Colorado Golf Association Handicap

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides a fair Course Handicap for each player, regardless of ability, and adjusts a player's Handicap Index up or down as the player's game changes.

 

A USGA Handicap Index is issued through a licensed golf club such as Coal Creek Golf Course.

To establish your golf handicap through Coal Creek Golf Course you first fill out an application and pay the $45 fee. Then you must play a minimum of five 18-hole rounds, or 10 9-hole rounds,at a course with a USGA Course Rating™ and Slope Rating® (see chart below) during the active season and post your scores.

 

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GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) is a handicapping service provided by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to participating associations and clubs. Golfers post scores under the USGA Handicap System, and GHIN tracks those scores and updates the golfers' handicap indexes. Associations and clubs sign up to use the service, allowing their member golfers to post scores, calculate handicaps and retrieve handicap information online, from any computer. Using the Handicap Lookup page anyone can search for the handicap index of any golfer you know carries a USGA Handicap. 

 

Tournaments often ask for a GHIN number because the GHIN system enables golfers, who are members of a regional association, lookup each other's handicap, or enter scores from a course computer.

The handicap index is annual subscription and goes through January 1-December 31st every year. You only need one subscription even if you play at different golf courses around the country. Each state has a different handicap season and details can be viewed here. New handicap indexes are reviewed on the 1st and 15th of every month. Depending on when a handicap is submitted it can take up to two weeks to receive your valid GHIN index. Once your handicap is established it is set as long as you renew your handicap every year.