Official USGA Handicaps should be issued through compliant Clubs

The common golfer believes that the USGA Handicap System is a mathematical exercise,  however it is a lot more than just that. The system relies heavily on peer review to ensure the veracity of the information.

That’s why the USGA Handicap System requires you to be part of a compliant golf club to be able to have a USGA Handicap Index that is compliant with all guidelines.

What is a USGA Golf Club?

A golf club is a group of at least ten golfers  that regularly play together and operate under the club bylaws and a Handicap Committee that supervises all golf activities.  However, you don’t need to own or be located at a golf course to form a golf club. The USGA establishes three types of clubs:

quoted from the USGA Handicap Manual (www.USGA.org)

Type 1. The members of a Type 1 club are located at a single specific golf course with a valid USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating where a majority of the club’s events are played and where the club’s scoring records reside; or

Type 2. The members of a Type 2 club are affiliated, or known to one another, via a business, fraternal, ethnic, or social organization. The majority of the club members had an affiliation prior to organizing the club; or

Type 3. The members of a Type 3 club had no prior affiliation and a majority of the recruiting and sign up of the membership is done by solicitation to the public (e.g., newspaper, Internet).

As mentioned before, members of the golf club should have opportunities to play regularly together and review each other posted scores (peer review) to ensure accuracy of Handicap. It also requires one representative, called the Chairperson, who is in charge of overseeing all golf activities.

How can I be part of a Golf Club and obtain a Complaint USGA Handicap Index?

Well, the easier answer is to become a member of a private club. But that’s expensive, and frankly with so many good public golf courses, who wants to attach themselves to only one golf course.

For those who are not part of a private club the answer is easier than it looks (if the appropriate platforms are set in place). For example, when you signed up to TheGrint you are automatically assigned to a 50 mile radius area which has the potential to form a USGA Club.

Once that determined area has 10 or more members the area becomes eligible for registration of a type 3 golf club. At that point, one of the 10 or more members of the area should be designated the Chairperson. Then the club is registered and peer review can happen automatically through all the tools offered by TheGrint at the USGA Club section. Once the club is registered, your Handicap Index will be compliant with USGA regulations.

NOTE If you are part of an area who has 10 or more members waiting for a Chairperson, and you want to postulate your self, simply write us at contactus@thegrint.com and let us know. You can see the Chairperson duties here, you will find that is extremely easy to be a Chairperson given the tools that TheGrint provides. 

This USGA Clubs section is extremely important because without the clubs the Handicap Index is not really doing what is supposed to do. Remember, the USGA Handicap System is not simply a mathematical exercise, instead is a methodology that relies heavily on peer review.

Let us know if you have any questions at contactus@thegrint.com

Enjoy your golf!