01/31/12 - Did you know you can’t post scores made on most par-3 courses?

An 18-hole golf course must be at least 3,000 yards in length, or at least 1,500 yards per 9-holes in order to be posted to your scoring record for a USGA Handicap Index.

01/12/12 - Did You Know These Golf Related Numbers?

OGA Members play on average more than 50 rounds of golf and post more than 2 million rounds of golf on GHIN each year.

11/30/11 - DID YOU KNOW? Beginning in 2012, Handicap Revision Dates Will be the Same Everywhere!

An important new policy in the upcoming revised USGA Handicap System Manual (2012-2015) will be a National Revision Schedule.

11/15/11 - Did You Know A Slope Rating Has Nothing To Do With Topography!

Slope actually indicates the mathematical slope of a line (rise over run) when graphing scores against a Handicap Index.

11/01/11 - Did You Know? The term “handicap” was first used in golf inthe 1870’s

.... and the first computation was based on the player’s best three scores.

10/18/11 - Did you know?  You can’t compare a golf course’s difficulty from the Slope Rating alone!

It seems natural as golfers to want to note (and perhaps argue about) the similarities or differences regarding the difficulty of golf courses by looking at the Slope Ratings.  Its really not that simple!  Read more!

10/04/11 - Did You Know, taking a “mulligan” does not negate your score for Handicap purposes?

A score must NOT be posted to a USGA Handicap Index if a majority of the holes are not played under the principles of the Rules of Golf. In an 18-hole round, a majority would be 10 or more holes, so a mulligan here or there still requires tha you post your score!

09/20/11 - 100 Years of Handicapping

On October 11, 1911 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, the USGA adopted the first USGA Handicap System.

09/05/11 - DID YOU KNOW there are 10 “Handicap Controls” incorporated into the USGA Handicap System?

It all begins with licensing, and golf clubs may only issue a USGA Handicap Index to its members by agreeing to apply those controls as set forth by the system.

08/23/11 - Did You Know Net Contests Often Require Handicap Allowances?

A primary purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to provide the most possible equity between golfers of different skill levels, and often this requires computing different allowances of a full course handicap depending on the format of the competition.

01/31/12 - Did you know you can’t post scores made on most par-3 courses?

An 18-hole golf course must be at least 3,000 yards in length, or at least 1,500 yards per 9-holes in order to be posted to your scoring record for a USGA Handicap Index.

01/20/12 - Combo Tees—The Free And Easy Way to Update Your Course!

Keeping a golf course fresh and interesting for regular players doesn’t necessarily require investing in new tee boxes.  The same result can be accomplished with “Combo Tees” -- using two or more sets of tees to add variety.

12/02/11 - Courses Rated in 2011

The Oregon Golf Association is licensed by the United States Golf Association to exclusively be responsible for the measuring and rating of every regulation length golf course in Oregon & SW Washington.  In 2011, we visited 33 golf courses and published new ratings. 

11/15/11 - Did You Know A Slope Rating Has Nothing To Do With Topography!

Slope actually indicates the mathematical slope of a line (rise over run) when graphing scores against a Handicap Index.

09/20/11 - Did You Know Two different sets of tees CAN have the SAME Slope Rating?

This is because the Slope Rating, which takes into account both the scratch and bogey golfer, is only relative to the Course Rating.

06/15/11 - Did You Know Rough Height is A Significant Factor in a Course’s Rating

Taller rough causes the Rough and Recoverability number to jump, and affects the end result of the rating. 

05/30/11 - Did You Know “Psychological” is an Obstacle Factor in the Course Rating System?

Many punitive obstacles located near a target area causes uneasiness in the mind of the golfer, and can affect his score.

05/17/11 - OGA Releases Ratings for Forest Hills, King City and Killarney West

The OGA is exclusively licensed by the USGA to rate and measure golf courses in Oregon and SW Washington.  This is a free service for facilities that host OGA Member Clubs.  To be eligible to be rated, a course must be no less than 1,500 yards in length for 9-holes.

05/16/11 - Did You Know Course Rating is a function of the USGA Handicap System?

The OGA, along with other state/regional golf associations, are trained and licensed by the USGA to objectively evaluate 10 obstacle factors when rating a golf course.

12/07/10 - Why We Set the Handicapping Season As We Do

I’m often asked why we begin our handicapping season on March 1st, and end it on December 1st. There’s one basic and crucial reason: course ratings and their effect on handicaps.