FAQs for VSGA Members
Below and attached, are some frequently asked questions that we hope will help guide VSGA members and VSGA member clubs through the transition process in using this new service. For more information about this transition, please contact the VSGA Handicap Department at (804) 378-2300.
How often is my Handicap Index updated?
A Handicap Index is updated on the 1st and 15th of each month throughout the year for a total of 24 handicap revisions.
What are the active season dates for score posting in Virginia?
Acceptable scores made in Virginia throughout the year must be posted to a player’s scoring record. Virginia does not observe an inactive posting season. Scores made in a state observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap purposes.
What is a GHIN number and why is it important?
All VSGA members are issued a GHIN number when added to a club’s handicap roster. This number is unique to the individual and will allow them to post scores at their home club, online and at any other course. Individuals holding a membership at more than one club in Virginia or any other state utilizing the GHIN service should have the same GHIN number at all clubs. In addition to score posting, the GHIN number will be requested on VSGA Championship and One-Day entry forms as well as other registration forms.
What should I do if I have a membership at more than one club?
If an individual has a membership at more than one club in Virginia or a membership at a Virginia club and a club in another state that uses the GHIN service, they should consolidate all of their clubs into one GHIN number. With one GHIN number, all of the individual’s club memberships will be in a single record and the member will only need to post a score once to have it routed to all of their clubs. If the member has two or more GHIN numbers, they should contact the VSGA so that the numbers can be merged into a single record. The member will be able to choose the GHIN number to keep and all of their score history will be transferred into the one record.
If an individual has a membership at a Virginia club and a club that whose golf association does not participate in the GHIN service, they should still link the two records so that scores will transfer between the records. The member should provide the Virginia club with their IGN number and golf association at which the other club is a member. They should also provide their other club with their GHIN number. This will ensure that scores travel back and forth between the two clubs resulting in an accurate Handicap Index.
Why should I enter my e-mail address and mailing address into the system?
Individuals with an email address on file will receive a handicap revision email (eRevision) on the 1st and 15th of each month automatically. In addition, members with their mailing address on file will receive their copy of Virginia Golfer magazine every other month which is one of the many benefits of membership in the VSGA. To enter your email address into the system, please visit www.vsga.org or provide the information to your home club or the VSGA.
Peer review is a necessary function of the handicap system as it allows individuals to gain an understanding of a player’s potential ability and to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted. That being said, it was decided by the USGA that not everyone should be allowed to access a player’s Complete scoring record unless they are a fellow club member, tournament official or someone that otherwise should have access to it.
When I perform a Handicap Lookup, why is the information displayed different when I search by last name and state than when I enter a GHIN number?
There are two ways for a user to view the handicap record of a VSGA member. They may use either the member’s GHIN number or last name and state. If the user were to do the lookup based on last name and state, they would see the member’s “General” scoring record. The USGA changed its definition of Peer Review in 2008 to allow for two different types of scoring records, General and Complete. As a result of this change, peer review has become more sensitive to privacy-related concerns.
The General scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month and year only) relating to the most recent handicap revision. This record is available on GHIN.com using the last name and state lookup.
The Complete scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month, day and year) relating to the most recent handicap revision. The course name is also made available in the complete record. This record is available on GHIN.com by doing a lookup by GHIN number and at the club on the handicap computer.
Peer review is a necessary function of the handicap system as it allows individuals to gain an understanding of a player’s potential ability and to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted. That being said, it was decided by the USGA that not everyone should be allowed to access a player’s Complete scoring record unless they are a fellow club member, tournament official or someone that otherwise should have access to it.
There are two ways for a user to view the handicap record of a VSGA member. They may use either the member’s GHIN number or last name and state. If the user were to do the lookup based on last name and state, they would see the member’s “General” scoring record. The USGA changed its definition of Peer Review in 2008 to allow for two different types of scoring records, General and Complete. As a result of this change, peer review has become more sensitive to privacy-related concerns.
The General scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month and year only) relating to the most recent handicap revision. This record is available on www.GHIN.com using the last name and state lookup.
