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Info about NGN

This section is plagiarized from CinciGolf.com - covering Cincinnati, Dayton, and southwest Ohio. A great resource.

Why do golf handicaps even exist?

"The purpose of the USGA Handicap System™ is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides fair Course Handicaps™ for players regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s Handicap Index™ up or down as one’s game changes."

Why would I want to maintain a handicap?

• Maintaining a handicap allows you to monitor the improvement in your game. You can keep a record of only your total scores, or you can keep track of things like total putts, greens in regulation, sand saves, fairways in regulation, driving distance, etc. You can also enter your score hole by hole each time you play, and receive statistics about pars, birdies, bogeys, average putts per round, etc.

• Maintaining a handicap allows you to convert your index handicap to a specific handicap for each particular course you play.

• Maintaining a handicap allows you to play a fair competition against any level of golfer. The difference between the handicap of the better golfer and the handicap of the weaker golfer determines how many strokes the better golfer has to "spot" the weaker golfer.

How do I get a handicap?

Most golf courses, golf clubs, and country clubs provide the opportunity to maintain a handicap. Now there is also an internet-based handicap system that is USGA approved!

What is it called?

The National GOLF Network (NGN)

Can you tell me more about it?

The National GOLF Network (NGN) is the first nationally networked and standardized system for USGA compliant handicapping and "golf life" services that connects golfers with golf courses, clubs, leagues, tournaments, PGA professionals, and fellow golfers to provide a sense of "belonging" and "connection" to the game.

And it's internet-driven?

The NGN is authorized by the USGA, the same as GHIN, suitable for computing and issuing USGA Handicap Indexes through USGA compliant clubs to be used by golfers in handicap-adjusted (net) competitions. Currently, there are several USGA compliant handicap service providers. The NGN offers improved accessibility and functionality in comparison to all other systems. Built with Microsoft .NET technology, it is the only USGA compliant handicap system that is database-driven and accessible on a national level.

I am anal. Can I have some more details?

• Depending on your gender and the set of tees you plan to utilize, each player's Handicap Index (decimal value) converts to a specific handicap for that particular course. A player can obtain a USGA Handicap Index after posting five scores, but a truer value comes when a player posts 20 scores, the 10 best of which are used in figuring the Handicap Index. The index demonstrates what a golfer would shoot on his/her best day.

• At the same time, it disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability and promotes continuity by making handicaps continuous from one playing season or year to the next.

• A USGA Handicap Index is useful for all forms of play. A basic premise underlies the USGA Handicap System, namely that every player will try to make the best score at each hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review.

• A USGA Handicap Index, issued by a golf club or authorized golf association, indicates a golfer’s skill and comes in the form of a number taken to one decimal place, e.g. 9.2. A USGA Handicap Index is issued only to individuals who are members of a golf club.

• A USGA Handicap Index compares a player’s scoring ability to the scoring ability of an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty. A player posts scores along with the appropriate USGA Ratings to make up the scoring record. A Handicap Index is computed from no more than 20 scores plus eligible Tournament Scores in the scoring record. It reflects the player’s potential because it is based upon the best scores posted for a given number of rounds, ideally the best 10 of the last 20 rounds.

• A USGA Handicap Index travels well from course to course, as well as from one set of tees to another set of tees on the same course. A player’s Handicap Index determines the number of strokes a player receives depending upon the length and difficulty of the course being played. 

I am really, really anal. I want even more info.

Go to http://www.usga.org and click on "handicaps." This link will offer you all the information available about handicaps.