About E-Golf Handicaps

For golfers looking to establish a handicap...

The process is simple and comprises the following steps:

Select the type of handicap you would like to have: E-Golf Network™ individual handicap or USGA club handicap. Please note that to obtain a USGA handicap there are certain rules and requirements including being a member of a golf club that has at least ten members and a handicap chairmen. Also, be aware that the E-Golf Network will be adding the computation formulas for the Royal Canadian Golf Association and Congress of National Golf Unions in the 3rd quarter this year. To learn the differences in these systems, click here: E-Golf Handicap Formula.

If you would like an individual handicap which reflects your current ability vs. potential ability, you will have the ability to determine your own formula by selecting from :

A) Select the course you play at most frequently (Home Course).
B) Maximum rounds to use in handicap calculation.
C) Index adjustment based on a reduction of your scores and par. Note the USGA uses .96.
D) Whether to use exceptional tournament scores posted to give greater value for those rounds.

For a USGA club handicap, at the E-Golf Network site you will be able to obtain a USGA Club Handicap providing your club meets certain requirements.

We will take you through the necessary steps to create your club :

Reviewing information on the requirements to form a club.

Club Formation.

Entering at least ten members.

Selecting a handicap chairman.

Creating information to provided your club members as part of the USGA required annual notice to members.

E-Golf Handicap Formula.

The focus of the E-Golf Network is on the growth of the game. We accomplish this by serving as an electronic bridge from the entry door of the game to the traditional forums successfully serving the dedicated golfer.

Services provided to golfers include :

Individual handicaps based on a formula selected by the golfer.
A handicap computational service for clubs seeking to fully comply with the USGA Handicapping System (USGA).

The most frequently used handicapping system is in the world is CONGU (Congress of National Golf Unions). Their Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme was adopted in 1983 in Australia and is now utilized in all countries except for the United States and Canada. The RCGA (Royal Canadian Golf Association) also has a handicapping system with a different formula.

Out of the 26.7 million golfers in the United States, only an estimated 5.2 million have USGA Handicap Index.

Why doesn't everyone have one? Possibly because the USGA Handicapping System requires a golfer to be a member of a validly formed club of at least ten people that meet the following criteria:

The members have the opportunity to play golf with each other frequently.
A person, who is not an employee of the club, has been selected as Handicap Chairman.
An annual notice, explaining the policies and procedures of the club and how to post scores, has been distributed to each member.

These rules are designed to ensure the presence of "peer review," the foundation of the USGA Handicap System in which each golfer's potential is accurately measured.

The E-Golf Network created a second handicap system to provide individual golfers, the estimated 80% of the nation's golfers who do not belong to a club, a frame of reference to measure their progress and enhance their enjoyment of the game.

The two systems must be sufficiently distinct to ensure the recreational handicap does not infringe on any trademarks of GHIN or USGA. Therefore, we are publishing the formulas used by the E-Golf Network and the USGA below :

The differences in these handicapping systems are summarized below :

Description	E-Golf Network	USGA	RCGA	CONGU
Name	Index	Handicap Index	Handicap Factor	Handicap
Systems designed to measure	Actual Ability	Potential Ability	Potential Ability	Actual Ability
Basis for Calculation	Length / Par	Course Rating	Course Rating	Competetion : Scratch Score
Components	Length / Par	Length and Difficulty	Length and Difficulty	Length
Slope Adjustment	No	Yes	Yes	No
Rounds Included	10 of 20 recommended, though golfer selects whatever they prefer.	10 of 20	10 of 20	All
Minimum Number of Rounds to Obtain Handicap	1	5	5	4
Rounds Eligible	All recommended though golfer selects whatever they prefer	All	All	Qualifying Competitions
Multiplier	1.00 recommended. Golfer selects	.96	.96	None
Equitable Stroke Control	N / A	Yes based on limit on raw score	Varies based on limit on strokes over par	None
Tournament Weighting	No	Yes	Yes	No
Rounding Factor	To Hundredths	To Tenth	To Tenth	To Whole Number for Playing Handicap
Bias	Favors: No one. However, depending on the type of competition, the player with a great variance in their scores has a greater probability of prevailing.	Favors: Better player by one stroke for each 8-stroke difference in the handicap index between the players.	Favors: Better player by one stroke for each 8-stroke difference in the handicap index between the players.	Bias: steady golfer with narrow variation in scoring

What are the differences in the handicaps? The E-Golf Network will produce a higher handicap, depending on the variability of the scores posted by the golfer. Estimated variances are:

USGA Handicap	E-Golf Network Handicap
0 - 5	1/2 to 1 strokes higher
6 - 10	1 to 1 1/2 strokes higher
11 - 20	1 1/2 to 2 strokes higher
21 - 30	2 to 2 1/2 strokes higher
Over 30	3 or more strokes

Which one to use? Simple. If you are an individual just looking to track your own scores, then the E-Golf Network Handicap is perfect.

However, if you are a member of a golf club that has more than 10 members, are looking to play in an organized golf tournaments and are willing to the abide by the provisions of the USGA Handicap System, then the USGA handicap is your best choice.

Top

E-Golf Network Club Compliance Please use the following information to verify that your handicap club conforms to the minimum requirements of a valid USGA approved handicap club.

Formation of Club : Club must meet the following requirements
	Club will have at least ten individual members.
	Club will operate under bylaws and have committees to supervise golf activities, provide peer review and maintain the integrity of the USGA System.
	Club members will have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other.
	Club members will have the ability to return scores personally.
	Returned scores are immediately available for review by fellow club members.
	Club has a handicap committee.
	The majority of the club handicap committee are current members of the club.
	The chairman of the handicap club is a member of the club.

Operation of handicap committee : The club handicap committee will be required to perform the following duties
	Prior to season, handicap committee will send notice to members outlining the USGA Handicap season, stressing the importance of reporting all acceptable scores and describing the policies of the handicap committee.
	The handicap committee will advise members of the following : How and were scores are returned How handicap cards or labels are issued How Handicap Indexes are verified at each revision The handicap revision schedule as determined by the authorized golf association The duration of any inactive season established by the authorized golf association How away scores are posted prior to the start of the active season Handicap Index adjustment powers of the handicap committee (USGA Handicap Manual Sections 8-4 and 10-3) Penalties for players failing to return scores (USGA Handicap ManualSection 8-4(iv) Which rounds will be designated as tournament scores
	The USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating from every set of tee-markers will be printed on the club scorecard and be posted in a prominent place at the club.
	The handicap committee is responsible for posting these tables in the clubhouse, and for displaying copies of these tables on or near the first tee of every course at the club.
	The handicap committee will post course handicap tables based on appropriate USGA slope ratings.
	The handicap committee will compare posted USGA course ratings with those of other course
	The Handicap committee will examine the results of all competitions.
	The handicap committee will make current scoring records of all players in the club available to all members.
	The handicap committee will communicate promptly with new members to obtain scoring records and the corresponding USGA Course Ratings and Slope Ratings.
	The handicap committee will retain scoring records of a member who resigns for at least one year in the event his new golf club should need it.
	The handicap committee will review the accuracy of scoring records and information entered by the handicap computation service.
	The handicap committee will issue every player a USGA Handicap card or label on which his USGA Handicap index is recorded.
	The handicap committee will periodically check and consult with other club committees regarding the allocation of handicap strokes. Top

For golfers looking to establish a handicap...

E-Golf Handicap Formula.

E-Golf Network Club Compliance