[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I belong to the USGA, and I am an off again, on again GHIN user. I guess it would be easier to enter scores if I played the exact same course all the time, but I don't. It's more of a hassle and now you can track it online all over the place, although not offical. I am currently using a Mac Widget that does a pretty good job.

I always wondered why the USGA doesn't embrace technology a bit more and allow members to use the internet to post their official scores and print out your handicap card once per month?

In fact, they could keep that silly golf cap they send me every year (I have never worn one in 13+ years of getting them) and offer this online service instead. I think the USGA is a bit behind the times here.

I know that the GHIN is a revenue source for golf courses, albeit not a make or breaker, but being able to add scores and get an official HC card online as a part of your offical USGA membership might help grow the game somewhat. Not to mention, you could add the scores in no matter where you are.

Any thoughts?

[Seve424]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Aug 16 2007, 07:05 AM, said:

I always wondered why the USGA doesn't embrace technology a bit more and allow members to use the internet to post their official scores and print out your handicap card once per month?

In fact, they could keep that silly golf cap they send me every year (I have never worn one in 13+ years of getting them) and offer this online service instead. I think the USGA is a bit behind the times here.

I'm not sure what you're talking about, you've been able to post scores online with GHIN for years. Then they email you your revision every month automatically. It couldn't be any easier.

And there's no way the USGA is gonna give it away, it's a money maker.

[larrybud]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Aug 16 2007, 08:05 AM, said:

I belong to the USGA, and I am an off again, on again GHIN user. I guess it would be easier to enter scores if I played the exact same course all the time, but I don't. It's more of a hassle and now you can track it online all over the place, although not offical. I am currently using a Mac Widget that does a pretty good job....


I know that the GHIN is a revenue source for golf courses, albeit not a make or breaker, but being able to add scores and get an official HC card online as a part of your offical USGA membership might help grow the game somewhat. Not to mention, you could add the scores in no matter where you are.

Any thoughts?

What does it matter if you play the same course all the time? You establish a handicap at a club, and I would think almost all of them offer online postings. So you just post online, telling the system what club you played. Just go to your local muni, pay your $25 or so, and you're done.

The whole point of belonging to a "club" is that they are SUPPOSED to conduct peer review, making sure all your score are posted and they are legit.. Some private clubs do, but I would guess 95% of the clubs don't.

I don't see the benefit to the casual golfer in getting a handicap if they don't play in tournaments or play against their buddies. I think most anyone who does that will be encouraged enough to take 5 minutes to get a handicap.

[Seve424]

You have to have peer review.

That's how clowns end up with +3 handicaps in Open qualifiers when they can't break 80.

[mcbush25]

It would be nice if they offered that, but then they would have to delegate the GHIN to different clubs so peer review could be made. That is the big thing with internet servies that provide USGA handicaps. The one I am with requires you to play at least two rounds with another club member and then in one club sponsored event.

I don't forsee the USGA doing this as they really look down on internet handicap services. Can't say I blame them though as they are hard to monitor.

[Grimace45]

Seve424, on Aug 16 2007, 08:31 AM, said:

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Aug 16 2007, 07:05 AM, said:

I always wondered why the USGA doesn't embrace technology a bit more and allow members to use the internet to post their official scores and print out your handicap card once per month?

In fact, they could keep that silly golf cap they send me every year (I have never worn one in 13+ years of getting them) and offer this online service instead. I think the USGA is a bit behind the times here.

I'm not sure what you're talking about, you've been able to post scores online with GHIN for years. Then they email you your revision every month automatically. It couldn't be any easier.

And there's no way the USGA is gonna give it away, it's a money maker.

Actually the USGA runs it as a break even operation to keep the service affordable for everyone. I think the fee at my club was $20 for handicap and an additinal $30 for the men's assoc.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Yes, I am aware of GHIN.com, I am more specifically wondering why not just include it as a service with USGA Membership?

I just think more people would use it....or even understand the USGA handicapping system.

Anyone that posts false scores is only hurting themselves. Anyone that they play with will know what they really shoot.

The game is about improvement, even if incrementally, not cheating.

