The Erie District Golf Association (EDGA) by agreement with the United States Golf Association (USGA) is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the handicapping activities in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Mainly because the USGA does not issue indexes to individuals but relies on the golf clubs and authorized golf associations (see definitions in Section 2 of the Handicap Manual) to provide this function it also delegates the oversight responsibility to the local association having jurisdiction in the area which, in Northwestern Pennsylvania is the EDGA. The EDGA not only provides oversight but also functions as a source for education and information where the need exists. To reiterate the purpose of the USGA Handicap System from the Manual:

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System™ is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides fair Course Handicaps™ for players regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s Handicap Index™ up or down as his game changes. At the same time, it disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential scoring ability and promotes continuity by making handicaps continuous from one playing season or year to the next. A USGA Handicap Index is useful for all forms of play. A basic premise underlies the USGA Handicap System, namely that every player will try to make the best score he can at each hole in every round he plays, regardless of where the round is played, and that he will post every acceptable round for peer review.

A USGA index must be earned by evidence that an individual is familiar with and has returned scores in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the USGA Handicap System. A USGA Index is not something that should be “freely given.”

If you have questions regarding the operation of the System please refer to the Handicap Manual or obtain additional information by contacting the EDGA Secretary, Ted Grassi, III at 835-3743 or by secretary@edga.org.