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From Brooke,
golfer: |
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"My husband asks, 'without joining
a club is it possible to achieve an accurate PGA handicap?' Can you help
with this question?" |
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PGA/LPGA
TEACHING
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSES: |
California
"Brooke: you are looking to get a USGA handicap which is
nationally recognized as the United States Golf Association and Royal and
Ancient of Scotland are the governing bodies for all the rules &
regulations in golf worldwide. You have to join a local association that
assigns you a number and computes your handicap. Some ranges here in So
Cal have this service so you don't have to be a member of any club. We
also have 2 membership associations that have satellite clubs (not
associated with a golf course but privately formed) that can be joined or
formed. The fee is generally minimal for handicap service only here. Check
with your local associations."
- Kati
Biszantz, Teaching Professional |
California
"Go to the USGA (the United Stated Golf Association) web site and
they will instruct you. It is the USGA (not the PGA) who issues recognized
handicaps. They may charge a fee or they may instruct you to join a men's
club at a public facility who will charge a fee of about $40. Once you're
in, you're in!" - David
Ruvolo, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"There are many driving range facilities and public golf courses
that provide a handicap service for a nominal fee." - Andrea
Drake, Teaching Professional |
Florida
"Yes. You should be able to find a course or club that will put you
in their handicap system for a fee. Several here in Florida do so
for a charge of $40 or so. If you cannot find a club in your area, try
http://womensgolf.about.com/library/essentials/blhandicap.htm."
- John Brott,
Teaching Professional |
Nevada
"Of course! You do not have to join a club to develop and have an
official handicap. Play ten rounds at certified courses. Have
your cards signed by the Head Professional. Calculate your handicap
considering each course's slope. If you need assistance, ask one of those
Head Pros who signed your cards. They will be glad to help. Best of luck!"
- Karl
Fischer, Teaching Professional |
New York
"If you're looking to establish a USGA handicap, you only need to
seek out your local public course with the USGA handicap system, pay a $30.00
annual fee and now you're on your way."
- Kevin
Huggard, Teaching Professional |
North Carolina
"Yes it is possible. You can establish your handicap at a daily
fee golf course. You might have to pay a fee for the service." - Ben
Hynson, Teaching Professional |
Pennsylvania
"Brooke, he can see if the facility he plays at frequently has a
USGA
Handicap system that they use. If they do, he should be able to purchase
to
use their system for the year. I know here in PA, the GHIN Handicap System
can be used by non-members of the facility for a yearly fee." - Trent
Gray, Teaching Professional |
Rhode Island
"Yes you can get one without joining a club. Have your husband
go to a public course near you and see if he can pay a fee to join
their handicap system better known as the GHIN system. Then all he has to
do is keep ten cards from where he plays then he goes back to the computer
at the club and can plug in the scores with the slope and index. I am at a
public club and we charge a fee to get on the system per year." - Susan
Bond, Teaching Professional |
South Carolina
"Brooke: There are some public and semi private courses that
offer there regular players an opportunity to maintain a "USGA"
handicap. A good place to start looking is http://www.usga.org/handicap/index.html.
This site should answer a lot of your questions about what a handicap is,
how to establish a handicap, and why a handicap is important to maintain.
To find a course near you that your husband can contact about establishing
a handicap, go to http://www.thewsga.org/WSGA/MemberClubs.asp.
Fortunately for golfers, the USGA does a great job with it handicap
program. Hopefully, you can find a club that is affordable, or has a
handicap membership program that your husband can participate in. Good
Luck!"
- John
Hughes, Teaching Professional |
Texas
"Brooke: You can establish a USGA Handicap at most public courses
also. They will need 20 scores to get you rolling. They also will probably
charge a nominal fee. Glad to hear your husband wants a handicap." -
Dave Baron,
Teaching Professional |
Washington
"It's hard to find a club that will only let you have a handicap
at that club. The best way is just to call around your local courses and
find out if you have to join their association to get a handicap. If they
will let you, you can post from all the other places you play." - C.
Jon Knight, Teaching Professional |
