[Mikeod]

Did anyone else get the email from the FSGA about the potential change in our handicap system? In summary, the FSGA says the North Florida section of the PGA is pressuring the pros to abandon the GHIN system for a different vendor. According to the email, rather than the money we pay for our handicaps going to the club and the FSGA, it will go to the PGA section to enhance the prize money for their tournaments. Further, the FSGA says that the new vendor promises to support amateur golf, but that several golf associations like the North Carolina associations and the Louisiana association have cancelled relationships with this vendor in the last year.

Nowhere in the email is this new vendor identified. Anyone know who it is?

What are your thoughts?

[Fourpar]

Got the same email. I would think someone in Golf Admin would be able to shed some light on what's going on here. Hopefully, one will post here.

[fred53]

Until firm(and reliable) information is available it's useless to "think" about it.

[Bill Harlan]

I moved from NC last year and was glad to see one system that worked. The GHIN is simple to use and consistent and caters to us not the pros or semi pros pockets.

[ajbrown]

Dear FSGA GHIN Member,

Last week we contacted you about your GHIN handicap. Many of you
responded to our request, and contacted your golf professionals,
urging them to stay on the GHIN service. We have been in contact with
your club's staff and they have indicated that they have no intention
to change your handicap service.

At this time, please do not approach your professional any further to
express concern. However, the next time you see your professional,
please thank them for their support of amateur golf.

We need to emphasize that the FSGA has the greatest respect for the
golf professionals at your club. Our concern was exclusively directed
at their trade organization that has been sending your professionals
numerous emails, urging them to abandon the GHIN handicap service.
Regrettably, we had to respond to the onslaught of emails, and we were
forced to contact all members at our clubs at once - even club's like
yours, that had no intention to move away from GHIN and the FSGA.
Please forgive us if we caused you any undue concern.

Please thank your professional staff for us, and thank you very much
for your support.

Kind regards,

Jim Applegate
President, Florida State Golf Association

Jim Demick
Executive Director, FSGA

FSGA - Florida State Golf Association - Home for Florida Golfers
813-632-3742

[Russ_Boston]

Yes, TV staying with GHIN.

[Mikeod]

Yes. I got that second email. Glad to see we're staying with GHIN.

[TheCollierCpl]

Yes, the vendor is GolfNet. It too is widely used. I thought it was the most widely used but was overwhelmingly corrected by golfers in Florida.
I am not sure which is most widely used but they both keep the same handicap data. Both are official USGA handicaps but, for some reason, TV courses dont accept your HC unless it's on GHIN.
i guessit all oils down to the moneytrail.

[Teeitup]

Originally Posted by Bill Harlan

I moved from NC last year and was glad to see one system that worked. The GHIN is simple to use and consistent and caters to us not the pros or semi pros pockets.

Exactly.

Unless I'm mistaken, GHIN is administered by the USGA.

I would prefer to keep supporting them, rather than a new vendor just out to make a buck.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

There are many vendors that provide handicaps to clubs. GHIN is simply the network of the USGA. The other vendors can be less expensive but usually the difference is not significant. They all, however use the USGA handicap system to compute your handicap.
The change, if it comes is not to your handicap system. It is simply to the company that computes your handicap and issues your little cards. All handicaps have to be computed by the USGA handicap system or they are not recognized in this country.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

There are many vendors that provide handicaps to clubs. GHIN is simply the network of the USGA. The other vendors can be less expensive but usually the difference is not significant. They all, however use the USGA handicap system to compute your handicap.
The change, if it comes is not to your handicap system. It is simply to the company that computes your handicap and issues your little cards. All handicaps have to be computed by the USGA handicap system or they are not recognized in this country.

Correct. I actually copied the USGA logic into a program I wrote for my work league back north. That way I could customize a little and slant towards the course we played EVERY week. Worked out great - we had very, very close matches every week.