A. The goal of this program is to ensure the integrity of the USGA Handicap System and that those golfers who desire a USGA Handicap Index obtain one that is legitimate. A core component of a handicap system has always been the element of "peer review", the ability of club members to review the scoring records of their peers. The closer the relationship of the members within a club, the more reliable the peer review process is. With the introduction of Internet based for-profit organizations that solicit members by non-traditional, mass-marketing techniques, a real threat to the integrity of the system has been created. These new procedures will have a limited impact on the traditional clubs located at the golf course or clubs without real estate that currently are members of the association and already comply with the rules of the USGA Handicap System.

A. A golf club is an organization of at least ten individual members that operates under bylaws with committees (including a Handicap Committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System (see Compliance Checklist, Section 8-2m). A golf club must be licensed by the USGA to issue a Handicap Index to its members. A club can obtain a license agreement (see Appendix F, USGA Handicap System) directly from the USGA or through its membership in an authorized golf association that is already licensed by the USGA and that has jurisdiction in the geographic area that includes the principal location of the golf club.

Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other. They must be able to return scores personally. These scores must be readily available for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow members and the club's Handicap Committee.

Each golf club must determine its category. A golf club fits into one of the following three (3) categories:

1. It is located at a single specific golf course with a valid USGA Course and Slope Rating where a majority of the club's events are played and where the club's scoring records reside; or

2. Its members are affiliated or known to one another via a business, fraternal, ethnic or social organization. The majority of the club members had an affiliation prior to organizing the club; or

3. The members had no prior affiliation and a majority of the recruiting and sign-up of the membership is done by solicitation to the general public (e.g., Internet, newspaper).

A: The Club Licensing Program is something that is required for all clubs in the United States that wish to issue a USGA Handicap Index to members. If a club is a member of the authorized golf association in its area, then it must sign an agreement with the authorized golf association. Any golf club wishing to issue a USGA Handicap Index to its members must be approved through the USGA Club Licensing Program.

A: The authorized golf association that has jurisdiction in an area is responsible for monitoring whether any club wishing to become authorized complies with USGA Handicap System requirements. Specifically, the association needs to verify that the golf club follows the correct handicap revision schedule, active/inactive season dates (if applicable) and other items in the Club Compliance Checklist. If the club complies, then the authorized golf association must sign the application before it is sent to the USGA Handicap Department for approval. If the association is concerned that the club in question does not comply, then the association should forward the application to the USGA with acknowledgement of the concern, but should also provide the golf club with information as to why it is believed to have a compliance issue.

A: The golf association must receive written confirmation from each of its member clubs stating that the club is following the USGA Handicap System. It is up to each golf association to determine how to implement this confirmation process. The USGA must be allowed to access these confirmations upon request. Once a club has confirmed that it complies with the Handicap System requirements, the golf association should send a listing of its authorized clubs to the USGA, so that the club names will be placed on the USGA Web site as authorized golf clubs.

A: Yes, the club must become licensed independently and directly through the USGA. Contact the USGA Handicap Department to obtain a club license application or contact an authorized golf association in your area to obtain the club license application. In the license application, an authorized golf association is required to sign the document, acknowledging that it believes your club is following all USGA Handicap System policies. There are two areas that an authorized golf association governs, the revision schedule and the active and inactive season. The authorized association can confirm these two requirements are being satisfied, but all other items are subject to final approval by the USGA. The USGA makes the final decision as to whether a club is licensed to utilize the USGA Handicap System.