The Complete scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month, day and year) relating to the most recent handicap revision. The course name is also made available in the complete record. This record is available on www.GHIN.com by doing a lookup by GHIN number and at the club on the handicap computer.
When I perform a handicap lookup, why is the information displayed different when I search by last name and state than when I enter a GHIN number?
There are two ways for a user to view the handicap record of a VSGA member. They may use either the member’s GHIN number or last name and state. If the user were to do the lookup based on last name and state, they would see the member’s “General” scoring record. The USGA changed its definition of Peer Review in 2008 to allow for two different types of scoring records, General and Complete. As a result of this change, peer review has become more sensitive to privacy-related concerns.
The General scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month and year only) relating to the most recent handicap revision. This record is available on GHIN.com using the last name and state lookup.
The Complete scoring record provides the player’s Handicap Index, along with scores, score types, ratings differentials and dates (month, day and year) relating to the most recent handicap revision. The course name is also made available in the complete record. This record is available on GHIN.com by doing a lookup by GHIN number and at the club on the handicap computer.
Peer review is a necessary function of the handicap system as it allows individuals to gain an understanding of a player’s potential ability and to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted. That being said, it was decided by the USGA that not everyone should be allowed to access a player’s Complete scoring record unless they are a fellow club member, tournament official or someone that otherwise should have access to it.
When I perform a handicap lookup, why do I not see the most recent scores that I posted?
When performing a handicap lookup online through GHIN.com, the user is first taken to the Revision Scores tab. This tab displays the scores that were used in the computation of the most recent Handicap Index (either the first or the 15th of the month). The scores that were counted in the calculation are identified by an asterisk. The Recent Scores tab displays a list of the member’s most recent 20 scores as of the date the lookup is being performed (including those posted since the last revision). In addition to viewing score history, members may also view their Handicap Index history and calculate their Course Handicap for a golf course based on the Slope Rating.
How do I post scores online?
In order to post scores online, VSGA members should go to www.vsga.org and click on the link for Online Score Posting. Members will then be prompted to enter their GHIN number and last name. Once logged in, they will be able to post scores.
When posting a “Home” score online, why do I have to put in the state, course name, etc. every time instead of the system recognizing my home course?
The preferred method, as per the USGA Handicap System, of returning scores is in person immediately following the round at the course where the round was played. Most golfers playing their home course will post the scores at the club, while many golfers playing an away course will post the score online. That is why the system defaults to the score type of Away. As far as going through the motions of entering VA and course name, etc., the system does not make any assumptions about where the round was played. Even though the process takes a few extra steps, it does eliminate the number of scores posted incorrectly due to habit (those automatically posting to their home course and default tees when playing another set of tees or a different course).
How do I post scores from non-GHIN states? I played in the Carolinas and Maryland and can’t seem to find them on the list of courses.
The GHIN course rating database is limited to those golf clubs whose state or regional golf associations subscribe to the GHIN service (69 associations, 42 states, 13,000 clubs). To post a score from another state, the member should select the state, golf course and tees they played from the drop-down menus in the score posting site. An issue that some members may run into is that there are no courses in the database for the Carolinas, Maryland or other non-GHIN states as they use a different handicap services provider. The good news is that GHIN will be moving to a new database in the future that will include courses from all states. There is no set date for this new database to be up and running but it should be made available sometime in 2012.
In the mean time, members may manually enter the course and slope rating as well as the course name from where they played (for non-GHIN states). They may look up the ratings for golf courses by clicking on the link for Ratings Lookup on www.GHIN.com (at the bottom of the page listed under USGA Links). When they click Ratings Lookup, a new browser will open allowing them to view information from the USGA Course and Slope Rating database. Select the Manual option next to Rating/Slope Entry and then type in the course and slope rating, the course name and your score. It is worth noting that the GHIN database is significantly larger than the database we used in previous years which was limited to far fewer states and courses. That being said, we understand that many Virginia golfers play their golf in the Carolinas and Maryland and we hope to see the new database up and running as soon as possible. (States appearing in blue are a part of the USGA’s GHIN Service.)
*** Blue state currently use the GHIN service
