A golfer’s ability to play against other players is shown by a number called a “handicap.” It uses numbers to deliver how good a player is right now throughout a whole round of golf. Usually, this number tells what group a golfer can play in. There are pros and cons to each way to get a golf handicap, and the best one depends on the player and what they want to do with it. 

You can getting a golf handicap in one of two ways: traditional or online. 

Traditional:

Usually, handicapping is done at your local golf club and is handled by your State Golf Association. The USGA works with GHIN, a company that takes scoring for golfers all over the country through State Golf Associations.

Pros:

• Most of the time, this handicap lets you play in games at local clubs, state sports golf associations, and the USGA.
• If a State Association recognizes your handicap, no one will ask if it’s real. 
• For players, this is the best choice. 
• As of 2020, GHIN released a mobile app that lets you enter scores for each hole and keep track of more information about your round.

Cons:

• At your local golf course, you can get a handicap for anywhere from $25 to $60, based on how much your club wants to charge. 
• How things work online has improved, but it could be even better. 
• You can’t do much more than put in your numbers and keep a handicap. 
• There needs to be a way to track or analyse your data.

You can receive a GHIN handicap by visiting a local club, or you can use this webpage, which lists locations around the country where you can get a handicap. 

Choose online:

Several websites let people handicap games for free or for a small fee. Most of the time, these websites have free and paid versions with all the bells and whistles. Online handicaps are the way of the future, but when you set up an online handicap, be careful about the service you use.

Pros:

• Most handicaps on the web are free. 
• For many people, having a handicap is just a number, and they don’t see the point in paying $25–$60 for the traditional route. 
• Tech businesses typically manage online handicaps, providing users with quick online and mobile access, additional stat tracking and analytics, and paid features like GPS and uploading scorecard photographs.

Cons:

• Some handicaps online are not “official” and don’t follow USGA rules. 
• If you want to play in professional tournaments, many will not accept the handicap because it is not from a legitimate source. 
• Some online betting services wish to your information to sell it to someone else. 
• We won’t mention names, but you should be careful with some services that seem too good. 
• Be cautious about the web service you use to make bets.

Conclusion:

Follow the steps above to getting a golf handicap. If you want to play in a wide range of events, follow USGA rules. As a golfer, you can get your traditional handicap by playing a game on a local golf course run by a local State golf club.