Golf Forums - Golf Handicap

I have just started playing golf and have the bug, not really in a situation to join a club but there are plenty of pay and play course around for me to use, my question is when do you think the best time is to get a handicap and how do i go about this?

Many thanks

Andy

Join a club at your earliest convenience. You will find a lot of golfers with the same ability as yourself. Handicaps are not permissable in major competitions unless you have a bonafidi club handicap.

So you probably won't keep your 28 handicap. Why would you want to anyway?

-- 23/08/2008 16:12:11: post edited by David Matthews.

I agree.  Go to a couple of clubs near you and ask for membership details.  You never know they may give you a complimentary round too.  Once you've joined it's generally usual for you to either enter 3 medal or stableford rounds or play with a club member and then hand the three score cards to the handicap secretary.  Bob's your uncle - you've got yourself a handicap.  Enjoy.

Andy,

As you know the handicap system is used to level the playing field so that a 18 or 28 hanidcapper can have a friendly game with an 8 handicapper but it's also used so that you can enter competitions with people you don't know (lots of clubs run 'open' competitions ie anyone can join then not just their own club members). 

You can track your own general level of play (and so determine your handicap) by posting your scores under the 'My Scorecard' function of TSG (on your Home page). By entering your scores here it will tell you whether you are playing to a 28, 26 or 20 handicap and this will be your handicap when you're playing friendly games with your mates and/or other TSG members.

Most golf clubs (but not all) are members of the relevant Golf Union (England, Scotland, Wales etc) and these clubs issue 'CONGU' recognised handicaps (confederation of Golf Unions). Only golf clubs affiliated to their regional golf union can issue CONGU handicaps (it's a closed shop!). 

So, your TSG handicap or local golf society or any of the web based companies offering to sell you a handicap is good for friendlies, golf societies, tracking your progress, and playing most clubs abroad etc BUT, it won't be recognised by clubs which demand a 'recognised' handicap to let you play (eg Wentworth) and it won't be recognised to let you enter 'open' competitions run by golf clubs.

I'm guessing that at the moment you don't want to play Wentworth and you don't want to enter formal competitions. So play your local courses and use the TSG facilities to track your handicap (so you can 'prove' your playing level) and worry about the CONGU recognised handicap later. 

Join a club to meet people or if you want to go in for their competitions but don't join a club just to get a CONGU 'recognised' handicap.

Hope that helps.

Pete.

Hi Andy - this is excellent advice from Pete. However if you are truely bitten by the "golfing bug" by joining  a Club you will soon build up a circle of friends to play with and get that all important CONGU handicap.  

If there are a number of 'pay and play' courses local to you, it may be worth finding out if they have members clubs attached to them. I know that all the 'muni's' in my area have members clubs, and they are cheaper to join than 'private' course clubs. This can give you a good, inexpensive, way to meet other golfers, get involved in comps, and attain an official handycap.

Thank you all very much for your information, along this this and some i got from Ian and Neil on Saturday i am not on my way, just need to inprove my game and play as many games as i can, what a sport this is.

Many thanks once again.

Andy