Dear Augusta EWGA Members,

As part of your EWGA membership, you now have access to the new EWGA Golf Life Management System (GLMS) on the www.EWGA.com. From this web site you can obtain an official USGA Handicap Index, in addition to many other features. This email will focus on What a Handicap is, as well as using the EWGA Golf Life Management System to obtain and manage your Handicap. In the future, Chapter leaders will also be able to use this system for event registration and communications with members.

Please read the following information regarding handicaps.  Let me know if there is any way I can assist you in getting started with using the EWGA Golf Life Management System.

Stef Frickey
2005 Handicap Chair
Augusta EWGA
handicap@ewgaaugusta.com

PS – if you have already established a handicap you can skip to the section called “Using the EWGA Golf Life Management System.”

WHAT IS A HANDICAP INDEX AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?

If you are a new golfer or have never had a handicap index or maybe don't even know what it is, please read the following short introduction to what a handicap is and when to start working on obtaining one.

What is a handicap?

A handicap is an indication of a player's ability. A specific formula is used to compute handicaps by factoring in a player's score and the difficulty of the course played.

Why would I want a handicap?

A handicap allows players of different ability levels to compete with each other. For example, if a player with a 20 handicap has a score of 100, her net score is 80 (100 - 20 = 80) while a player with at 27 handicap and a score of 107 also has a net score of 80. Using handicaps helps to even the playing field, making the game more fun.

Handicaps also travel with you. If you play a course that is more difficult than your home course, your handicap will be higher. On an easier course, your handicap will be lower.

When should I get a handicap?

If you are just learning the game of golf and spend the majority of your time taking lessons or practicing, then it may be too early for you to get a handicap. 

Once you start playing 9 or 18 hole rounds, you should establish your handicap.

How do I get a handicap?

EWGA provides a handicap service as a part of your membership. This is included with the EWGA Golf Life Management System that is offered to every member affiliated with an EWGA Chapter. In order to use this service you must first activate your Golf Life Management account. You then must enter a minimum of 5 scores to establish your handicap.

If you have questions about using the system or obtaining a handicap, please contact the EWGA Headquarters at golf_life@ewga.com and they will be happy to help you. For more information on Handicaps, visit the USGA website handicap section or www.rcga.org (for Canadian handicaps).

Using the EWGA Golf Life Management System

ACCOUNT ACTIVATION

How to Activate your EWGA Golf Life Management Account:

1. Go to EWGA website, www.ewga.com and login to the Members Only area

2. On the left hand links, click on Activate Golf Life Management

3. Follow the instructions on the Golf Life Management System activation screen by entering your password to the EWGA Members Only area.

4. You will then see a screen, which indicates that you have successfully entered information to activate your account.

5. You will then receive an email to the email address on file with the EWGA member database advising that your EWGA Golf Life Management Account has been activated.

Using the System to Post Scores:

1. To access the EWGA Golf Life Management System, go to www.EWGA.com and click on the Golf Life Management System Link to Post a Score. You will be asked to enter your Member Number and Password. (This is the same password as the one you log in to the Members Only section.)

2. You will now be transferred to your personal Home Page on the EWGA Golf Life Management System.

3. In this system, you can post your total score or your hole by hole score to the golf course where you played.

A Note about Courses: Before you start posting scores check to see if the courses where you frequently play are in the database and if the tees from which you play are in the database and that the slope and rating for those tees is correct in the database. If one of your favorite courses is missing or information on the course needs updating, please send an email to courseupdate@ewga.com and they will see that the Course database is updated.

Adding Courses to Your List:

• Click the “Courses” Tab at the top of the page.

• Enter in the course name, city and state.

• Click on the course from the matching results

• Then click on the last red button on the right “Add To My Lists”

(The system has over 20,000 courses in its database.)

To Post Total Scores:

• Enter the date

• Select a course from your personal course list you created above or search the Course Database

• If the course is not found, select Course Not Found – Enter Manually and then you will need to enter the Slope and Rating of the Course played

• If the course is found, select the tees from which you played

• Check to make sure the slope and rating in the system matches the scorecard used – if any changes send an email to courseupdate@ewga.com

• Post your total score adjusted for equitable stroke control

Hole-by-Hole Scores: To post hole-by-hole scores, a correct scorecard for your favorite course needs to be in the course database. If the scorecard for the course where you played is in the course database and you have kept statistics like number of putts, fairways hit, etc. then you can post your score hole by hole in the system.  You decide which stats to track of the six available.

To Post Hole-by-Hole Scores:

• Enter the date

• Select a course from your personal course list you created above or search the Course Database

• If the course is not found, select Course Not Found – Enter Manually and then you will need to enter the Slope and Rating of the Course played

• If the course is found, select the tees from which you played

• Select the Player and the tees played

• Select the stats that you wish to track

• Click on “Go to Scorecard”

• Enter scores and stats

• Click on “Post Score”

(Help EWGA keep the database up to date by letting them know any updates needed for any courses that you play.)

4. Viewing Your Scoring Record and Printing Your Handicap Card

• You can either view your Scoring Record or print your Handicap Card by selecting them from the right side of your “My Home Page” under “My USGA Handicap”

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE SYSTEM:

1. The EWGA Golf Life Management System uses popups, please configure your web browser to allow popups from this site.

2. If your internet access is through a dial up modem rather than a high speed connection there could be delays while screens are loading. They are working on improving the access speed for all areas of the system.

3. If you had an established handicap and they were able to obtain that data, your scoring records have been imported although your tournament scores may be missing. Contact your state golf association to obtain your tournament scoring records if you do not have them.

4. If you do not see any entries in your Scoring Record and you have maintained a handicap in the past year, you will need to obtain a printout of your scoring history from your state golf association or from the club that managed your handicap and enter the past scoring records into the system.

5. Please let EWGA know if you have any problems or questions, they will be happy to assist you. Contact the Association Headquarters Office at golf_life@ewga.com or call Jeannine Muse, EWGA Tournament & Handicap Services Mgr. at 1-866-290-9101.