Section 2 of the USGA Handicap System™
defines a golf club as follows:
A "golf club" 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 (see Compliance Checklist, Section 8-2m; Decision
2/7). A golf club must be licensed by the USGA® to utilize the
USGA Handicap System. A club can obtain a license agreement
directly from the USGA or through its membership in an authorized
golf association that is already licensed by the USGA and that
has jurisdiction in the geographic area that includes the
principal location of the golf club.
Each golf club must determine its type. A golf
club is one of three (3) types:
- It is located at a single specific golf
course with a valid USGA Course RatingT and USGA Slope Rating®
where a majority of the club's events are played and the
club's scoring records reside; or
- Its members are affiliated or known to one
another via a business, fraternal, ethnic or social
organization. The majority of the club members had an
affiliation prior to organizing the club; or
- The members had no prior affiliation and a
majority of the recruiting and sign-up of the membership is
done by solicitation to the general public (e.g., Internet,
newspaper).
Decision 2/7. Clarification of Compliance/License
Issues for Golf Club Categories Described in the Golf Club
Definition
"Principal Location" (applies to
types 2 and 3 only)
The principal location of a golf club shall be
the physical address in the city or town which the club first
identified in its application for a license to utilize the USGA
Handicap SystemT. So long as the golf club is in existence, the
principal location shall not be changed without the prior written
consent of the authorized golf association of which the golf club
is a member, or if the club is not a member of a golf
association, of the USGA®. Members of a golf club who are issued
a Handicap Index® must be from a small defined geographic area,
i.e., the residence or business address of each member of the
golf club must generally be within approximately a 50 mile radius
of the principal location of the golf club.
"Identification" (applies to type 3
only)
Each individual must provide proof of
identification and residence to the golf club in order to be a
member of the Club.
"Playing Requirements and Club Size"
(applies to type 3 only)
The USGA will consider the playing requirement
met if each member returns at least three scores played with
other club members during the season, and at least one of those
rounds is played in a club sponsored event. Anyone not meeting
this minimum requirement should be dropped from the handicap
rolls.
A golf club's size is limited: If
membership in a club exceeds the number of available tee times
offered in club sponsored events, the playing requirements cannot
be met. For example, if a club has 200 members and conducts only
eight organized events with a maximum of 15 players each, not all
members will have played in a club sponsored event.
"Group Cohesion/Activities" (applies
to all types)
In order to be able to utilize the USGA
Handicap System, the golf club must have group cohesion. Group
activities should go beyond playing in tournaments. There should
be a group orientation policy and other functions, such as group
meetings, award banquets and the like.
"Contact Information" (applies to all
types)
Contact information for each member of the golf
club must be made readily available to all members. ( NEW )
Club Compliance Checklist
Does your golf club comply as
follows:
| · Meet the USGA definition of a golf club as
defined? |
| · Have a Handicap Committee composed mostly of members
and chaired by a member? (Section 8-1) |
| · Make it possible for players to record the correct USGA
Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating with each posted score
from every set of tees? (Sections 5-2 and 8-2b and c) |
| · Require the posting of all scores made at home and
away? (Section 5-1) |
| · Require use of USGA procedures to adjust hole scores
before posting? (Section 4) |
| · Require that nine-hole scores be combined and posted
for handicap purposes? (Section 5-2c and d) |
| · Insist that the principles of
The Rules of Golf be
followed? (Section 5-1) |
| · Follow the revision schedule and posting season of the
authorized golf association having jurisdiction in the
region? (Section 8-3a and c) |
| · Ensure that all acceptable scores are entered
correctly? (Section 5-2) |
| · Perform computations and adjustments in accordance with
the USGA Handicap Formula? (Sections 8-4 and 10) |
| · Make current scoring records and a Handicap Index
listing of all members readily available for inspection by
others? (Section 6-3) |
| · Reduce or increase the Handicap Index of any player
whose handicap does not reflect the player's potential
ability? (Section 8-4b) |
| · Notify an authorized golf association when permanent
changes have been made to the golf course so that the
association can issue a new USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope
Rating? (Section 14-5b) |
| · Include the letter "L" after local handicaps
which exceed the USGA maximum limits of 36.4 for men and 40.4
for women? (Section 3-4) |
| · Utilize the current USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating
issued by an authorized golf association? (Section 14) |
| · Participation by a representative from the
golf club
in a USGA Handicap Seminar (whether conducted by the USGA or
an
authorizedgolf association
) including passing a test exhibiting knowledge about the
system? |
| · Have a signed license agreement in place with a local
authorized golf association or the USGA prior to issuing a
USGA Handicap Index to its members? |
If the answer to all questions is
"yes," the golf club is following the
USGA Handicap System
, and may issue USGA Handicap Indexes to its members.
If any answers are "no," contact the
authorized golf association or the USGA to determine necessary
action to achieve compliance.