News
USGA Announces Changes to the Rules of Amateur Status
The R&A and the USGA are pleased to announce significant changes to the Rules of Amateur Status, becoming effective: January 1, 2022. These changes result from a multi-year modernization initiative that identified a clear need to bring the Rules up to date to reflect today’s global amateur game and ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply. Continue below to explore resources to familiarize yourself with the latest changes.
Infographic
FULL Rules of Amateur Status pdf
More Resources about Amateur Status here: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/amateur-status/amateur-status-modernization.html
News
Create Your GHIN Digital Profile: A Step by Step Guide 2021
Step by Step Guide: Create Your GHIN Digital Profile
Effective January 11th, 2021, USGA-GHIN has new login requirements for GHIN.com and Updated GHIN Mobile app, referred to as a Digital Profile. This means, in order to post your scores on ghin.com or the GHIN Mobile App this season, you will need to create a Digital Profile. Follow this step-by-step guide to create yours if you haven’t already.
STEP 1 – To create a Digital Profile on GHIN.com or the GHIN Mobile App, first click the CREATE PROFILE button displayed on the login page:
STEP 2 – You will then be asked to provide two of three pieces of information to verify your GHIN account. The information that can be used to verify your account are Email Address, GHIN Number, and Last Name:
STEP 3 – Enter two of the three pieces of information required and click VERIFY:
STEP 4 – You will see a confirmation page that informs you that an email has been sent to the email address of your GHIN account:
STEP 5 – Click the link in the email to create your profile and set a password:
STEP 6 – The link will open a page to create your profile. It will display your name, email address, and have fields to set your password. (NOTE: Passwords must be at least 6 characters)
STEP 7 – Fill out the Password and Confirm Password fields, select the “I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service,” and click FINISH:GHIN (passwords must be at least 6 characters).
STEP 8 – Once completed, you will see a pop up notifying you that you have successfully created your profile:
You can now log in to GHIN.com and the GHIN Mobile App using your email and set password.
Still have questions? Contact AGA Senior Director of USGA Services, Derek McKenzie at [email protected]
World Handicap System
Overview
The vision of the new World Handicap System is to unify the six different handicap systems used around the world into one, universal system.
The new system, which was introduced in 2020, will enable players around the world to compete on fair ground, in any format, on any course, without sacrificing accuracy.
As the system was adopted by all of the existing handicapping authorities and other National Associations, this collaboration will ensure the system is suitable to all golfing cultures.
When adapted, the WHS will be governed by the USGA and The R&A and administered by national and multinational associations around the world. The WHS will encompass both the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System (formerly known as the USGA Course Rating and Slope System).
WHS Resources
For Club Administrators
Continuing Education
For Golfers / AGA Members
In an effort to provide a resource that may be utilized for local club member/golfer education, the USGA has produced a club-based educational PowerPoint deck that highlights the most significant WHS system changes.
This presentation is anticipated to be approximately 45 minutes in length. Please download and utilize it at your discretion at the local level and forward any questions that arise to AGA Staff Member, Derek McKenzie.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (602)-944-3035
Club Administrators & Facility Staff
WHS Club Certification- 2020 World Handicap System (WHS) club compliance policy dictates that at least (1) representative from every licensed handicap roster participate in a WHS Certification Seminar and pass a 20-questions quiz for the affiliated roster to be in WHS compliance. The deadline to accomplish this requirement is June 30th, 2020. Certification will be offered in two formats moving forward, each covering all the standard elements included in the new WHS Rules of Handicapping:
Online – We are pleased to announce that an online self-guided WHS certification seminar is now available. This seminar consists of (4) video segments followed by a 20-question quiz. Please use or forward the following link to access this seminar option:
WHS Questions
News
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier
The USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier has concluded and left us with four qualifiers to send to the championship at Forest Highlands Golf Club, in Flagstaff, AZ on September 14-19, 2019. Kim Eaton, who is no stranger to USGA championships, earned the qualifying medalist title with a score of 73. Mari Meizwa and Thuhashina Selvaratnam tied for second place and will be competing in the championship alongside fourth-place qualifier Katerina Prorokova.
It was a heart-racing start for medalist, Kim Eaton, as she made 3 birdies in her first five holes. Eaton found herself three-over-par after 12 holes, but fortunately took the wheel again finding two more birdies in her remaining six holes. After the sweltering-hot round, Eaton explained, “It seems like I like this golf course. I play it well, even though I haven’t played a course this long in some time now.”
This will be the seventh U.S. Mid-Amateur that Eaton has competed in after taking a seven-year break from the qualifying due to medical reasons. “This is the first Mid-Am I have attempted to play in since 2012; that was my last one.” Eaton explained, “I couldn’t walk. I just got the medical exemption two years ago.”
Mari Meizwa and Thuhashina Selvaratnam bagged the second and third qualifying spot after carding an 6-over 78. With a 7-over 79, Katerina Prorokova snagged the final qualifying spot.
To compete in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am means a great deal, specifically because Arizona is the host state of the championship. The tournament location is just a hop, skip, and jump north in beautiful Flagstaff Arizona, at Forest Highlands Golf Club. The championship site last hosted a USGA event in 2014 for the U.S. Girl’s Junior Amateur. The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur originated in 1987, allowing women who were 25+ years of age and with a handicap of 9.4 or better to play.
Full Results: Click Here
News
2019 Rules of Golf Toolkit
Rules Toolkit for Clubs & Facilities: To support the education of golfers at the club level, we are providing you with a link to a “digital” club/facility toolkit, which can be found here. Different from the Rules Education Toolkit that we shared with you this fall, this set of resources is focused on the golfer (not Rules official) and is designed to be used by club/facility employees to help educate and promote the major changes to the Rules of Golf. The “physical” toolkit will contain copies of the three Rules publications along with a set of printed posters and “cart stickers,” which will also be made available for purchase on usgapublications.com in early 2019.