Play, Post, Repeat
It's a Snap to
Get a Handicap
With a Handicap Index you can post scores, track progress, compete fairly, and connect with other golfers. So, how do you get one? First, join WA Golf. Then play, post, and repeat. Easy.
Level the Playing Field
What is a Handicap Index?
A Handicap Index is basically a measure of how you play on your good days. It helps you track your progress, gives you a realistic target score to shoot for each round, and keeps things fair when you’re playing with golfers of varying skill levels.
Why get a handicap index?
Three Ways It Elevates Your Game
Rethink Success
Par isn’t always the goal. Your Index helps you set targets that fit your game—and celebrate real progress on the course.
Play on a Level Field
Compete fairly with golfers of all abilities. The Index adjusts for skill and course difficulty so every round feels even.
Improve with Purpose
Use the GHIN App to track trends, set goals, and lower your scores over time.
Handicap Index™ and GHIN App
Join WA Golf to get started establishing and maintaining your Handicap Index.
Your membership includes the official USGA, GPS-enabled GHIN App to post scores, track stats, and play and manage games. It’s the must-have tool for golfers who want to improve, have fun, and stay connected.
Resource Center
Handicapping Resources
FAQs
Handicapping Questions
A golf handicap index is a numerical value that reflects a golfer’s demonstrated ability, calculated from their best scores in recent round and adjusted for course difficulty.
Establishing a golf handicap is beneficial for many reasons:
- Enhanced Fairness in Competition: It allows players of different skill levels to compete on an equal footing. The handicap system adjusts scores based on ability, making games more competitive and enjoyable, regardless of individual skill levels.
- Tracking Personal Progress: A handicap provides a clear, numerical indicator of your golfing ability and improvement over time. Watching your handicap decrease can be a significant motivator and a rewarding way to track your development in the sport.
- Eligibility for Events and Tournaments: Many golf clubs and tournaments require a verified handicap for entry. Having a handicap broadens your opportunities to participate in various competitive events, leagues, and social gatherings within the golfing community.
- Goal Setting and Self-Improvement: Knowing your handicap can help in setting realistic, measurable goals for improvement. It offers a specific target to aim for, whether you're working to break 100, 90, 80, or even par.
- Social Interaction and Networking: Being part of a handicap system often involves joining a club or an online community, leading to new social interactions and networking opportunities. It connects you with a wider community of golfers, offering chances for both friendly rounds and professional connections.
Establishing a golf handicap is beneficial for many reasons:
- Enhanced Fairness in Competition: It allows players of different skill levels to compete on an equal footing. The handicap system adjusts scores based on ability, making games more competitive and enjoyable, regardless of individual skill levels.
- Tracking Personal Progress: A handicap provides a clear, numerical indicator of your golfing ability and improvement over time. Watching your handicap decrease can be a significant motivator and a rewarding way to track your development in the sport.
- Eligibility for Events and Tournaments: Many golf clubs and tournaments require a verified handicap for entry. Having a handicap broadens your opportunities to participate in various competitive events, leagues, and social gatherings within the golfing community.
- Goal Setting and Self-Improvement: Knowing your handicap can help in setting realistic, measurable goals for improvement. It offers a specific target to aim for, whether you're working to break 100, 90, 80, or even par.
- Social Interaction and Networking: Being part of a handicap system often involves joining a club or an online community, leading to new social interactions and networking opportunities. It connects you with a wider community of golfers, offering chances for both friendly rounds and professional connections.
Each golf course has different sets of tees for players to play from. Each set of tees has some numbers that tell you how hard the course is to play. Think of it like a video game level—some are easier, some are tougher.
Course rating is what a scratch golfer (someone with a 0.0 handicap index) is likely to score under standard course and weather conditions. The slope rating is a measurement of the difference in difficulty between a scratch and bogey player.
Having a hard time deciding on the set of tees that's right for you? New USGA research, combined with a growing effort by golf facilities, provides a formula for an improved golfer experience based off how far you hit a 7-iron. Read more.
In order to establish a Handicap Index, a total of 54 holes must be played and posted to your scoring record. These scores can be made up of any combination of 9- or 18-hole rounds. (Rule 4.5, Rules of Handicapping)
