Join the GSGA and Get a Handicap Index®!

Be part of a community of over 95,000 who are as passionate about the game as you! GSGA Members receive an updated Handicap Index®, which allows you to post your score wherever you play in Georgia and across the country using the World Handicap System.

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The World Handicap System enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis. This section of the site will help you understand why having a Handicap Index® is important. 

This information includes how to post scores and how to calculate your Handicap Index®

The links to the right include articles and resources for anyone interested in starting a golf club or for current Handicap Committee chairmen who need assistance in maintaining handicaps for their respective clubs. The current version of the World Handicap System™ went into effect in January 2024.

Table of Contents

Current Chapter:

Post A Score

To earn a Handicap Index®, a player must report all scores for all 18-hole rounds. If a player plays 9 holes or 10-17 holes, those scores must still be posted. Accurate and faithful score reporting are the most important parts of a sound handicap system.

Click here to Post a Score

The USGA requires a Digital Profile for all golfers to access and post scores through GHIN Products (GHIN.com; GHIN mobile app). If you haven’t already created one, click here to create your Digital Profile.

Score Posting Questions

Q: I made an error when posting my score. How do I correct it?
A: Please contact your Club of the GSGA and they will be able to assist you in making a correction.

Q: When posting my score, the Par and/or Course/Slope Ratings do not match the scorecard. Why?
A: The local association is responsible for issuing Course/Slope Ratings, Par and measured lengths that appear for score posting purposes. If there is a discrepancy, the course will need to work with their local association to rectify the issue.

Q: I am getting an error message when trying to post a hole-by-hole score. Why?
A: We do not have the Par or Stroke Index data available in our database for that course/tee. Please post a total score and contact your Club of the GSGA.

Q: Can I edit Stats or add Stats to my score?
A: You can edit Stats as well as add Stats to a hole-by-hole score posted within the “Stats” section of GHIN.com or the GHIN mobile app.

If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact Bryan Nelson at bnelson@gsga.org

Information for golfers who were not on the GHIN server with active status at the beginning of the revision period will not be displayed. If golfers have recently become active, they will appear in the next handicap revision. This is your Handicap Index and scoring record at your golf club based on the latest revision date. More recent scores are available through the “View 20 Most Recent” button. This service is provided by your golf association that uses GHIN — a USGA service.

If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact Bryan Nelson at bnelson@gsga.org.

Course Rating

GHIN is the largest handicapping service and your GSGA Membership includes your Handicap Index and a record of your recent scores. When you maintain a Handicap Index at a GSGA Member Club, you will enjoy the game more because you can compete on an equal level with anyone.

Click here for the National Course Rating Database.

Your Handicap Index will be updated each time you post a score. The GSGA/GHIN software package includes handicap computation, a tournament pairings program, Course Rating/Slope Database and Stroke Hole Allocation Service.

Course Rating is an important core service that the GSGA provides to its Member Clubs. The GSGA maintains accurate and up-to-date laser measurements and USGA Course Rating/Slope Rating information for golf courses in Georgia. For GSGA Member Clubs, there is no additional fee for this service.

Courses are rated at least every 10 years or when substantial changes are made to the golf course. GSGA Course Rating volunteers are trained annually to assure that their work is done in accordance with the current standards of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System.

What is Course Rating?

The USGA Course Rating indicates the playing difficulty of a course for scratch golfers under normal course and weather conditions. It is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring difficulty for the scratch golfer. This rating is often considered the “target score” for a scratch golfer (the golfer is only successful in shooting that score about 25% of the time).

What is Slope?

Slope Rating is the measurement of the relative difficulty for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to the USGA Course Rating. Calculating Slope takes into account how yardage and obstacles come into play for less-skilled golfers.

Who is a “Scratch Golfer”?

A “scratch golfer” is a player who can play to a Course Handicap of zero on any and all rated golf courses under normal playing conditions. For rating purposes, the USGA narrowly defines this golfer by the distances he is able to hit the ball. This allows the rating process to be applied uniformly to all golf courses. 

Who is a “Bogey Golfer”?

For men, a Bogey Golfer is a player who has a Course Handicap of about 20 on a course of standard difficulty. For women, a Bogey Golfer has a Course Handicap of about 24. For rating purposes, the USGA also defines these golfers by the distance they are able to hit the ball, thus maintaining consistency in the application of the USGA Course Rating System.

How often are courses rated?

The USGA requires a course rating update at least every 10 years.

The World Handicap System enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis. This section of the site will help golfers understand why having a Handicap Index is important. There are links to the World Handicap System Manual, the handicapping equivalent of the Rules of Golf and a Course Handicap Calculator to allow players to convert their Handicap Index to Course Handicap for any course that has been properly rated. The current version of the World Handicap System went into effect in January 2024.

Handicap Index Calculation 101

9-Hole Scores

Adjustment of Hole Scores

Course Handicap and Playing Handicap

Posting Scores

Fundamentals of Handicapping

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