Key Reasons To Get A Golf Handicap

Copyright (c) 2008 Jack Moorehousework on your game.
Most players who take golf lessons from me don'tFor example, let's say you decide to improve your
have an official golf handicap. That comes as noshort game. If over the course of a year or so and
surprise to me since most recreational golfers don'tafter dozens of practice sessions, you see your
have a golf handicap anyways. Of the more than 26handicap dropping you know you are on the right
million golfers in the United States (adults who playedpractice track. If you don't see it dropping, either
at least one round of golf during a season), less thanyou're not putting in enough practice, practicing
20 percent have a handicap, according to statisticscorrectly, or working on the right thing. You can then
provided by the United States Golf Associationmake changes to and see how that works.
(USGA) in 2003. And that's just the U.S.How To Get A Handicap
Reasons exist for not having a golf handicap vary.Most players who join a private country club are
Some players feel they're not good enough to haveautomatically put on the handicap roster. But players
one. Others feel that having one is pretentious. Thenwho are not members of a country club must initiate
there are those who feel that going through thethe effort. The most likely�but not the
effort to get one is just too much trouble or areonly�way of doing that is through a
intimidated by the paperwork involved. Despite howsanctioned golf organization, like the USGA.
these golfers feel, the benefits of having a handicapThe USGA, for instance, calculates a handicap using a
far outweigh the reasons not to have one.fairly complex formula that's applied to the 10 best of
A Golf Handicap Defineda golfer's last 20 rounds. Getting a USGA handicap
A golf handicap measures a player's potential abilityrequires membership in a club. But it can be a friendly
to achieve a certain score compared to angolf group at your local public course or your own
expert-amateur's ability to do the same. Defined by aad-hoc assemblage of 10 golfers, which would form a
number, a handicap allows golfer's to compete on an"club without real estate."
equal basis, which is great when playing inThere are other ways of obtaining a golf handicap,
tournaments or other golf venues.depending on where you live. Golf Record ( a Web
The key, of course, is that a handicap creates a levelsite designed to keep track of your scores, provides
playing field, so players of unequal ability can play atthe tools for you to generate a golf handicap, as
the same course on equal footing, making the matchdoes Elite Golf Solutions ( another golf only Web site.
fairer and the game more enjoyable. Nothing in golf,Both require registration to join. Meanwhile
however, says you must have one to play. GolfersAbout.com's Golf section does a fine job of explaining
who don't have one violate no rule of the game.how the handicap is calculated
But one of the biggest reasons for having aWhat's important is not how you calculate a golf
handicap�and the reason I encourage playershandicap or how you obtain it, but that you get one.
who attend my golf instruction sessions to get aIt not only helps you improve your game by
handicap�is that it can help improve yourproviding a goal to shoot for, but also provides
game. By posting your scores�whether bydirection for planning practice programs and basis for
using an online tool or submitting them to someone inboosting your confidence every time you lower it. In
person�you'll have a highly effective tool foraddition, a golf handicap will provide some credibility
tracking your improvement and spotting playingto your playing ability and make it easer to compete
trends. You'll also have a goal to shoot for as youin competitions and tournaments.