Not Keeping an Official Handicap

Naptime · June 17, 2018

Just curious how many others are in the same boat. I've never had one in the 37 years I've played. Didn't have any interest in competitive golf. The only time I ever bet is with a core group of buddies playing 4 ball teams. Usually a $1 Nassau scored both stroke and match. Presses OK. We know each others' games well after all these years. Basically 3 of us will shoot in the 90s from the whites, and one guy will break 100 only if we ignore his whiffs on the tee. If he's having a bad stretch we might play a 2 man best shot pairing him with whoever's been playing best recently.

ckaufman · June 17, 2018

I don't have an official handicap either for the exact same reason. As long as I'm not playing competitively, I just don't see the point of paying the USGA to calculate something when I can do it for free in my head.

andrue · June 17, 2018

The only reason I got one as so that I could take part in competitions and get to know other members. I play golf for enjoyment and am happy to ignore scores or just spot other players a couple of strokes.

NCLancer · June 17, 2018

I've never had an "official" handicap and was posting my scores on a Yahoo golf handicap tracker but, for some unexplained reason, they pulled the plug on that without any warning. I lost about 4 years of posts and I was/am still bitter about that.

My handicap began ranged between 20-24 but I realize it was never a real handicap. I'm in no need of one as I do not play any competitive golf.

blackngold_blood · June 17, 2018

I have never carried an official handicap and until this year it never was never necessary. I am going to St. Andrews in August and in order to play the Old Course you have to have an established handicap. So I am a little bummed about that but otherwise no big deal to me. I will probably never have one since I don't plan on making this trip again.

asimone · June 17, 2018

Have played golf for about 12 years now and only had a GHIN handicap 1 year. It was part of our Men's Club league fees and was needed for our Men's Club Championship. Since I graduated college about 9 years ago, I really only played golf 5 or so times per year so never got one. This year I've dedicated myself to playing more and I do have a handicap but it's a free one through The Grint app. Don't think I would pay for one unless I started playing in my state golf association events.

burritos4breakfast · June 18, 2018

the grint app will calculate it for free and also help you keep track of stats

CELTIC · June 18, 2018

I don't keep an official HC but I have an excel HC calculator and I've kept data for 3 or 4 years. For me it's a curiosity and since I'm about a 20 right now I won't be competing in any tournaments any time soon.

Sawgrass · June 18, 2018

IMO it's fun to have an official handicap even if you only play against buddies. Seeing if you're officially improving, seeing if you "get an extra shot today" and the like are better than making the same old guess as to "handicap" every week. It takes either a little bit of money or a little effort, but it can be worth it.

bigmoneyp · June 18, 2018

For someone who keeps track of scores but doesn't have an official handicap can you go back and enter previous rounds? If I join a club tomorrow that allows online posting can I enter my previous 20 rounds if I have all the correct information and follow all of rules of golf?

BMC · June 18, 2018

For someone who keeps track of scores but doesn't have an official handicap can you go back and enter previous rounds? If I join a club tomorrow that allows online posting can I enter my previous 20 rounds if I have all the correct information and follow all of rules of golf?

Yes, you can. Most members of country clubs keep handicaps so the can play in club events, even the social, casual events require a handicap.

The CC where I work has at least 50 events a year that requires a handicap. $25 a year through GHIN.

I keep a handicap, but I like tracking my scoring average better. It's more "real".

Augster · June 18, 2018

For someone who keeps track of scores but doesn't have an official handicap can you go back and enter previous rounds? If I join a club tomorrow that allows online posting can I enter my previous 20 rounds if I have all the correct information and follow all of rules of golf?

Yes.

If you’ve never had a cap, then you ESC those holes off of 10. If you have had a cap, you ESC off your previous cap I believe.

But yes, just input your last 20 rounds. It’ll figure it out.

Naptime · June 19, 2018

When I started playing again after 20 years away it was truly awful. I don't think official handicaps go that high. Probably 5 different swings, none good. Tops, shanks, high fly balls to the right field foul line. Shot over 120 a few times. Got in under 110, then under 100. Currently living in the low to mid 90s.

jc2 · June 20, 2018

I've never had an "official" handicap and was posting my scores on a Yahoo golf handicap tracker but, for some unexplained reason, they pulled the plug on that without any warning. I lost about 4 years of posts and I was/am still bitter about that.
My handicap began ranged between 20-24 but I realize it was never a real handicap. I'm in no need of one as I do not play any competitive golf.

Off topic I guess - But I was in the same boat. However if you log into Yahoo and then go to

https://golf.sports.yahoo.com/tracker/download

it will download your information in a csv file.

Why they don't have that nugget of info on the yahoo golf landing page I don't know...