In order for you to get a USGA sanctioned golf handicap you need to belong to a golf club of at least 10 people and you have to have a handicapping committee. Your club doesn’t necessarily need to be stationed at a golf course, it could be run out of your basement, so long as there are 10 people in it and you have a handicapping system.
You do need to follow all the USGA rules, belong to the USGA, and obey all of the guidelines that are set forth by the USGA. This can be difficult for groups that are trying to set up their club not at a full-time golf center (even though your media center TV may be set on the Golf Channel.)
Once you have your golf club that you are going to get your handicap from you need to focus on only a few things. One play golf and play golf regularly.
Once you begin doing that your handicap will actually mean something. At the end of each round you will turnover a signed scorecard (playing by yourself might not get you a legal score depending on your club.) Once you turn in 5 scorecards you can start to get a handicap. Once you play ten times your handicap is a true handicap. Then finally when you play 20 times from then on your best 10 scores out of the previous 20 times out on a course will be averaged and that will be your handicap index.
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