Handicap

                                                                                                                                                     USGA GHIN Handicap Services and Education                                                                                                                                          

USGA GHIN Handicap Services

LPGA Amateur St. Louis Chapter is pleased to offer the USGA GHIN Handicap Services as a benefit to our active paid members. This benefit is provided through the chapter’s partnership with the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA) and is an optional service offered at cost to our active members who want to establish and maintain a handicap index.  

To be eligible to use this service, you must be an active paid member of the St. Louis Chapter of LPGA Amateur Golf Association for the current calendar year.   Eligibility check will be done at the time of your USGA GHIN Handicap Services membership to either join or renew. 

(Members that already have a USGA GHIN account through another organization (like a country club) are welcome to keep that service or you can choose to transfer your account to LPGA Amateurs St Louis through MAGA.  Either way, your GHIN account is accessible by LPGA Amateurs and is valid for use in LPGA Amateur events.   Contact Anita Van Housen if you wish to transfer your GHIN account to MAGA.)

USGA GHIN membership is $28 (MAGA Adult Membership of $25 + Transaction Fee of $3).  Please note this membership is non-refundable. 

Process to join / renew is through the MAGA USGA GHIN application.  Please either click on this link or scan the QR code below and follow the instructions.   

Once you complete your application and your credit card has been submitted, an email titled Registration Submitted will be sent to your email address and will indicate your renewal will be in "pending approval" status. 

Your credit card will not be charged until the St. Louis Chapter's Handicap Chair approves your membership.   

Approval by the Chapter's Handicap Chair means that you have either joined or renewed your LPGA Amateur membership for the current calendar year with the St. Louis Chapter as your primary chapter and that you are eligible to use the Chapter's USGA GHIN service.  

Once your membership has been approved, you will receive an email titled Renewed Member Confirmation: LPGA Amateur Golf Association - St. Louis Chapter along with a thank-you for joining / renewing with the Chapter’s USGA GHIN Handicap Services.  Keep this email for your record. 

Your Chapter’s USGA GHIN Handicap Service membership will be good through your current membership term.  Membership term is one year after USGA GHIN Handicap Service membership join / renewal date.  Example:  If you joined / renewed on 01/18/25, your membership term will be through 01/17/26.   

You may cancel your membership with the Chapter’s USGA Handicap Services at any time during the calendar year; however, you will not receive a refund of payment for your current membership.  Your membership will continue to the end of your current membership term after which the cancellation will take effect and no further charges will be made.  Your membership will then be inactivated from the Chapter’s USGA GHIN Handicap Services. 

USGA GHIN Handicap Service membership is non-refundable and is good through your membership term.  If you have any question, please contact Anita Van Housen (anitsv1110@gmail.com)

 

GHIN Handicap Education Opportunities

2024 USGA GHIN Handicap Seminar - click here for the seminar slides. Click here for video recording of the presentation.

How to Keep an Accurate USGA GHIN Handicap. Click here for USGA GHIN Handicap information.

USGA GHIN – Adjusting and Posting Your Score  - click here

USGA GHIN - Exceptional Scoring - click here  

USGA GHIN - Playing Course Conditions - click here

USGA GHIN – Hard and Soft Caps - click here

USGA GHIN - Adjusting the Course Score Card based on YOUR calculated Course Handicap - click here

USGA GHIN - Score Differential and Your Handicap Index - click here

News Update for Posting Scores in GHIN:

The 2024 golf season brought us a few changes in posting our scores to our USGA GHIN Handicap account.  Here is a recap of those changes to get the new 2025 season off to a good start.

  1. World Handicap System will include a new minimum length of a golf course to be eligible for a Course and Slope Rating. New limits are 1500 yards for an 18-hole golf course, 750 yards for a 9-hole golf course. Executive Par 3 courses such as Pheasant Run, Tower Tee, Family Golf Center have been rated with a course and slope rating, and are part of the USGA GHIN database. You can now use your Handicap Index at these courses and post your scores under your GHIN account.
  2. Rule 5.1b changed to allow immediate posting of a completed 9-hole round under your GHIN account. There is no longer a wait for another 9-holes to be played, posted for an 18-hole round. Your scoring record will display the following:
  • ·        The 9-hole adjusted gross score.
  • ·        The 9-hole Course Rating and Slope Rating.
  • ·        The 18-hole Score Differential equivalent.
  • ·        A score type of (N).