In the Boston Chapter's handicap challenge, being the biggest loser is a good thing!  One of the reasons to establish a handicap is that it's a good way to track your improvement. The Biggest Loser Challenge gives participating members a chance to compete for the best improvement in their handicap over the 2010 season.  Complete details of the contest are found here.

Results as of 8/15 revision date:

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Handicap services are included in your EWGA dues.  While you are not required to maintain a handicap index, you are encouraged to do so. Why?

• If you enjoy talking golf with other golfers, knowing how your score compares with that of other golfers, participating in friendly competitions, or tracking your improvement, you should maintain a handicap. 
• Handicaps are required in order to participate in the Association Championship Golf Series as well as some Chapter events. Many clubs and private tournaments require handicaps for their tournaments.
• The EWGA handicapping system (GN21) also provides the opportunity to track other personal statistics to help you analyze your game and plan personal improvement.

What is a Handicap Index? Your USGA handicap index will be calculated according to a mathematical formula based on your scores and the difficulty of the courses you play. Your handicap index reflects your playing potential because it is based on the best scores over a given number of rounds, ideally the best 10 scores of your last 20 rounds. However, you only need 5 eighteen-hole scores to establish a handicap index.

If you are establishing a handicap for the first time, the EWGA Handicap System (GN21)
is a free service... part of your association dues.  You access it through the Members Only area of www.ewga.com.  Every member who is playing well enough to keep score is encouraged to obtain a Handicap Index through EWGA GN21. Powered by GolfNet, GN21 is a full featured system that enables all members to obtain an official USGA handicap. 

It also gives members the ability to:

• Post scores
• Access 20,000+  golf course profiles
• Track personal game statistics
• Print a handicap card
• View scoring history
• Attest scores for other members; and more 

To get started, you’ll need to activate your own personal GN21 account.  For the instructions, visit this Web page: http://www.ewga.com/members/handicap/activate_handicap.dot.

For guidelines on using the new GN21 system, click here.

Click here for the Massachusetts Golf Association Revision Schedule.

GHIN

As a member of EWGA, you can obtain a handicap through the EWGA GN21 (Golfnet) system.  There is another handicap system used in the U.S., called GHIN.   The EWGA Boston Chapter is now offering GHIN handicaps to its members for an annual fee of $30.

If you would like to obtain a GHIN handicap, please send an email to: golfhandicap@ewgaboston.org.  Include your address in the email so that you’ll receive the publication, Mass Golfer.  Please mail your check for $30 made out to EWGA to:

EWGA
P.O. Box 8086
Salem, MA 01971

 
You will receive your GHIN number in an email from golfhandicap@ewgaboston.org  and will then be able to post scores on the GHIN website.    You’ll receive an email from GHIN after each handicap index update, which for 2010 is on the 1st and 15th of every month.

If you maintain both a GHIN and a GN21 handicap, you’ll see that they differ by only a few fraction of a point.