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World Handicap System Explained

Your Handicap.
Made Simple.

Everything you need to know about your Handicap Index®—how it works, why it matters, and how it helps you enjoy golf more.

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Get Started In 4 Easy Steps

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Choose a Membership

Join a local AZ GOLF member club or choose an AZ GOLF eClub membership.

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Receive Your GHIN Number

Activate your membership and receive your GHIN Number, or continue using your existing number if you already have one.

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Post Scores

Use GHIN.com or the USGA GHIN Mobile App to post eligible scores after your rounds.

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Receive Your Handicap Index®

Once you've posted enough eligible scores, your Handicap Index® is calculated so you can start tracking your progress.

Why Get A Handicap?

Wondering how to get a handicap and start tracking your golf game? An official Handicap Index® gives you a consistent measure of your demonstrated playing ability, helping you track improvement and compete fairly with golfers of different skill levels. If you're looking for how to get a handicap in Arizona, start by joining an authorized AZ GOLF member club or eClub. Your membership connects you with GHIN, where you can post eligible scores and maintain your Handicap Index. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, getting a golf Handicap Index® in Arizona gives you a personal benchmark for your game and opens the door to more competitive and social golf opportunities.

Every Golfer Can Benefit

  • Play fairly with golfers of different skill levels

  • Track your improvement over time

  • Enter eligible tournaments and member events

  • Build confidence as your game improves

  • Use the GHIN App to post scores, view stats, and utilize GPS

Get A Handicap-GHIN App-1

USGA GHIN.com and GHIN Mobile App

Track Your Progress

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✔ Post your score & track stats
✔ View your official Handicap Index®
✔ View your most recent scores, revision scores, Handicap history, tournament scores, and more
✔ Interactive Course Handicap Calculator and Handicap Index lookup
✔ Play with partners and calculate Playing Handicaps
✔ Full GPS capabilities with the mobile app
✔ Green Reading maps available through upgrade in the mobile app 

 

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Handicapping Questions
No. Resigning from your club does not automatically remove a modification to your Handicap Index®. A modification remains until it is removed by the Handicap Committee, expires, or your scoring record has been sufficiently refreshed with new scores.
No. All of your golf memberships should be connected to one Handicap ID/GHIN Number so your complete score history stays accurate. If you have multiple GHIN Numbers, AZ GOLF can help merge the accounts and combine your scoring history under the number that is retained.
The World Handicap System™ (WHS™) is a global handicapping system designed to allow golfers of different abilities to play and compete fairly. It combines the Rules of Handicapping™ and Course Rating System™ under one consistent standard governed worldwide by the USGA and The R&A.
A Handicap Index® is a portable measure of your demonstrated playing ability based on your scores and the difficulty of the courses and tees you play. It can help create a fair game with other golfers, track your progress, and establish eligibility or equity for competitions.
You need to play and post a total of 54 holes to establish a Handicap Index®. Those holes can come from any eligible combination of 9-hole and 18-hole rounds. AZ GOLF golfers can post scores through GHIN once their membership and account are active.

Ready To Get Your Handicap?

Join AZ GOLF today and receive an official USGA® Handicap Index®, access to the GHIN app, exclusive member events, and a community of golfers across Arizona.