Can you get an official golf handicap without being a member of a club?

Answer 1

You have few options:

1) join a club

2) join a club which offers basic membership for handicaps and possible reduced green fees. e.g. Silvermere

3) EGU option

4) Use one of the various online handicap companies which charge £25 (give or take a few quid) e.g. Elite Golf solutions

5) Use one of the free online systems. e.g. Punk golf magazine online

Answer 2

Quoting the "USGA Handicap System", Part II, Section 3, The Player:

"3-1. Obtaining a USGA Handicap Index

In order to obtain a USGA Handicap Index, golfers must join a golf club and post their adjusted gross scores. These scores are subject to peer review. After at least five scores have been posted, the club will issue a Handicap Index to the golfer in accordance with the USGA Handicap System."

Join the USGA (a great value) and you get the full set of rules of golf and can easily obtain the above mentioned book.

By the way, a golf club does not necessarily mean a private golf club; it just refers to a group that has been sanctioned to track handicap indexes. It is no big deal and the book explains the whole process.

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The USGA is the governing body of golf, but they do not actually issue handicaps. Handicaps are issued by clubs that are licensed by the USGA to offer handicaps. By the way, a golf club does not necessarily mean a private golf club; it just refers to a group that has been sanctioned to track handicap indexes.

Thus, you have a few different options available to you:

1. You can join an online service that has these groups and does the calculation for you.

2. You can go to a local public club and they will track it for you.

3. You can do a rough calculation at home using excel - however, it doesn't account for all the exceptions that must be taken into account (e.g. playing in a tournament, 9-hole course) and becomes a pain as you have to recalculate every time you play.