Here in Connecticut, like other states that get fairly cold in the winter, the USGA's GHIN service defines an "Active Season", which is the only part of the year in which you can post scores that you shoot in that state. (Connecticut's active season runs from April 1 through November 10 this year. If I play a round in Florida in December, I must enter it, if I play that same December round in Connecticut or other nearby states, I can not enter it.)

So here's my philosophical question: If I shoot a personal best round at a Connecticut course on November 11, does it really count as my personal best? Or is there an asterisk in my record book? A related question is why does the USGA prohibit entering scores during colder weather anyway? Is it presumed to be too easy to go low on short, hard dry fairways in the winter? Too hard to find your ball under fallen leaves? What's the story?

I think it has to do with the fact that while the elements do come into play to a certain degree, play is suspended when the elements reach a certain point. That certain point is nearly omnipresent during the times outside the "active season".

To expect someone to play by the rules to post a legitimate score when there is a significant likelihood of there being any combination of snow, leaves, wind, cold, muddy fairways and dormant grass, is asking a little much frankly. While one of those elements may be present at any given point during the "active season", it is highly unlikely they all will.

Just not right to expect someone to post a score on a day when 50* and sunny would be considered miraculous weather.

A lot of courses also take the tees off the tee boxes....some play alternate greens.....so you are not playing the "actual" golf course during these winter months.

Hey, great thought.

As for the asterisk, even though the USGA/GHIN would disagree,
I think you need to make that decision for yourself. You will just know
how accurate or not. Of course, a new course record, would not count.

However, it was your Florida comment that really caught my eye.
I, too, live in New England...so by December, if not sooner, lets just say...
not much, if any, golf. Keeping sandbagging thoughts in mind...
Is it fair to my eventual competitors in April, for me to post a round playing
in Florida after a couple of months away from the game?
There is no way I will be anywhere near *sharp*, and will no doubt score
much higher than normal. This could very easily *raise* my handicap
higher than it should honestly be (depending on number of rounds played in Florida,
and which scores get replaced).

Since I usually do get a chance, at some point over the winter to actually do this,
in equity, and for the sake of my game, I only play practice rounds in this scenario...
whether multiple balls, or whatever....determined long before I get to the course (State)...
so not postable anyway. I feel better doing it this way, than I would if this caused
an artificial inflation of my handicap.

But wouldn't you be more sharp than you would be if you didn't play at all? It seems like you could take a high score in Florida knocking the rust off there or post some high scores in NE if you hadn't been playing in FLA at all as you knock the rust off there...

Seems fair to post to me...

Absolutely understand what you're saying.
But after the Florida, squeeze it in with work golf, I'll have almost two months before
the competition begins, so what rust I do knock off, does to some degree return.
And, its not like I just go tee it up in April for competition...I do begin practicing daily,
and playing when I can, weeks before any event. So I don't *think* I get any benefit
from the Florida golf, other than the enjoyment of being on the course.
(and out of the cold and snow )

Fortunately, this is a philosophical discussion, and I just feel better erring
on the side of having a lower handicap than I deserve ( with the disadvantage)
at the start of the net events, than any thought of perhaps my handicap is too high.

Regarding the observations that winter often brings temporary greens or tees, thereby justifying the decision to make an official season limit, it seems to me that a sounder way to address that is simply to disallow scores on courses that have those conditions rather than all courses. Th0se conditions sometimes come up during the season, without prohibition -- at least to my knowledge.

Which makes me wonder if there is an offical USGA policy regarding posting scores on courses which have some temporary greens or tees. Last year my muni course was making a major alteration to the tee on a relatively short par four, and put the temp tee way forward at the bottom of the hill the original tee resided on. Made the hole 215 yards. I put my "drive" on and sunk a 12 footer for eagle. Talk about an asterisk in the record book! Making it even worse is the fact that the 17th is a 217 yard par three, two yards longer than the par four I "eagled".

To those who are tempted to avoid posting a score because they generously feel that doing so might artificially raise their handicap, I disagree with doing that. The handicap system is by no means perfect, just like golf isn't. But it has rules, and the rules require you to post when playing a legitimate round. If that happens to benefit you, to me that's no different than an occasion when casual water happens to let you drop in the fairway when you were in the rough. Good breaks are permitted! Anyway, while your intentions are pure, you open yourself up to critisism if you don't post, so IMO you should simply follow the rule and take whatever advantage you happen to legally get. You can't really be sure if it will help or not in advance anyway, and deciding after the fact raises a whole new philosophical discussion.

In any case, I'm still confused as to whether the USGA feels courses are too easy or too hard in the winter -- temporary tees and greens excepted.