| Commencing January 1, 2006, the USGA published | | | | and do not have access to a posting kiosk can do so |
| new guidelines in the USGA Handicap Manual on | | | | anywhere the Internet is available;o Tracking a |
| forming a "golf club" and attaining a sanctioned USGA | | | | complete history of scores ensures that a golfer can |
| golf handicap. Forming such a golf club is relatively | | | | monitor trends. For better or worse, those trends are |
| easy and free. It is important for golfers to understand | | | | inputted in to build a plan for game enhancement;o |
| the new regulations and take advantage of the new | | | | Playing in local, state and national tournaments are now |
| rules in order for them to have greater access to a | | | | available with the new handicap rules from the USGA. |
| USGA golf handicap index over the Internet. | | | | Online golf handicap services offer the player the |
| One of the most important new rules established by | | | | ability to print an up to date golf handicap card |
| the USGA is that golf clubs can be effectively virtual | | | | complete with a sanctioned USGA handicap. Players |
| and not associated with a green grass physical | | | | only need to submit the printed card into the |
| location. This means that golf clubs can now be | | | | tournament office to play in those events;o Other |
| created by members and can be accessed | | | | statistics such as game correlation, par percent, |
| throughout a local community online. These virtual club | | | | average putting per game, per hole, average drive |
| members may not initially know each other prior to | | | | distance and more are available on many advanced |
| joining the golf club and are solicited by an online | | | | services;o Equalizing a game with others so players |
| service can obtain a sanctioned USGA golf handicap | | | | can adjust the scoring when playing with players of |
| online. | | | | unequal skill. |
| In this regard, the USGA has allowed for three types | | | | Experienced golf handicap services allow golfers who |
| of golf clubs to coexist equally and offer a handicap | | | | live within a 50 mile radius of an established virtual club |
| and each club must determine its type and they are; | | | | which has been created by either existing or newly |
| 1. It is located at a single specific golf course with a | | | | formed golf clubs. Golfers join clubs simply by inputting |
| USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating where | | | | a zip code of the golfer's home or place of business |
| a majority of the club's events are played and the | | | | and the online systems of the leading online handicap |
| club's scoring records reside; or | | | | services assigns the golfer to the appropriate virtual |
| 2. Its members are affiliated or known to one another | | | | type 3 golf club within seconds. |
| via business, fraternal, ethnic or social organization. The | | | | Peer review is established by accessing online tools |
| majority of the club members had an affiliation prior to | | | | which show all golfers statistical history in the club |
| organizing the club; or | | | | including; rounds played, scores, USGA handicap and |
| 3. The members had no prior affiliation and a majority | | | | other pertinent information. Further, a committee and |
| of the recruiting and sign-up of the membership is done | | | | chairman are established to ensure additional |
| by solicitation to the general public (e.g., newspaper, | | | | governance. As well, each golfer is solicited to play |
| Internet). | | | | with at least one other golfer in the club three times in |
| It is the type 3 club which is of special interest to the | | | | a year and play in an organized club event in order to |
| every day golfer who does not have access to a | | | | comply with the USGA guidelines. |
| private country club membership. In fact, almost 80% | | | | For those members who do not live within a 50 mile |
| of all USGA handicaps are associated with member | | | | radius of an established club or do not have an interest |
| of such private clubs, leaving only the remaining 20% | | | | in a USGA designation, leading Online services offer a |
| for the general public golfer. Further, historically, private | | | | Recreational Handicap (which may not be used at a |
| membership represents less than 20% of the general | | | | USGA sanctioned golf tournament) with the same |
| golfer population which is estimated to be around | | | | features and benefits including; trending reports, |
| 26,000,000 in North America. Said another way, over | | | | performance analysis, golf handicap, and other |
| 20,000,000 golfers did not have access to a valid | | | | statistical and tracking information. Whether the golfer |
| USGA golf handicap in the United States and Canada | | | | seeks a USGA or Recreational handicap, the cost of |
| because they are not members of a private golf club | | | | membership is typically very inexpensive and can be |
| (type 1). | | | | an important component of monitoring and bettering a |
| The new regulations allow for online golf handicap | | | | golfer's game through personal analysis. |
| services to flourish since it reaches the masses of | | | | Handicapping has come a long way and 2006 is a |
| golfers through the Internet. Benefits for such online | | | | break away year in that the USGA has broadened its |
| golf handicap services include;o Posting your scores | | | | scope by allowing the general golf community to |
| are accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. | | | | create and manage online clubs. |
| Traveling golfers as well as those who play for fun | | | | |