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USGA and their recent letter to charpersons

Posted in: General Golf Discussion

Egor Legend
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Recently, chairmen of all USGA licensed clubs received a letter regarding the future of Handicap Index computations. This letter claimed that they want to have "stronger and more transparent oversight", and that they could "enhance the system" by facilitating the aggregation and computation of each HI in a single centralized platform. This will happen in 2018 according to them. What it means is that each Club is either required to join the authorized golf association as a full member, or maintain a limited affiliation for the purpose of Handicap Index. A $2 "nominal" fee per golfer for the information services that allow for handicap computation and administration oversight will be assessed to each club. This "new structure" will help preserve the integrity, reliability, and accessibility of the USGA Handicap System for all golfers. I've requested clarification as to what enhancements and what preservation is needed - ie.. they threw out a bunch of buzz words as to why they were doing it without providing anything tangible. facilitation, computation, aggregation, enhance, preserve, integrity, reliability, accessibility - all this means nothing without at least some semblance of explanation on each item. USGA - destroying the game, one service at a time. I suspect it's a way to generate more income for the USGA since GHIN is their service. Yes, I'm an opinionated jerk.
Mongo68 Legend
# 1 3/27/2017 5:16:14 PM
Could you send me a copy of that letter? I'm a chairperson and didn't get it sent to me.
RobNoland Professional
# 2 3/27/2017 5:29:48 PM
I just go the letter today in my email.. There is not justification for the change.. nothing they are doing will improve the integrity of the process over what it is now.. I agree it appears to be just a means to get more money.. i.e. $2 more /golfer.. I see more clubs dropping out and more golfers not getting USGA Handicaps.. I don't know what will happen.
ArizonaBlue Professional Champion
# 3 3/27/2017 6:58:09 PM
I sent a copy of it to US Handicap. They stated that "it looks like there would be minimal effect on clubs that use US Handicap. It looks like we (US Handicap) will have to integrate with the USGA's new system to compute the handicap, but you (the members) shouldn't see any change. We'll keep everyone posted as other developments arise."
Egor Legend
# 4 3/27/2017 9:12:40 PM
Right - I assume that 3rd party / alternative handicap services will have to adjust their computation and business model in order to make it work and the $2 will be eaten by the service or passed on to the consumer (me, you, the other golfers the USGA is trying to grow). $2 / player x the number of subscribers to USHandicap is a big chunk of change. Unless they are changing the math for computations or making it dynamic, the only thing that anyone stands to gain is the USGA / GHIN in terms of more subscribers or $2/player for non-affiliated clubs. I asked this question in an email using their own buzz words : Please outline the enhancements you expect to make and we can expect to see by facilitating the aggregation and computation of each Handicap Index into a single centralized platform. Yes, I'm a jerk. I do want to know what they intend to accomplish aside from $2/player or full memberships.
HOGAN418 Professional Champion
# 5 3/28/2017 10:08:24 AM
Thanks for update. I did get the email as well and was curious what would happen.

Egor

Legend

Go to Last Reply

319 Views 5 Replies 0 Likes

Recently, chairmen of all USGA licensed clubs received a letter regarding the future of Handicap Index computations. This letter claimed that they want to have "stronger and more transparent oversight", and that they could "enhance the system" by facilitating the aggregation and computation of each HI in a single centralized platform.

This will happen in 2018 according to them. What it means is that each Club is either required to join the authorized golf association as a full member, or maintain a limited affiliation for the purpose of Handicap Index.

A $2 "nominal" fee per golfer for the information services that allow for handicap computation and administration oversight will be assessed to each club. This "new structure" will help preserve the integrity, reliability, and accessibility of the USGA Handicap System for all golfers.

I've requested clarification as to what enhancements and what preservation is needed - ie.. they threw out a bunch of buzz words as to why they were doing it without providing anything tangible. facilitation, computation, aggregation, enhance, preserve, integrity, reliability, accessibility - all this means nothing without at least some semblance of explanation on each item.

USGA - destroying the game, one service at a time.

I suspect it's a way to generate more income for the USGA since GHIN is their service.

Yes, I'm an opinionated jerk.

Mongo68

Legend

# 1 3/27/2017 5:16:14 PM

Could you send me a copy of that letter? I'm a chairperson and didn't get it sent to me.

RobNoland

Professional

# 2 3/27/2017 5:29:48 PM

I just go the letter today in my email..
There is not justification for the change.. nothing they are doing will improve the integrity of the process over what it is now.. I agree it appears to be just a means to get more money.. i.e. $2 more /golfer.. I see more clubs dropping out and more golfers not getting USGA Handicaps.. I don't know what will happen.

ArizonaBlue

Professional Champion

# 3 3/27/2017 6:58:09 PM

I sent a copy of it to US Handicap. They stated that "it looks like there would be minimal effect on clubs that use US Handicap. It looks like we (US Handicap) will have to integrate with the USGA's new system to compute the handicap, but you (the members) shouldn't see any change. We'll keep everyone posted as other developments arise."

Egor

Legend

# 4 3/27/2017 9:12:40 PM

Right - I assume that 3rd party / alternative handicap services will have to adjust their computation and business model in order to make it work and the $2 will be eaten by the service or passed on to the consumer (me, you, the other golfers the USGA is trying to grow). $2 / player x the number of subscribers to USHandicap is a big chunk of change. Unless they are changing the math for computations or making it dynamic, the only thing that anyone stands to gain is the USGA / GHIN in terms of more subscribers or $2/player for non-affiliated clubs.

I asked this question in an email using their own buzz words :

Please outline the enhancements you expect to make and we can expect to see by facilitating the aggregation and computation of each Handicap Index into a single centralized platform.

Yes, I'm a jerk. I do want to know what they intend to accomplish aside from $2/player or full memberships.

HOGAN418

Professional Champion

# 5 3/28/2017 10:08:24 AM

Thanks for update. I did get the email as well and was curious what would happen.

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