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We’ve all dreamed of beating Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam. But how? With a lot of practice, right? Or, a handicap index. The handicap system allows players of different abilities to compete against each other fairly. A portion of your best scores are used to show your potential ability.
How does a handicap index work?
- Handicaps are calculated based on a mathematical formula after you have played a minimum of five rounds and when you get 20 rounds posted, your 10 best scores.
- Your handicap is updated regularly during a playing season. In other words, golfers play in Hawaii have their indexes updated all year round; Minnesota’s golfers, on the other hand, have a season that only lasts from April – October.
You post your score every time you’ve played at least 13 holes (there are provisions made for holes you didn’t get to finish, and there’s a way to establish a Handicap Index even if you only play nine holes at a time.)
How do you establish a handicap index?
- You must be a member of a golf club. The USGA defines a golf club as an organization of at least ten individual members that have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play with each other, that operate under by-laws, that provide for peer review and have a Handicap Committee. Therefore, a golf club can be anywhere either at a public course, a private course, a business, a neighborhood, etc. You do not need a specific course to be considered a golf club by the USGA; however, you do need to meet the above requirements. For more information on forming a golf club, please go to the USGA’s Establishing a Handicap Index
There is usually a small few to get a Handicap Index, but many clubs and associations provide juniors with discounted rates or free Handicaps. For more information contact a Licensed Handicap Golf Associations near you.
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