Handicap Certification Program
Four handicap certification seminars are scheduled in June and July.
In an effort to better educate clubs on the inner workings of the USGA Handicap System, the NCGA embarked on a bold educational initiative in 2002.
Dubbed the “NCGA Handicap Certification Program,” a series of half-day seminars were conducted region-wide to provide clubs with the tools to better organize their Handicap Committee and better administer the Handicap System. Special emphasis was placed on dealing with those golfers who abuse the System for their own benefit.
51 seminars in all regions of Northern California have been conducted from 2002-2007 drawing in excess of 2,700 individuals representing more than 1,200 member clubs. More importantly, these seminars have clearly triggered a rededication by clubs toward their handicap-related duties. In short, more and more clubs are taking a closer look at the posting activities of their members and at the accuracy of the Index being issued.
Topics of discussion at the seminars include individual golfer responsibilities, club responsibilities, penalty options for System abusers, software training and a review of NCGA membership policies. Interaction in the form of discussion periods, question and answer sessions, etc., is highly encouraged.
Completing one seminar between 2008 and 2011 by all members clubs is mandatory .
Clubs are required to send a representative to attend and complete a session and are required to maintain a certified attendee on their active roster each year from this point on.
Clubs that fail to fulfill and maintain this mandatory attendance requirement are denied eligibility in NCGA competitions. In addition, the USGA requires completion of such a seminar between 2008 – 2011 in order to be licensed to issue so-called “official” handicaps.
Means by which a club may satisfy requirement
1) attendance and completion of an NCGA Handicap Certification Seminar
and/or
2) completion of an on-line NCGA Handicap Certification Seminar. The schedule of 2008 “live” seminars is listed below. The on-line seminar is in development and expected to be unveiled later this season.
Four NCGA Handicap Certification Seminars have been scheduled for 2008. All four seminars have been scheduled for Saturdays. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. The seminar will conclude at 3:30 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. There is no charge for the seminar or meals.
PLEASE NOTE: Clubs that currently retain an individual on their roster that successfully completed an NCGA Handicap Certification Seminar between 2002 and 2007 are deemed to be in full compliance with NCGA and USGA requirements at this time. For such clubs there is no urgency in attending an NCGA Certification Seminar in 2008. As long as the representative that completed a previous NCGA Certification Seminar remains with the club, they have until 2011 to renew their USGA requirement. All clubs also has the option of renewing their requirement via our on-line seminar which will be available later this year.
Clubs not in Compliance with Handicap Certification
2008 NCGA Handicap Certification Program
Seminar Dates
Saturday, June 28
Culinary Express
380 West Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Registration
Saturday, July 12 (This seminar has been cancelled)
Modesto
Schedule of Activities
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:30 – noon Seminar
Noon – 1:00 Buffet Lunch
1:00 – 3:30 Seminar
I am the golf chairman for SIRS Branch 91 golf club # 53031. I am trying to register to attend the Handicap Certification program on June 14th at the So. San Francisco Conference Center. I could not find any other place on the NCGA site to register. Please let me know if this will do it or how to find the right place.
May 21st, 2008 at 6:14 pmI just took over the responsibilities previously held by Matt Nuthals for the Athletics and Golf departments for Pacific Athletic Club in Redwood Shores. He previously held the title of Handicap chairman. Being new to the position I understand that I need to attend this seminar in order for our members to keep being members of NCGA. Much like Dale, I too could not find where to register online. Any additional information would help. I would like to register for the June 28 seminar at Coyote Creek in San Jose
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pmDale and Matt- I will be more than happy to sign you up for the seminars that you are wanting to attend. Give me a call at our office (831-625-4653) and I will expedite this process. Thank you.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 amI just recently (early 2008) took the USGA handicapping certification course (which cost $40.00. Does this not comply with the NCGA handicapping requirements? Must I now take the NCGA handicapping course?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:52 amJan, thank you for your message. The USGA Seminar satisfies the USGA Handicap System requirement. It does NOT satisfy the NCGA requirement. The NCGA Seminar satisfies both. Thanks – Jim Cowan
May 28th, 2008 at 1:07 pmI serve on the PWGA and NCGA Handicap committees at our club. I have already attended the PWGA Seminar and passed the test with 100%. Do I need to also repeat this process for NCGA or will the PWGA testing suffice?
June 15th, 2008 at 7:28 pmPJ – Thank you for your comment. Attendance at a PWGA Seminar does not satisfy our NCGA requirement. The good news, however, is that your club has five individuals on the roster at this time that have completed one of our seminars which means your club is in full compliance with our requirement. That being said, at some point between now and the end of 2011, someone from your club must complete a live seminar or NCGA on-line seminar again. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
June 17th, 2008 at 8:10 amI am the handicap chairman of a Recently added club for 2008 (Fore Aces, 63-860). I am not sure if I (or another member) will be able to attend one of the remaining live seminars. If I take the future on-line seminar when it becomes available, will our club fulfill this requirement?
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:05 pmSteven – Thank you for your comment. Our on-line seminar, once it is introduced, can substitute for “live” attendance and earn your club the necessary credit. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
June 24th, 2008 at 8:04 amWhen will the On-Line Seminar be operational? How will Members be notified that the On-Line Seminar is available? Cordially, RBM
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pmRobert B. Miller – Thank you for your comment. We have experienced a couple of setbacks that have delayed the launch of our on-line seminar. I am hopeful that it will be operational late this year. We will notify all clubs when it becomes available. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.
September 16th, 2008 at 8:56 amAre there any 2009 Handicap Certification Seminars?
April 14th, 2009 at 2:07 pmGreg – Thank you for your comment. The 2009 info is being sent to all member clubs this week. We have scheduled two seminars; Saturday, May 30th at Stockton GCC and Saturday, June 13th at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Work is progressing on our on-line Certification Seminar, we expect it to be operational by mid-summer. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
April 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pmHi Jim,
April 29th, 2009 at 10:48 amI remember I received a mail or e-mail before mentioned that we can do this over the internet. How can we do it?
Thanks.
Carol – Thank you for your comment. We are in the process of developing an on-line Certification Seminar that can substitute for attendance of a “live” seminar. My best guess is that it will be available this summer. We will alert all clubs when it is activated. Thanks again – Jim Cowan
May 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pmHi Jim,
December 9th, 2009 at 7:47 pmHas the NCGA on-line Handicap Certification Seminar been established yet? I was unable to attend one of the “live” seminars and want to complete this.
Thanks.