[Grimace45]

The reason it is not included in the USGA membership is that the GHIN system is designed to be administered by golf clubs or golf assoc. If you just allow anyone to post a handicap without any oversight I feel that you are just breeding a culture in which a 7 is now playing in the Open qualifier as a +2. This being said it is on the clubs to be the police when it comes to handicaps and I know that my club had dq'd two members from any handicap events for violating the club's handicap policy.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Anyone can lie about their handicap to play in an Open Qualifier. That is absurd, anyone who lies and then shoots 117+ in the qualifier will just look like the fool they really are!

Are you attempting to say that people will enter lower scores just because they are not entering the scores on their course? Silly, people who want to cheat will enter false scores no matter what.

[cdesana]

There are so many options to get a valid handicap, from the local muni, to clubs with no real estate and on and on we can go..........

In my experience, people who want a valid handicap find a way to establish one, those that do not don't.

As for the handicap system and the people that use it. I personally think the system is poor at best. It is a system that tries to stop cheaters and/or sandbaggers, which we all know is impossible. If someone is set on doing wither, they can manipulate any system.

Especially one that allows you to post your own scores online.

[Grimace45]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Aug 16 2007, 09:41 AM, said:

Anyone can lie about their handicap to play in an Open Qualifier. That is absurd, anyone who lies and then shoots 117+ in the qualifier will just look like the fool they really are!

Are you attempting to say that people will enter lower scores just because they are not entering the scores on their course? Silly, people who want to cheat will enter false scores no matter what.

In my experience it has been quite the opposite and the Open was an extreme example. We have had a few members that claimed to be low single digit, when in fact could not break 80 at the club. They were low due to rounds played away from the club and with no other members to attest. The problem is that people try and inflate their handicap in order to clean up in the handicap events during the tournament season.

My main point is that if you have the GHIN system (or any handicap system) without any oversight then there are going to be a minority of people that try and manipulate the system both ways. The USGA does not have the time or man hours to police this system and that is where the handicap committee at the club should step in. Trust me I agree with you that if someone wants to cheat that they will find a way, that is just human nature.

[minitour]

I wish my club hadn't left the GHIN system. I don't play as much at my home course as I'd like and I used to be able to post online. Now, I've got a stack of scorecards on my desk because I can't make it out to post. Then when I do, I almost feel bad. I end up posting 10-12 scores at a time.....GHIN should be it.

Should the USGA give it up for members? Sure...but you'd have to pay for it. A higher level of membership if you want GHIN service.

The easier solution is just to go pay the $20 to a GHIN member club and post your scores.

-mini

[HoosierGolfer]

Grimace45, on Aug 16 2007, 07:28 AM, said:

The reason it is not included in the USGA membership is that the GHIN system is designed to be administered by golf clubs or golf assoc. If you just allow anyone to post a handicap without any oversight I feel that you are just breeding a culture in which a 7 is now playing in the Open qualifier as a +2. This being said it is on the clubs to be the police when it comes to handicaps and I know that my club had dq'd two members from any handicap events for violating the club's handicap policy.

You are correct. At my home course, you are encouraged to turn in your signed card and let the pro enter your score, however they will allow you to post your own if you want.
When you play at a course away from home, I do the same thing. I just bring in the card from that course, sign it, put it in the box and the pro post the score for me.
It is a great system. Works very well. All of the members like it. I think you have been able to post scores from home via the internet for some time but I have never really seen any reason to do it. I'm at my home course almost daily so I just let them do it.

[larrybud]

BEND OF THE RIVER GC, on Aug 16 2007, 09:16 AM, said:

Anyone that posts false scores is only hurting themselves. Anyone that they play with will know what they really shoot.

That's assuming they post lower scores than reality.

[mygolfbuddy]

We've had a lot of direct experience with this. The GHIN is restricted to clubs that go through local golf associations. These associations have a lot of autonomy. The USGA can not include it as service with USGA membership, because they have delegated authority down to the state and regional associations. The local associations collect the fee money from the golf courses for access to the GHIN system, so the system is set up so that an individual golf association must sign on with GHIN for its golfers to have access. Type III (online only) clubs operate outside of the system, and have their licenses directly from the USGA rather than from the local association.

Based on our experiences, most golfers don't know much or care much about the USGA handicapping system.