Anatomy of a Golf Handicap
USGA Handicap SystemTM
Section 1-1 of the USGA Handicap System manual states, "The purpose of the USGA Handicap SystemTM is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis."
The USGA Handicap System manual can be found on-line at www.usga.org/handicap.
Golfer
A golfer is the entity that is assigned a USGA Handicap Index, which reflects the golfer's playing potential.
Golf Club
A Golf Club, as defined by the USGA Handicap System manual, is "…an organization of at least ten individual members that operates under bylaws with committees (including a Handicap Committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System. Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other. They must be able to return scores personally, and these scores must be immediately available for review by fellow club members."
Authorized Golf Association
An Authorized Golf Association, as defined by the USGA Handicap System manual, is "…a golf association that has jurisdiction and has been licensed by the USGA to issue USGA Handicap Indexes and/or USGA Course and Slope Ratings in its state, district or region through its golf clubs."
It is important to note that a Golf Club need not be a member club of an Authorized Golf Association (most often a state amateur golf association), nor use the Computation Provider dictated by said Association, in order to issue its member golfers official USGA Handicap Indexes.
Note: Handicomp is a strong supporter of Amateur Golf Associations, however not at the expense of a Golf Club's right to choose the Computation Provider of its choice.
Computation Providers
A Computation Provider is a company (such as Handicomp) that provides products and services to compute USGA Handicap Indexes per the USGA Handicap System formula from golf scores of a Golfer that is a member of a Golf Club. Computation Providers do not issue USGA Handicap Indexes, but instead make it much easier for Golf Clubs and Authorized Associations to do so.
Handicap Pricing ($)
Generally speaking, the cost of the Handicap deliverable consists of portions that go to the Golf Club, to the Authorized Golf Association (should the Golf Club be a member), and to the Computation Provider. As a consequence, the fees to a Golfer can range from as little as nothing to $50 per year, depending on the price as generally set by the Golf Club. The USGA charges nothing for a Golf Club to use the handicap system, as defined by the USGA Handicap System manual.
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