The Missouri Golf Associaton eClub was established to provide golfers an opporuntunity to obtain a USGA handicap index, track their own play, and find other players to play a round of golf with.

The Purpose of a USGA Handicap Index

The idea behind the system is to enable golfers of all levels to compete on a comparatively equal basis. There has been a USGA Handicap System in this country since 1912. Until 1987, one’s handicap gave a rough indication of how one usually scored, relative to the expected score of the expert golfer (Course Rating) of where their handicap was established. Thus, on a course where an expert golfer would score 72, a 13-handicapper might be expected to shoot around 85. The downside was the golfer received the same number of handicap strokes at every golf course. Even though each course had a Course Rating, golfers would have higher handicaps coming from a difficult course than they would coming from an easier course.

A Handicap Index — referred to simply as “Index” by most golfers — is determined by a somewhat complicated formula.

But the result is both easy to use and eminently portable. A Handicap Index is used to determine a specific Course Handicap for any course that has a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating (see following explanations). This means that your handicap is equitable and adjustable, depending on what course you are playing. (As such, you might have a Course Handicap of 12 at your home club, while you would be a 15 at Pebble Beach.)

The USGA recommends, as does almost any club or course holding an official event that an Index be a requirement for entry into a net competition.

How to establish a Handicap Index?

The first step is to join a licensed club. The second is to post at least five 18-hole scores. Once you have posted 20 scores, your Index is calculated using your 10 best scores, relative to the Course Rating and Slope Rating. It is important to note that your Index is based on your peak performance, not your average performance.

Thus, a golfer whose average score is 12 over the Course Rating will have an Index in the neighborhood of 9.

Your Handicap Index takes your 20 most recent scores, factors in Course Rating and Slope Rating, arrives at a number that includes a decimal point and is calculated out to the tenths place. As such, your Index might be 4.6, or 12.4, or 21.8, etc. Your Index is adjusted on a regular basis, usually once every two weeks when golf is “in season” in your part of the country. 

All MGA eClub members handicaps will be updated on the 15th and the 30th of every month. You will recieve your official handicap index in an email with your updated handicap index on those dates.

If you have any questions contact Karen at kraithel@mogolf.org