Getting a handicap

chasm · March 17, 2008

if you're not a member of a club

I am arranging for a group to play a number of courses later in the year. Some of those courses will ask for handicap certificates to be shown by visitors. As a group it is fair to say we are of very mixed ability and some are part-time enthusiasts, not GolfWRXers, so don't have official handicaps.

I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to get a handicap if you're not a club member. In England you can submit signed cards from casual rounds to the English Golf Union who will then issue a certificate. Is there a similar system in the US? We have one party member who is based around LA - Orange County - and I was wondering if how he could get a handicap?

Also, if any other UK members have experiences of similar, non-EGU, schemes, then please let me know.

Thanks

mjc694 · March 17, 2008

most places will offer you a USGA handicap for about 40 bucks a year. You can post online from just about anywhere. Go to your local muni, or to a local golf shop, and inquire. Also check out www.ghin.com

good luck.

johnnylongball · March 18, 2008

Hi. I live in Tennessee and am going to Scotland later this year and had the same question as you. I am not a member of a club and needed a handicap certificate for the Old Course.

The Tennessee PGA has a list of all courses and services that accept online handicap posting. I signed up for one for $25. I recommend you check and see if your friend in California can find a similar list on the California PGA website.

chasm · March 18, 2008

thanks guys

oregongolf · March 18, 2008

They can try joining Golfnow's players club. I think it's like $50.

Pinehurst1999 · March 18, 2008

www.golfhound.com

Free to keep your scores and handicap...upgrade to official USGA is about $25-30/year. My buddy has just used a printout of the last 20 rounds and the handicap that it lists. I have one with my private club...but I still list all of my scores on golfhound as well.

haroldminer · March 21, 2008

You can use Yahoo...

http://golf.sports.yahoo.com/tracker

kinneywhat · March 21, 2008

My club membership includes an online handicap. Just enter your scores after each round. You can break it down by hole, total score, some other stuff. Figures...... I haven't golfed outside in a while and can't remember the website.....

Anyway, I've never been to a course that asked for proof of handicap. I've had starters ask our handicaps and thent ell us which tees we could or couldn't play, but never been asked for proof. Maybe I've just never had the chance to play at courses quite that fancy.

As others have said, there's a ton of online services that range from $15-$50/year, depending on how detailed you want. I've used ones in the past where I entered everything, including, putts, GIR, fairways hit, recoveries, sand shots, etc, then broke down my whole game into multiple handicaps, corresponding to iron play, driving, short game and putting. That was a cool one, but I don't use it anymore.

chasm · March 25, 2008

Again, thanks to all for the contributions.

Kinneywhat - the courses we are going to play do demand to see certificates (unhelpfully stuffy attitude but there you go) hence the question!

kinneywhat · March 25, 2008

Again, thanks to all for the contributions.

Kinneywhat - the courses we are going to play do demand to see certificates (unhelpfully stuffy attitude but there you go) hence the question!

I wasn't doubting you, I was just saying that I've never seen or heard of that before, for a casual round. Live and learn, I suppose. Like I also said, you're probably headed to higher end courses than I typically play, or for that matter, have ever played.

Goodluck choosing a handicap program. There's plenty out there.