Establishing Handicaps

Bylaw Number: 
6
  1. A verifiable, established Handicap (using USGA approved handicap formula):
    New Member submits a current, established USGA/GHIN handicap or other verifiable handicap from a golf association or club. This handicap, after approval by CTGA Handicap Director, will allow the new Member to compete, with no restrictions, in all CTGA tournament competition player pools (including Individual and Team formats), and Trash competitions (Close-to-Pin, Skins, and Deuces) with payout winnings at 100% beginning with his/her first CTGA tournament.

    Establishing the New Member's Handicap:

    1. Seven (7) scores equal to the new Member’s approved handicap index are entered into the CTGA Handicap Manager (HM) System, using Roy Kizer Blue (for men) and Roy Kizer Red (for women) course rating as our Home Course, to calculate a provisional starting handicap for CTGA.
    2. These scores and the new Member’s initial CTGA tournament rounds will be used to determine the calculation of up-to-date CTGA handicaps as follows:
      1. Combination of the first CTGA tournament scores and six provisional scores (one provisional score [PS] will be dropped prior to recalculating new handicap);
      2. With each continuing CTGA event played, one PS will be dropped and the new member’s handicap will be calculated using a total of seven scores (CTGA tournament scores plus PS).
      3. This procedure continues until the new member completes his/her seventh CTGA tournament.  From this point, the member’s CTGA handicap will be determined using CTGA tournament scores only.
         
  2. Self-Identifying Handicap: New Members who do not have established and verifiable USGA-approved handicaps will self-declare a provisional handicap, based on their average 18 hole scores, using the Self-Handicapping Chart and submit that handicap to the CTGA Handicap Director for approval.  This handicap will allow the New Member to compete for all Player Pool payout beginning with their first CTGA tournament, as defined below:
    1. In all Individual Format tournaments, Player Pool payout will be limited to 50% of the stated payout for each Place within each Flight until three (3) CTGA event scores have been entered in our Handicap database.
    2. With no restrictions, in all other CTGA competitions, including Team tournament competition player pools and Trash competitions (Close-to-Pin, Skins, and Deuces) all payouts will be at 100% beginning with his/her first CTGA tournament.

    Establishing the New Member’s Self-Declared Handicap:

    1. Same procedure as A 1-2 above will be used to calculate Self-Declared handicaps.

Inactive CTGA Members or past Members returning to CTGA who have not participated in CTGA tournaments within the past 10 months must reestablish new CTGA handicaps using either of the two methods above.

Note: If a new or returning Member has a current, established USGA/GHIN handicap, this handicap takes precedence and must be submitted to establish a CTGA provisional handicap.