Being that I am a golf nut....I should know the answer to this but I dont....Up until I was 22 and graduated from college..I was a member of a golf club (under the family stipulation) but now that I have graduated and am no longer a dependent, I am no longer a member, therefore, no HC privilege. I am currently in grad school but will be moving again soon and again soon after that. I have played in local tournaments but nothing that requires official handicap since december of 2006. I have decided, due to the state of my game, that I am going to try the Pub Links or US Am this year. But, I have a problem, no official handicap and I can't really join anywhere bc I will be moving often (US Navy). What would be the best thing to do..I have considered joining one those Golf Channel or Golf Galaxy "online' league type (Group 3) handicap systems but that just seems a little off to me. Or is that the only thing I can do to get an official handicap again? Thanks for any help!

If you can get 9 other buddies together and form your own "club" your club can report to GHIN.

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/gett..._golf_club.html

Then you'll have an official handicap again. I don't think it costs anything either. Otherwise, you should be able to join a club at a local course.

Not sure but the government might be able to set you up at one of their courses. If not, You could go to the closest (PUBLIC) club to your home and pay them and register. From there, you can enter your scores on the internet from wherever you are, and print out too.

JC

Most public courses will keep handicaps. You don't even have to ever play there. It costs $25 to $30. Just make sure they use the GHIN system and you can do everything on-line.

As a 28 year retired navy veteran. I would strongly suggest that you maintain a handicap at a base that you will be near or at. If you are at Annapolis maintain it there, plus they do have a golf team. You can easily transfer your handicap from home course to a new home course when your transferred. It is best to be know by the club pros as they will often have to validate your skills. Good Luck. Go Navy!

While you can create your own club and use it for handicapping through the USGA, I believe that your "club" has to be a member of your state golf association to use GHIN.

I would just sign up with Golf Galaxy.

This one is a no brainer "shipwreak"... I’m going on my 23nd year in the Navy and I’ve been stationed on 7 different bases world wide. With the exception of Bahrain I was able to keep an official handicap that was honored by the USGA. Simply join your local men’s league which will provide a handicap for you once you’ve established a certain amount of rounds. My current league charges me $15.00 a year. I’ve always been bias to military courses so joining their leagues is usually the way I go. There also seems to be less sand bagging with our leagues, maybe it’s a Honor, Courage, Commitment thing. Lastly, if you elect to keep an “unofficial” handicap through various online services for free I'd check out www.digitaldivot.com Besides being free this service also keeps all my golfing stats which is kind of cool.

One of the coolest things about being in the Navy is traveling all over the world and being able to play golf at some great courses most people only see on tv or in magazines.... How many of your buddies have played "The Emirates Golf Club" in Dubai... Or a nine hole course in a extinct volcano in Naples Italy... Bring your sticks on your next cruise and you'll see what I mean.

I've got a similar problem, as my current club isn't in appropriate partnership with my state golf association. So, to play in qualifiers for state events, I simply signed up at a local municipal course. When I play a round, it gets entered both places. I use my home club for everything else, and the municipal handicap for state GA events.