an 18 or so. The club has members from near scratch well into the high 30's. Most of our individual stroke play tournaments are flighted.

[mdl]

I've never played a tourney, so I don't know the ins and outs. But a buddy just joined the men's league of a local course in order to start playing tourneys. But he didn't have an official handicap when he joined. They let him play before he established a handicap, but he had to play with a scratch handicap his first tournament, and then they used his couple rounds from that tourney to start his official handicap.

[Big_M]

I first played in a tournament at around 12-15... not including JV HS matches. I still don't have a USGA handicap, but I have been tracking it with software for 3-4 yrs. The two amateur tours I play with are flighted and I have a handicap established with them by playing in events. The one just started and has scores from several semi-formal games we played last year, the other just asked me and put me in the proper flight (they will move you up or down based on how you do).

[cirem22]

Would you guys suggest joining a mens club at my local course as the best way to start playing in tournaments?

[meenman]

out of curiosity, what was your handicap when you first entered tournaments?

i'd rather not give the exact number but lets just say i had a net hole in one on a par 4

[The Road Dog]

Would you guys suggest joining a mens club at my local course as the best way to start playing in tournaments?

That sounds like the easiest and quickest way to establish a useable HC.