USGA Handicap

[awright87]

Question: Do you have to be a member of a golf club in order to have a USGA handicap?

[Shindig]

Yes, but the definition of "club" is incredibly loose. It doesn't mean you need to join a country club, or even a club that has a golf course. I'm a member of a club that plays primarily at one public course and isn't affiliated. I pay $125/year for membership, and that includes the SCGA (USGA affiliate) membership for GHIN handicap tracking. Some golf shops even have "clubs" that charge $40/year and give you only a handicap. Whether or not that is worrying with regards to the "peer review" portion of handicap validity is sometimes debated, but they're recognized.

[Fourputt]

Question: Do you have to be a member of a golf club in order to have a USGA handicap?

For 22 years I was a member of a men's club that played tournaments at a public course, but was not affiliated with the course.  Now I have joined an association in conjunction with my Colorado Avid Golfer Passport to keep a GHIN handicap.  Most regions have an association of some sort available that will allow them to maintain a legitimate handicap.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by awright87

Question: Do you have to be a member of a golf club in order to have a USGA handicap?

For 22 years I was a member of a men's club that played tournaments at a public course, but was not affiliated with the course.  Now I have joined an association in conjunction with my Colorado Avid Golfer Passport to keep a GHIN handicap.  Most regions have an association of some sort available that will allow them to maintain a legitimate handicap.

Same here.  I have to select a host club, but post my scores on the GHIN site.

[DrvFrShow]

I'm a member of the ladies club at a local course, but I see you can get a card at the local Puetz Golf and ProGolf Discount Stores for $30.

[dkolo]

It's kind of crazy that it costs as much as it does to get a handicap. Where does that money go to justify $40+ for the ability to enter scores into a rudimentary website? Golf Digest offers the same thing for free; it's just not official.

[GHIN0011458]

It's kind of crazy that it costs as much as it does to get a handicap. Where does that money go to justify $40+ for the ability to enter scores into a rudimentary website? Golf Digest offers the same thing for free; it's just not official.

It goes to the operational costs involved with the website. $40 is a round of golf so you can be established. Here it is only $30 though at any local course.

[dkolo]

It goes to the operational costs involved with the website. $40 is a round of golf so you can be established. Here it is only $30 though at any local course.

You say it's only a round of golf. I say, I can't believe it costs as much as a round of golf to get a handicap. The GHIN website is really basic. It doesn't strike me as something that requires tremendous overhead, at least not enough to justify that high a cost. $30 times however many handicaps every year is a big chunk of change they have coming in. I just sort of question why it's as high as it is is all. Another way: if I paid $30-$40 a year for this, I'd not feel I was seeing where my money was going and consequently getting my money's worth. I'd be happy to hear a better answer for why it's as expensive as it is when the technology seems to have made the system pretty straightforward.

[GHIN0011458]

You say it's only a round of golf. I say, I can't believe it costs as much as a round of golf to get a handicap. The GHIN website is really basic. It doesn't strike me as something that requires tremendous overhead, at least not enough to justify that high a cost. $30 times however many handicaps every year is a big chunk of change they have coming in. I just sort of question why it's as high as it is is all. Another way: if I paid $30-$40 a year for this, I'd not feel I was seeing where my money was going and consequently getting my money's worth. I'd be happy to hear a better answer for why it's as expensive as it is when the technology seems to have made the system pretty straightforward.

Okay well it is a USGA service- so some pennies of that go to the US Open winner :). I have no problem with paying for a GHIN. It is sort of like buying a fishing license. A lot of that money goes back to the conservation department. I see it as a donation and in turn I get a service. I may not agree with everything the USGA does, but they do govern golf in the United States and I think that it is important.

[DrvFrShow]

$30 is a week's worth of lattes.

[GolfLug]

$30 is a week's worth of lattes.

Whoa! That's a lotta' lattes for some!

[Pretzel]

You say it's only a round of golf. I say, I can't believe it costs as much as a round of golf to get a handicap. The GHIN website is really basic. It doesn't strike me as something that requires tremendous overhead, at least not enough to justify that high a cost. $30 times however many handicaps every year is a big chunk of change they have coming in. I just sort of question why it's as high as it is is all. Another way: if I paid $30-$40 a year for this, I'd not feel I was seeing where my money was going and consequently getting my money's worth. I'd be happy to hear a better answer for why it's as expensive as it is when the technology seems to have made the system pretty straightforward.

It's the USGA handicap service, so it's not directly going towards the GHIN program. A lot of it goes to hosting their other tournaments, such as the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open as previously mentioned, as well as any administrative costs within the USGA.

[dkolo]

It's the USGA handicap service, so it's not directly going towards the GHIN program. A lot of it goes to hosting their other tournaments, such as the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open as previously mentioned, as well as any administrative costs within the USGA.

My understanding of the new TV deal the USGA signed with FOX to carry the Open has them flush with money. I think it was $100 M per year for 12 years. Certainly not needing outside funding to help defray the costs of the tournament.

[GHIN0011458]

My understanding of the new TV deal the USGA signed with FOX to carry the Open has them flush with money. I think it was $100 M per year for 12 years. Certainly not needing outside funding to help defray the costs of the tournament.

Obviously you are too worried about anyone making money off of you. That is like saying you won't buy a hammer for $12 because it only costs $2 to make? We are talking about $30 here.

[dbuck]

I did not participate last year, so they may have gone up, but the club I used prior to that only charged me $20, and I think that was the GHIN fee. The deal is for the fee, whatever it is, your handicap is official and recognized by most anyone that would use it.

[dkolo]

Obviously you are too worried about anyone making money off of you. That is like saying you won't buy a hammer for $12 because it only costs $2 to make? We are talking about $30 here.

That's a poor analogy. The USGA is purportedly a non-profit whose slogan is "For the Good of the Game." Which is why I'm questioning their motivation behind seemingly overcharging for something that's pretty much an item whose costs are minimal at scale.

[GHIN0011458]

That's a poor analogy. The USGA is purportedly a non-profit whose slogan is "For the Good of the Game." Which is why I'm questioning their motivation behind seemingly overcharging for something that's pretty much an item whose costs are minimal at scale.

I also am under the impression that the club may get $5-$10 for having you as a "member" of that course. Technically a Pro is supposed to sign off on scorecards. Also, if they are a non-profit, then I thought they would have to get all of their money off of their books at the end of the year- I could be wrong on that though. Anyways- you are still worried about a $30. Either pay it, or don't.

[dbuck]

Just because an organization is a not for profit doesn't mean they don't need to make money. I am sure they make a profit on many things; they have to in order to do the things they don't make a profit on.

You are not paying them for the service of calculating your handicap; you can do that with a pocket calculator. You are paying for the privilege of printing out that little card that says USGA on it which makes your handicap official. Although, the actual GHIN website is rather easy, it has most courses in it and they send emails when it updates.