1. Join an existing Member Club associated with a golf course  
2. Join an existing Type 2 or Type 3 Golf Club
3. Form your own Type 2 or Type 3 Golf Club

Since "Individual" handicapping is contrary to the USGA Handicap System, it is not permitted. We encourage interested golfers to form their own club with our assistance, further increase their enjoyment of the game by providing accurate handicaps to their friends and family.

Definition of a Golf Club:

A "golf club" is an organization of at least ten individuals members* that operates under bylaw with committees (especially a handicap committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System. A golf club must be licensed by the USGA to utilize the USGA Handicap System. A club can obtain a license directly from the USGA or in conjunction with its membership in an authorized golf association that is already licensed by the USGA and that has jurisdiction in the geographic area that includes the principal location of the golf club.

Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other. They must be able to return scores personally, and these scores must be readily available for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow members and the club's Handicap Committee.

A golf club is one of three (3) Types:

Type 1. The members of a Type 1 club and located at a single specific golf course with a valid USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating where a majority of the club's events are played and where the club's scoring records reside; or

Type 3. The members of a Type 3 club had no prior affiliation and a majority of the recruiting and sign up of the membership is done by solicitation to the public (e.g. newspaper, Internet).

*Note: For administrative reasons, some authorized golf associations may require a golf club to have more than the USGA minimum of ten members in order for the golf club to be a member of the authorized golf association.

(USGA Handicap System Manual, 2008 - 2011)

In order to have an accurate handicap, and be a member in good standing of the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association, you must be an active participant in either a club at a course you often play, or with a group of individuals who regularly play together at a variety of courses. This option is available to a group of golfers wishing to form their own club not associated with a particular golf course. We call this a “non golf course” Club and encourage golfers to get together with friends or co-workers, form the necessary committees, draw up by-laws, and begin creating your own traditions through regularly scheduled play days and competitions. The WPGA will provide USGA Handicap Indexes® to all “non golf course” Clubs that comply with our criteria for membership. We offer GHIN software (which includes a tournament program, among others) and support for a club that desires computerized handicapping.

For additional information on forming a Type 2 or Type 3 Golf Club, please call the WPGA office at (412) 826-2180 and talk to Jeff Rivard.