I've been playing for about a year and want to try my hand at counting my rounds for a handicap.

Looks like most of the private clubs and the municipal courses here use the GHIN system, so that's the one I want to use.

Some newbie questions:

- Bad time of year to play with some of my friends- they're all kinda busy... can I play a round by myself or do you need someone to attest your score?

- Can you submit previous rounds or do they have to be entered the day they are played?

- Are there benefits with going with another service, or is GHIN the best?

- Can I enter my rounds myself with GHIN, or do I just submit my scorecard to someone in the golf shop who handles it from there?

You are required to enter all rounds that are played according to the Rules of Golf. This includes rounds with your foursome or alone.

You can submit rounds that are within your area's season. For example, in Ohio, I can enter scores from March 19 to October 31 and you can enter them whenever. I had 5 scores stockpiled that I entered when I started my HCP. Rounds outside of your area's season do not count toward your HCP.

I'm sure most places have you enter your scores yourself. They may have a computer there for you to do it and they may even let you post them via the Internet.

1: yes you can post a round as a single.

2: yes you can submit prev rounds they do not have to be posted day of

3: Ghin is the best since it is an official usga recognized handicap unlike some of the free online handicap trackers such as yahoo etc.

4:You enter the rounds yourself through either the computer at your home club or through the website

Your bolded text is NOT correct. If you play in Florida in January and are from a State in which Jan is inactive, you still need to post that round. From the USGA handicapping manual:

Handicapping FAQs

Section 6

Posting a Score During an Inactive Season

Q. Can a player post a score during the inactive season of the player’s home club?

A. Some authorized golf associations set active and inactive seasons for clubs to follow in their area. If a round is played on a course that is observing an inactive season, that score is unacceptable for handicap purposes. However, if a member whose golf club is currently observing an inactive season plays at a course observing an active season, that score must be posted to the scoring record.
For example, if a member of a golf club in Michigan plays golf in Florida in January, the scores from Florida are acceptable, and must be returned to the club in Michigan.

The player has a few options when posting the score. First, the player may be able to post as a guest on the club’s computer if the two clubs use the same computation service or through the IGN network if both clubs use a handicap service that subscribes to the IGN. Second, if the player’s home club has approved Internet posting, a score may be posted back to the home club via the Internet. Third, the player can keep a copy of the score and the ratings and post when the player returns to the home course no later than the start of the active season.