Handicaps and Membership

HANDICAPS

To establish or update your official USGA handicap, mail the scorecards for all your rounds to Tom McMahon (TMGA Handicap Chairman); 6030 Sylvania-Petersburg Rd; Petersburg, MI; 49270 - or you can submit them at the various TMGA events. The Toledo District Golf Association, who administers our handicaps, will revise handicaps twice per month, on the 1st and the 15th, so scores must be entered (scores can be self entered on-line) or received by Tom several days before those dates to update handicaps. It is your responsibility to adhere by these dates. The "active" season for updates is April 1st thru October 31st.

All of your scorecards should include clearly printed first and last names, dates, and tees used with applicable yardages and course ratings noted. Your latest handicap card will be available for pick-up at all TMGA tournament sites. A minimum of five scores are needed to establish an official USGA handicap. New, as well as last year's, TMGA members with an established, official USGA handicap must use their final handicap index from last year for the TMGA Opener at Chippewa. New TMGA members who enter Metro events without a handicap index must supply Tom with at least their last five scorecards by the Tuesday preceding their first event in order to be eligible for the Handicap Division. (Note: League handicaps are unofficial and not acceptable for TMGA events.) If your USGA handicap is calculated elsewhere, it is your responsibility to present an updated handicap card to the TMGA officers after completing your round at each event. Those who fail to present their handicap card will be eligible for the Scratch Division only. Remember, a USGA handicap should include all of your scores – not just home course scores. Nine-hole scores are now acceptable for computing handicaps. If your home course doesn't allow you to post away scores, then it's not an official USGA handicap. Therefore, players who belong to those courses should keep their handicap with the TMGA so they can have an official USGA handicap. Please let us know on your membership application if you do not plan to use the TMGA handicapping system. This year, as in past years, the Handicap Chairman has been directed to enforce a minimum number of scorecards that each TMGA member must submit by the handicap posting dates. The minimum number of scores to be posted are listed on the Schedule. Scorecards must be posted by the corresponding tournament entry dates.  Failure to meet minimum scorecard requirement will result in players having their handicap adjusted downward by one stroke for each scorecard below the minimum requirement (with a two-stroke maximum limit on the adjustment). Also, players who fail to submit all scorecards will be declared ineligible for the handicap division until such scorecards are finally submitted and posted. These requirements extend to new members joining later in the year as well as members who do not keep their handicaps with the TMGA. It is imperative for the fairness and integrity of the Handicap Division that these rules are followed. The Handicap Chairman reserves the right to unilaterally adjust handicaps or limit a player's eligibility to the Scratch Division if the handicap rules have not been followed. Section 5-2 of the "USGA Handicap System and Golf Committee Manual" will be used again this season which allows for the discretionary adjustment of a player's handicap. Handicaps will be systematically reduced (retroactive to last season) when normal computation methods produce a handicap obviously too high for an individual's playing ability. Being fair is the key to the integrity of the handicap division!

MEMBERSHIP

Annual membership dues have remained the same at $60. If, however, you don't keep your handicap with the TMGA, then your annual membership dues will be $50. Single-day memberships for TMGA guests remain at $20. This fee should be added to the entry fee for each single-day event. Please complete fully the enclosed membership application, separate it from the championship entry forms, and MAIL IT along with your check for $60 or $50 (made out to "TMGA") to the address noted on your membership application. You can join the TMGA (or compete as a guest) if you are an amateur former TMGA member (with no residency stipulation), an amateur current TDGA member, or an amateur golfer who resides in the Ohio or Michigan counties listed on the membership application. All golfers noted above may compete in the Spring Amateur and Tom Wolf Memorial Classic events without TMGA membership status except for former members who fail to join the TMGA this year and no longer live within the stipulated counties. If you have any questions concerning the TMGA or about any of the events listed on our schedule, contact one of the TMGA officers listed on the bottom of the 2011 schedule. Tell your golfing friends about us. We hope to increase the membership of the TMGA this year!

Golfingly Yours!

THE TMGA OFFICERS