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Handicap Requirements | Handicap Chairman | Posting Guidelines | Handicap Revision Schedule
Michiana Senior Golf Association (MSGA) tournaments are handicapped and are played under USGA rules. To play and compete for awards in tournaments, players must have a handicap from a system approved by the USGA and administered by the World Handicap System (WHS). Players are assigned to flights based on their individual handicap indexes for the tees they are playing and thus compete against players of similar skill levels.
Effective January 1, 2020, the USGA combined state and local handicap systems into one system to be administered by the World Handicap System. Each golfer who is on the WHS system is assigned a unique eight-digit number. The WHS includes worldwide handicap systems so that a player has only one worldwide handicap that allows the player to play golf courses not only in the United States, but courses throughout the world that are part of the WHS. |
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Current local systems used by MSGA members include Indiana Golf Association (Blue Golf), Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) and Golf Association of Michigan (GAM). Players may also use handicap systems from other state associations (for example, Florida and Arizona associations), as long as the handicaps are administered by the WHS. The procedure is that scores are collected at each golf course or via the internet each day and transmitted to the WHS overnight. The WHS returns a newly calculated handicap index for use the next day.
For those MSGA members who do not have a handicap through a local private or public golf course, the MSGA provides a USGA approved handicap system for MSGA players. The MSGA has contracted with Indiana Blue Golf to provide players with a handicap that is USGA approved. The MSGA has been established as an Associate Member of Indiana Blue Golf under the name of MSGA/Blue Golf system. All MSGA players including those outside Indiana may join the system. If a player joins the MSGA/Blue Golf group, there is an annual fee that is paid to the MSGA at the time of the annual renewal of membership (see JOIN MSGA tab for details).
Internet posting is available on the various handicap systems:
Since the MSGA posts all scores from MSGA tournaments, the above can be used to post non-MSGA scores.
If you have questions about the various handicap systems, please call Handicap Chairman, Kevin Shidler at 317-903-9706 or email.
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Questions concerning handicaps should be addressed to the Handicap Chairman, Kevin Shidler.
Kevin can be reached by email or phone:
The Handicap Chairman’s duties include:
- Acting as the Administrator of the MSGA/Blue Golf handicap system including addition of new MSGA/Blue Golf members, deletion of members who have left the MSGA and maintenance of existing member information including contact information: i.e. phone numbers, email addresses and mailing addresses.
- Collecting previous scores for new members to create an initial handicap if they do not have an official WHS handicap.
- Processing corrections or missing information when pre-tournament paperwork is produced for each tournament and forwarded by the Director of Golf.
- Initiates automatic posting process of MSGA tournament scores after Director of Golf confirms accuracy of scores
- Reporting any suspicious posting or handicap activities to the Board of Directors for review. The Board may take various actions including barring players from playing in future MSGA events.
- Responsible for setting tee markers for the three sets of tees in accordance with the MSGA yardage guidelines for each set of tees.
- Guideline yardages:
- Front tees, approximately 5100 yards – MSGA-Green
- Middle tees, approximately 5600 yards – MSGA-Blue
- Back tees, approximately 6100 yards – MSGA-Gold
- Set Slopes and Ratings for three sets of tees and provide for use on scorecards.
- Calculate Slopes and Ratings using USGA rules for changes in yardages.
- Approving Blue Golf billings for handicap services.
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Kevin Shidler – Handicap Chairman
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The MSGA requires players to have an established USGA handicap index to participate in MSGA tournaments and compete for awards. USGA rules require that players post scores for all rounds played on rated golf courses. Beginning in 2024 that includes 9-hole rounds that are now converted to an 18-hole score and posted to the WHS like an 18-hole round and included in the next day’s handicap index. As all MSGA tournaments are played on USGA rated courses, the MSGA automatically posts tournament scores making all adjustments required under USGA rules. Scores are posted as a “C” for Competitive and noted as: MSGA-Tee: i.e. MSGA-Green, MSGA-Blue or MSGA-Gold.
All players are responsible to posting scores for all non-MSGA rounds on the day the round is played.
Players are required to post their scores in accordance rules established by the USGA. For more information, click here.
The following apply to posting scores for MSGA tournaments:
- As MSGA tournaments are played on USGA rated courses, the MSGA automatically posts scores making all adjustments required under USGA rules.
- Scores are posted as a “C” for Competitive and noted as: MSGA-Tee: i.e. MSGA-Green, MSGA-Blue or MSGA-Gold. Course Ratings and Slopes are adjusted for the yardage changes for the various tees.
The following apply to posting scores for Non-MSGA rounds:
- Scores are required to be posted with the Date of the round and ASAP after date played. Both 9-hole and 18-hole rounds are required to be posted.
- If players are unable to post scores at their regular courses in a timely manner, all handicap systems allow posting via the internet.
- Scores are required to be posted with the Slope and Rating of the course and tees played.
- Adjustments for scores over maximum allowed by USGA rules:
- Maximum score allowed per hole: “Net Double Bogey”
- “Net Double Bogey” is defined as par for the hole plus two strokes (double bogey) plus any handicap stroke(s) received for the hole.
- For example: If player shoots a nine (9) on a par four (4) hole and receives one (1) handicap stroke on the hole, the maximum score the player can take on the holes is seven (7) (4 + 2 + 1 = 7). When the player posts the total score, the player must subtract two (2) from the Total Gross Score to meet USGA rules. See example from USGA website below.
- An example of USGA adjustment rule is shown below.
For posting questions, or assistance with internet postings, please contact Handicap Chairman, Kevin Shidler at 317-903-9706 or email.
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MSGA tournaments are played under USGA rules with handicaps from systems approved by the USGA. Handicap administration by the World Handicap System (WHS).
Handicap calculations are done by the WHS each night for players who post a score that day. The WHS returns the new handicap index for use the next day.
Each state association establishes a Handicap Active and Inactive Season Schedule for its state (or area of the state). For MSGA players the various seasons are:
- Indiana March 1 to November 14
- Michigan April 1 to October 31
- Illinois April 1 to October 31
- Florida Year-round
- Arizona Year-round
Click here for List of All States
Note: Active seasons for posting scores are determined by the state in which a round is played, so rounds played in the Active Season of that state must be posted.
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