Old Course/general handicap question

[Hawkeye77]

According to the USGA website once a person has posted 5 adjusted scores a handicap will be issued with the next revision date. Being kind of a belt and suspenders person I thought I'd check into a couple of things because it looks like an extended family member who can play pretty darn well but has never maintained an official handicap may be joining us on The Old Course as a result of someone we planned on meeting us there likely not being able to go. He won't have any trouble finding a club through which to do this, but:

 

1. Have others noticed in practice that once those 5 rounds are posted issuing occurs as a matter of course? (Just building in a margin for error/procrastination factor, lol).

 

2. Is the "card" good enough, i.e., beyond that courses that require a minimum handicap don't look into some other minimum round standard? (I know what their rules say, but just asking in case anyone has seen it work differently in practice, or if I've missed a distinction somewhere).

 

 

Thanks!

[davep043]

I'm pretty sure that once your friend's name is in the computerized handicap system (whether his area uses Ghin or some other in-house system), and he enters scores, he will be searchable through the computer, and his handicap will be published once he has the minimum number of scores in. He'll probably need to go to the pro and have a card printed out, they don't do that automatically like they did a couple decades ago. Once he gets to the Old Course starter, one look at the handicap card is all that the starter will do. One thing to remember, if you have your tee time through the advanced reservation system, I believe they want notification about any change in your group. I have no idea how rigidly that might be enforced, but I'd be sure to strictly follow all of those rules just to feel safe.

[Hawkeye77]

Thanks for the reassurance!

 

And yes, they say the first name substitution, if we need it, is free but must be made up to 7 days ahead (well, any substitutions, but additional ones have a charge). Good reminder.

 

Really hoping the substitution doesn't have to happen, but odds are it will and I guess the silver lining will be the person who gets to fill that time will definitely enjoy it and we will enjoy his company if he can make it, but not what was originally conceived for that part of the trip.