Preseason Handicap Information - 2008

2008-03-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

For the first time since the Association contracted with the GHIN Service, each player’s Handicap Index will be updated every two weeks throughout the entire active season, with the exception of the final revision. Due to the amount of weeks in the active season (4/01/08 – 10/31/08), and the allowance for final transmission (10/31/08 – 11/04/08), the final revision is scheduled for a three-week interval. In total, there will be 20 revisions during 2008. The Association has also adopted five additional revisions during the inactive season—one in the months or December, January, February, March, and on the first day of score posting, 4/01/08.

An important handicap procedure change adopted for the USGA Handicap System manual, 2008-2011, directly impacts the viewing of information on www.ghin.com. Starting January 1, 2008, there are two scoring records available on the website. The first scoring record is the Complete Scoring Record and is exactly the same as has been posted in previous years—Players Name, Home Club, Date (MM/DD/YY), Score, Ratings, Differential, Type, and Course Played. All of this information will continue to be stored on the club’s posting stations, however it will only be able to accessed on www.ghin.com if the individual performing the search knows the player’s current GHIN Number. The second scoring record is the General Scoring record includes only the following: Players Name, Home Club, Date (MM/YY), Score, Ratings, Differential, and Type. The General Scoring Record will be displayed if the individual performing the search uses the name and state lookup option. This change developed from a new definition of peer review. The new definition is now included as a definition in Section 2 of the USGA Handicap System manual.

Now from the GHIN Service.

The WPGA now offers at no charge all supplies related to the operation of the GHIN Service. These products include scorecards, handicap labels, cart signs, and new for 2008 are gift certificates and shaft labels. If you need to order any supplies please contact the association.

Additional products that are offered to Member Clubs through the GHIN Service include eClubhouse, eRevision, GHIN.com, Ghinclub.net, Handicap Allocation Utility. Brief descriptions follow.

eClubhouse – A club microsite service developed to offer an attractive and easy-to-use website alternative. Clubs using this service can post schedules of events, event sign-up, and club information. Users can post scores, contact other club members and sign-up for events.

eRevision – Allows golfers to receive a Handicap Index® report sent to the email address of their choosing. Email address can be entered into the GHIN Management portion of the GHIN Handicap Program, online at GHIN.com and wpga.org, through the use of GHINclub.net, or by contacting the Association. This service has been offered since 2004 and presently over 10,000 members utilize the service.

GHIN.com – Website of the GHIN Service where players can post scores online if the club has adopted the procedure, General and Complete scoring lookup, association revision schedules, and Course Rating and Slope Database™. This webiste has recently been redesigned to enhance the golfer experience. One of the many features is the inclusion of the My Game/My Stats feature developed for eClubhouse.

All of these services are included as part of the club’s dues support of the Association and are offered free of charge.

Ghinclub.net – Provides staff and/or the club’s handicap chair real-time access to the club’s handicap data.

Handicap Allocation Utility – Software program bundled with the GHIN Service that allows clubs to enter scores into the program for the Allocation of Handicap

Strokes based on member’s scores. Two methods are offered—the comparison method and the regression method.

The Deletion Deadline with which the club must have its roster set for membership billing is Tuesday, May 13, 2008. All golfers on the clubs active roster as of this date will determine the amount of dues to be billed by the Association. This is also the date when all junior birthdays must be entered into the club’s GHIN Maintenance under the player’s applicable record. If you are forwarding Junior birthdates to the Association, please send them by Friday, May 02, 2008.

The USGA Handicap System, effective January 1, 2008, is in effect.

On behalf of the WPGA Handicap Committee, have a great handicap season and a great golfing year.

Handicapping Corner

Preseason Handicap Information - 2008