How to Get a Golf Handicap Card

A golf handicap card verifies your USGA (United States Golf Association) Handicap Index. A handicap card is needed to play in most amateur golf and local tournaments. The Handicap Index measures a golfer’s ability and levels the playing field between golfers of different skill levels. The USGA develops the formula and establishes the procedures for calculating Handicap Indexes. The actual Handicap Index is calculated through local golf associations licensed by the USGA. The local golf association then issues the handicap cards to their members.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Membership in USGA-licensed golf club

1. Join a golf club or local golf association licensed by the USGA. You can also start a golf club instead of joining an existing one. Check with the USGA for the requirements for starting a new golf club.

2. Post at least five golf scores using the paperwork provided by a member club of the local golf association. Make sure all rounds are played under the USGA “Rules of Golf.”

3. After the next revision date in your area passes, your local golf association will issue your handicap card. To find out the revision dates, go to http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/understanding_handicap/handicap_revision_schedule.html.

4. Continue to post golf scores. After you post twenty scores, the golf association uses your top ten differential scores to calculate your Handicap Index. If your Handicap Index changes, the local golf association will send you a new card.

5. Get the USGA course rating and USGA slope rating for any course you play that is not your member club. You can usually find this information on the scorecard provided by the course. Post this score at your member club to be included in your Handicap Index.

Tips & Warnings

• Many local golf associations are using online systems to record and verify handicaps instead of paper cards. Check with your local golf association to determine if they use paper cards or online verification.
• A golf club is defined as group of ten people who operate with bylaws and committees. Golf club members should have the opportunity to play golf regularly with each other. The club also must have a Handicap Committee to organize the Handicap System. Once a golf club meets these USGA requirements, it can become licensed to use the USGA Handicap System. A golf club does not have to have a clubhouse or a golf course to become licensed with the USGA.
• You should post all scores each time you play golf. It is not ethical to turn in only high or only low golf scores to influence your Handicap Index.

Resources

• USGA website

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