grinter001
3 minutes
Most people track their golf handicaps just because they want to keep track of their game or because they want to be able to bet with their friends. Some others need a compliant USGA Golf Handicap Tracker because they compete in USGA sanctioned events, or are part of organized leagues that require official handicaps.
The first step is to find a website that provides compliant handicaps. For those of you to ask why not use GHIN, well the answer is simple, GHIN doesn't need to work hard to get golfers, so they don't deliver a great product. So while the calculation will be correct, everything else is just not good enough.
There are basically two main pieces needed for compliant Handicaps. The first one is the "Handicap Formula" (calculation methodology), and the second one is the "Oversight of Golf Activities".
Most websites offer to help with the "Handicap Formula" piece but not the second piece. That is of course because it is easier to do. However, without oversight, the handicap is difficult to trust.
The USGA requires that handicaps should be issued by compliant USGA registered golf clubs. Those clubs work as micro-communities of golfers who oversee that everyone is being truthful to the handicap system (which makes it difficult to cheat).
It defines 3 types of Compliant Golf Clubs. Type 1 is the most common, which is a golf club that is being managed from a Golf Course. On the other hand, type 2 is a group of golfers who know each other and have the chance to regularly play together. Type 3 is for golfers that do not necessarily know each other previously, but that has the chance to play with each other.
We at TheGrint help our members in creating and managing their own Type 2 and Type 3 clubs. When our members sign in they are automatically assigned to a Type 3 golf club based on their zip code.
Please let us know if you have questions about any of these topics.
Enjoy your Golf!
