Best/easiest way to keep a handicap?

[flgolfer1]

After about a decade break from the game other than the occasional once a year round I am getting back into the game. I escaped the golf hell of DC back to central Florida and playing 1-2 times a week. I am consistently breaking 80 but would like to get back down to 70-75 rounds and start playing in Florida state amateur tournaments just for fun. My last competitive rounds were in high school so I never had or needed an official handicap. All that to say what is the easiest and best way to keep an official handicap? I went on the Florida State Golf Association website but it seems like you need to belong to a club to use the online program?

 

Any tips and tricks? Trying to do it by joining as few associations or programs as possible. Thanks!

[cpeck]

i use diablo golf, you can print a card out from the website and log everything else through the app.

[SNIPERBBB]

Just have to get a handicap membership at any usga sanctioned club.

[Newby]

> @cpeck said:

> i use diablo golf, you can print a card out from the website and log everything else through the app.

Don't you need to join one of the DiabloGolf golf clubs?

 

[BiggErn]

The grint app

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Any public course should be able to set you up with a GHIN account for $30-$60 per year. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

[cpeck]

it registers you to a club depending on location. free and easy to use. > @Newby said:

> > @cpeck said:

> > i use diablo golf, you can print a card out from the website and log everything else through the app.

> Don't you need to join one of the DiabloGolf golf clubs?

>

 

 

[GaHack1]

I would go with the FSGA, I know in Georgia the GSGA gives you a lot more with the handicap.

 

"The FSGA is pleased to offer online USGA GHIN Handicap Indexes through its website. You'll automatically be enrolled in a FSGA Type III Club in your area (must have a Florida address listed on your FSGA account) and will be assigned a GHIN Handicap® by email confirmation. "

[Augster]

If you plan on playing qualifiers for state ams etc., you’ll need to join a member club or start your own.

 

There are “online” clubs you can join, I’m sure, that will give you a Florida official handicap and make you eligible for qualifiers.

 

If you just want to track what your cap would be, thegrint.com does a great job.

[Z1ggy16]

Grint app.

[James the Hogan Fan]

As other's have said, you need to join a club of some kind for your handicap to be 'sanctioned' for competition purposes. If you just want to keep track of it yourself for fun, I'd just write an excel sheet for it. (PM me if you want mine)

[flgolfer1]

Thanks all, so is a club a "golf club/course" or is that term just being used as you have to join a group of people in a club of some kind? That confuses me because the FSGA site seems to say I just need to pay them $40 and I will be able to track my handicap through them but then I keep seeing that I need to belong to a club... I just place public access courses.

[GaHack1]

The FSGA will assign you to a class 3 club.

"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) and where the members do not exhibit any regularity of play at any specific golf course. The residence or business address of each member of the golf club must generally be within approximately 50 miles of the principal location of the golf club."

[SnapHooker_307]

> @BlackDiamondPar5 said:

> Any public course should be able to set you up with a GHIN account for $30-$60 per year. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

 

You are 100% correct. I moved a couple years ago and didn't know which course I was going to join so I kept my handicap at my former "home" course. It was only a couple hours away and I still played it frequently. Even though I was no longer a member, I was able to maintain my handicap there until I joined a course and transferred it this year.

[Divdevil]

Another question if I can jump in on an existing thread:

 

I’m thinking of getting a range membership with a local course. I rarely play but go to the range 3-4 times a week. Does that count as membership and can that club keep my handicap? Also, can I turn in rounds from other courses to count towards my handicap?

[Imp]

> @Divdevil said:

> Another question if I can jump in on an existing thread:

>

> I’m thinking of getting a range membership with a local course. I rarely play but go to the range 3-4 times a week. Does that count as membership and can that club keep my handicap? Also, can I turn in rounds from other courses to count towards my handicap?

 

Generally not the same as you're not actually playing the course, if you're only on the range. You should talk to the course to see if they have a mens club (usually $30-$60) so when you do actually play this and other courses, you can submit the scores. If not, ask around at other courses you frequent.

 

--kC