This is the place you can find all your handicap questions answered. If however there is a question that is not addressed below please email our handicaps chair Debbie Simeone at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you have suggestions as to what else you’d like to see covered here let her know as well.

Why Obtain a USGA Handicap Index?

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of all abilities to compete on an equitable basis. For those of you that like to have matches with your friends, having a handicap allows you to have a fair match no matter what the other golfers’ ability is. It also allows you to enter more events as you now you will be able to enter events that require a handicap index. But one of the more satisfying reason is it allows you to see your improvement as it is a concrete way to track your game.

How can I obtain a Handicap Index?

Well as a member of EWGA you have 2 ways you can do it.

1. One way is thru the EWGA Golf Life Management System (GLMS). As a member this service is free to you. To active this feature of your membership you can click on the link and follow the instructions for activation. This system also gives members the following benefits:
   
   Post Scores on line
   Access 20,000 + golf course profiles
   Track Personal game statistics
   Print a handicap card
   View scoring history
   Communicate with other members and more
   
   Continue to GLMS >>
   
    
2. The second way is to obtain one thru our local Chapter and the Southern Nevada Golf Association. The cost of the local handicap is $20.00 per year / which will be paid by your local chapter. I would greatly encourage you to maintain one locally as it allows you to play in events that are organized by the WSNGA (Women’s’ Southern Nevada Golf Assoc.) and NSWGA (Nevada State Women’s Golf Assoc.) Here is just a sampling of some of the events:
   
   1. Women’s Southern Nevada Amateur
   2. Women’s Southern Nevada Senior Amateur
   3. Nevada State Partners
   4. Nevada State Quad tournament
   5. Silver Cup
   6. Local WSNGA member club’s tournaments
   
   If you would like to sign up for a Southern Nevada handicap please email the handicap chair to start the process at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

What is Equitable Stroke Control (ESC)?

ESC is an adjustment of individual hole scores (for handicap purposes) in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability. It eliminates those huge scores we may have on a hole that is out of the ordinary for us. One applies ESC after the round before you post your score. ESC sets a limit to the number of strokes a player can take on a hole depending on your course handicap not your handicap index. For instance on a course with a slope of 120 your index may be 18.8 but your course handicap is 20. You would use that 20 number in the table below and not the 18. The table below shows you the max number of strokes you can take on any hole regardless of whether it is a par 3 or a par 5. This also is a good number to use as to when you should pick up your ball and move on to the next hole. Example: Your course handicap is 23 – so the max score you can have on any hole would be an 8. After the round you look at your scorecard and reduce any scores higher than an 8 to an 8. Than recalculate your score and post that number.

If you have elected to establish a SNGA handicap follow the instructions below to login and start posting your scores.