Perhaps the most visible benefit of CGA membership is the USGA Handicap. There
are still some members who don't use this benefit for a variety of reasons.
Below are some common misconceptions about the USGA Handicap and why it IS
for everyone!
"I Don't Need a Handicap, I..."
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Many people are intimidated by the word "tournament"
because it draws to mind the high-profile events such
as the Colorado Open and the CGA Match Play Championship.
The percentage of Golf Association members who play
in these events is actually very small. There are
hundreds of tournaments run every season by the Golf
Associations of Colorado and individual clubs that
include some relaxing and fun formats for individuals
as well as teams. Many of these events are held during
the week so weekends aren't a factor. You never know
when your co-workers, friends, or in-laws might ask
you to play in a corporate outing or a charity event,
and a handicap gives you the option of saying "I'd
love to!"
Did you know that if you occasionally break 120 you
would still have a Handicap Index under the maximum
that can be issued? And golf clubs can even issue a
local handicap that exceeds the maximum. Remember, one
of the purposes of a Handicap Index is to "even
the playing field" for golfers of all abilities
to compete equitably. A Handicap Index replaces phrases
like "not good enough" and "can't compete"
with terms like "teammate" and "contributor".
Imagine you are playing a team best-ball event and you
manage to bogey a par 4 that all of your teammates bogey
also. Let's say your high Handicap Index gives you two
strokes on the hole, so your net score becomes a birdie.
It's "high-fives" all around! You're a hero!
Do
you play at least five times a year? Of course
you do! Did you know that you only need five scores
to have an official USGA Handicap Index calculated?
Eventually, it will be based on the last twenty scores
in your score history, but five is the minimum to get
started.
A Handicap Index is a tool that measures your potential
golfing ability. It is not an average of
your scores. If you average 90 on a short,
less difficult course, and your friend averages 90 on
a long, more difficult course (say, Castle Pines Golf
Club), are you both equal in playing ability? Of course
not. Your friend would likely average an 85 or less
on your course, and you would likely average a 95 or
higher on their course. A Handicap Index is accurate
because it is based on your scores and the difficulty
level of the courses you achieve them on. And don't
forget that your Handicap Index is portable. Take it
with you everywhere you play because it adjusts each
course to your potential ability, rather than you trying
to adjust your ability to each course!
Actually this is the perfect time to get a Handicap
Index. Imagine a man who decides to lose weight and
goes on a diet. The first thing he would purchase is
a scale in order to monitor
his progress and help him in setting goals. The golfer's
Handicap Index is the equivalent to the dieter's scale.
Your Handicap Index is the only true gauge by which
to measure your progress as your golfing ability improves.
By using it to set and achieve short-term goals each
time you play, you are working toward your long-term
goal of improving, which is demonstrated by a decrease
in your Handicap Index. When the dieter hops on the
scale and sees his weight drop, he will feel the same
sense of self-accomplishment that you will when you
see your Handicap Index drop.
The USGA Handicap System is in place throughout Colorado
(and the U.S.) so you can post scores from virtually
every course in Colorado as well as from your "business"
trips out-of-state. Your USGA IndexIf you like to
break up the monotony and play new courses, feel free!
Well how fair is that? You could have the round of your
life and finish last. If you and your friends have a
Handicap Index you could level the playing field and
make the competition a lot more interesting. Taking
their "word for it" or playing them scratch
could result in the loss of many games, wagers, beverages,
etc.
