Thanks to Uinta Golf, we mailed this issue to 10,000 of their customers that are not, for one reason or another, members of the UGA. Our intention obviously is to let them know that they are missing out and need to join us in 2006. In our Watts Cookin’ column UGA Executive Director Joe Watts details many of the membership benefits. To highlight a few; the membership fee of $25 is easily recouped by the many two-for-one discounts that come printed on the handicap card and with a membership you receive four issues of Fairways magazine delivered right to your mailbox each year. There are many more, please read Watts Cookin on page seven. One of the major benefits of joining the UGA is receiving a United States Golf Association handicap. All golfers of any age or skill should have a USGA handicap. According to the UGA website, “If you don't have a handicap you can't really be classified as a golfer.” The UGA, through its computers located at each golf course, provides its members with the best and easiest handicapping system allowing for easy posting of all casual round scores. The UGA then provides, on the same computers and online, a twice-a-month update throughout the season. The UGA system is the only handicapping system in Utah recognized as official by the United States Golf Association. The handicap index that is tracked with your membership is a valuable tool for any skill level of golfer. That index can be used by tournament officials and head professionals when setting up tournament flights. A great example is the UGA Winterchamps tournament held each March in St. George. One of the reasons the Winterchamps tournament is so popular (in addition to playing two days of golf in sunny St. George) is that the tournament offers up to six gross and/or net flights. Gross flights do not take into account your handicap while net flights will reduce your gross score by your index number for that course. Each flight (gross or net) at a tournament is filled with similar handicap index level golfers. Meaning that with my handicap of 15.6 (go ahead, look it up) I am assured that I will be playing with and against similar skill level golfers. What that really means is that I actually have an opportunity of competing in a tournament atmosphere for a chance to see my name on the leader board. I know going in that I am going to be teeing it up with the likes of my office mates, Mike Stansfield (14.8) and Garrit Johnson (15.8) instead of say, USGA Pub Links champion Clay Ogden (+2.8), three time State Am champ Doug Bybee (0) or Women’s State Am champ Rachel Newren (2.0). Can you imagine that foursome? Me and three major Utah golf champions? You would have three scores at par or under and then me — sitting alone with my 88 or more likely a 92. Just for the record, I can mail in a 92 without even lacing up my Nikes. (You can look that up also, the online handicap system shows your last 20 rounds with the scores (differentials) used to compute your index marked in red.) Our three champions would have to put up with my sliced drives, chunked chips and lip-outs but come to think of it, I have taken enough pictures of all three of them to fill their mother’s photo albums – I’m sure they could put up with me for 18 holes. But wait, there’s another benefit to having a handicap. If our little foursome had a nice friendly round of net (handicaps enforced) 18-hole stroke play, I could compete with them or any other top golfer in the state. I would get to subtract 16 strokes (one stroke on each of the 16 toughest holes on the course), Rachel would get two strokes, Doug none and our boy “Clay Dawg” would add three strokes. Using our handicaps our match would be much more competitive. The idea of the handicap index is to help level the playing field. Another example of UGA membership benefits comes by watching your improvement by tracking your handicap index. Want to know if the money you spent on those new clubs was worth the investment? Track your handicap. Want to know if the money you spent at the three-day golf school was well spent? Track the rise or fall of your handicap. Like the UGA says, to be a golfer, means getting a handicap. To those of you who are not currently members of the UGA, I hope that you enjoy your free copy of Fairways. Please consider joining the UGA. For more information about joining the UGA call (801) 563-0400. |
Back to From the Clubhouse
© Copyright Fairways Magazine 2005 • All rights reserved
