Handicaps

Why Obtain A USGA Handicap Index?

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.

Having a handicap index allows golfers to participate in more events (those that require a handicap index), have a measureable means of tracking improvement, and allows score adjustments to even the playing field when playing with golfers of different skill levels.

All EWGA members have the opportunity to obtain an official USGA Handicap Index through the EWGA Golf Life Management System - newly renamed GN21 - at no additional cost. Every member who is playing well enough to keep score is encouraged to obtain a Handicap Index through the EWGA GN21.

Powered by GolfNet, the GN21 is a full featured system that enables all members to obtain an official USGA handicap. Even if you are a member at a club where you keep your handicap, we encourage all EWGA members to post through the GN21 service as well. It's free with membership, and it streamlines the handicap verification process for events.

It also gives members the ability to:

Post scores
Access 20,000+ golf course profiles
Track personal game statistics
Print a handicap card
View scoring history
Attest scores for other members
Communicate with other members, and more

And best of all, it's free to all EWGA members!

EWGA members are invited to activate their GN21 account by clicking on Activate Handicap and following the instructions for activation.

Keep in mind: Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review.

For more information on the USGA Handicap System, visit the Handicap section of the United States Golf Association website, www.usga.org.

I Don't Seem To Be Playing As Well As My Handicap Says I Should, Help...

You may be asking yourself why you don't play quite as well as your handicap indicates you should. It's really very simple, the USGA Handicap System is based on your potential ability, not on your average scores. The USGA tells us that the average player is expected to play to her course handicap only about 25% of the time.

A little math may help to explain. Only the best 10 of the last 20 rounds are used to compute your index. That means that the worst 10 scores are tossed out, so your index reflects your best days. The arithmetic comes in when the differential is calculated for each score you post. The differential is the difference between your adjusted gross score (remember ESC from last month) and the course rating. This is multiplied by 113, and then divided by the slope rating and rounded off to one decimal place.

For example, if you post 86 at Woodbridge (course rating 71.7 and slope 131), this is how your differential will be calculated:
86 - 71.7 = 14.3
14.3 x 113 = 1615.9
1615.9 / 131 = 12.34
Your differential would be 12.3.

Then, as if using ESC and the 10 lowest scores wasn't enough, your ten best differentials are averaged and multiplied by a 96% "bonus for excellence" factor. If your 12 best differentials averaged out to 12.3, your handicap index would calculate to be 11.8 using the 96% factor. Also, there is no rounding up, so if the calculation comes out to 11.89, the handicap index will officially be 11.8.

So what does this mean statistically? The USGA Handicap Research Team has determined that your best score in 20 is normally only two strokes better than your Course Handicap. The probability of doing that twice in 20 rounds is only one in 50.

As you can see, when the USGA say that your handicap index reflects your potential, they really do mean potential.

For more information on the USGA Handicap System, visit the Handicap section of the United States Golf Association website, www.usga.org.

How To Make A Handicap Correction

Corrections can be made to your EWGA score entries. The only thing you cannot do is delete scores, which the Handicap Chair can do for you.

When you need to make a correction, follow the steps below:

1. From the EWGA website, go to your GLMS profile page and click on View Scoring Record.

2. Click on the score that you need to correct or edit. This will bring up the entry. From here you can make changes on anything: tee box, score, date, course played (except the slope and rating)

3. Once the correction is made, you must click on Post Score button below to have the changes take effect. It will now show up as a modified score.

A member requesting a score entry change will be referred to these instructions so she can make the corrections. The Handicap Chair can provide assistance when needed. Members requiring a score deletion or to receive more information should email Jan Marsell.