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Frequently Asked Questions – New Members

The following are some questions that are frequently asked about the NCGA by new members, along with the answers to those questions. If you have a question and do not see it here, you can call the NCGA at 831/625-4653 or send an e-mail.

Questions

General

Membership

Holes in One

Handicapping

Answers

Q. Why should I join? I really don’t need a handicap.

A. NCGA membership is much more than a handicap and tournaments. It’s the best ticket to reduced spending on golf available in the region. One round at NCGA member-owned Poppy Hills or Poppy Ridge saves enough money to virtually cover the cost of membership. Don’t want to travel? Check out the NCGA Member Advantage, a new benefit that extends NCGA members benefits and discounts at more than 75 courses across the region.

Q. What kind of money can I save through NCGA membership?

A. You can save up to $145 off the public rate at Poppy Hills and up to $55 off the public rate at Poppy Ridge. Members also save 20% in the golf shops and 10% in the restaurants at both courses and receive free lessons and club fittings. (Click here for a item-by-item breakdown on savings at the two NCGA member courses. With a green fee and cart, lunch and shirt from the golf shop, a member can save more than $150 with one visit to Poppy Hills).

Through the NCGA Member Advantage, a host of discounts on golf, food and beverage and merchandise are available. Free clinics, club fittings and a bevy of savings from partner companies (listed below) allow a member to save many times over the investment in membership. A typical Member Advantage facility might offer its twilight rate an hour earlier to NCGA members, a reduced rate for a foursome on select days and perhaps a 10% discount in the golf shop.

Q. Are there any non-golf discounts?

A. Yes. Hotel and travel discounts up and down the coast, a Dell Computer markdown as well as savings to Golden State Warriors and San Jose Sharks games are part of a comprehensive benefits package.

Q. I’m not very good. How can becoming a member help me improve?

A. Many facilities in the region offer free clinics to NCGA members. Covering a variety of topics, the clinics are a great way to learn in a fun, stress-free environment.

Q. I am not a serious golfer and will never play in a tournament. Why should I join?

A. Your membership delivers much more value than just tournaments. In fact, while tournaments are a very popular benefit to many members, the majority of NCGA golfers never enter one choosing instead to utilize the many other benefits that come with membership.

Q: How do I become an NCGA member?

A: The NCGA is an association of golf clubs. You must join the NCGA through an NCGA club. There are two types of NCGA golf clubs: regular (affiliated with golf courses) and associate (no affiliation with a golf course facility). NCGA eClubs (regional associate clubs based via the Internet) were introduced in 2006 as a new type of associate club. An associate club is a group of 20 or more members who play golf on a regular basis and have a reasonable opportunity to play golf with one another. Associate clubs can be found just about anywhere, including work places, social groups, etc. If you want to find that is seeking new members, click here.

Q: What do I do if I have a change of address or a name change?

A: Contact your NCGA club. The club will change the address or spelling of your name and transmit the change. If your address changes, inform your club IMMEDIATELY. Your address must be current and correct in order for you to receive your NCGA membership card as well as the NCGA Golf Magazines and information from your club.

Q: I didn’t receive my magazine. How can I get one?

A: Other than the Bluebook, we do not mail out extra magazines after the initial mailing because of the tremendous additional cost incurred. Please check with your club to make sure it has the correct address for you for your next magazine. You also need ensure they transmit the information. A Bluebook replacement may be purchased, by a member, at a cost of $5 but the magazine will not be mailed until the money is received.

Q: Why must I pay dues through each NCGA golf club?

A: For both practical and philosophical reasons.

From a practical standpoint, clubs generate monthly printouts of the current Handicap Indexes of their membership. If your club schedules a tournament on the first of the month, you have all the handicap information you need in hand (or can import it from our software) in order to conduct your tournament. Likewise your club would not have access to perform record maintenance on behalf of any golfers that are not on your roster. Such maintenance as name or address changes, score additions/edits/deletions could only be achieved by their other club. Your club also would not be able to generate address labels for mailings to such golfers via the means in place for those appearing on your roster.

Lastly, such golfers would be ineligible to represent your club in NCGA team competitions since they would not be registered under your club. The bottom line is more work for your club and less service or convenience for the golfers.

From a philosophical standpoint, the NCGA is an association of member clubs, not member “partial” clubs. We never have and likely never will entertain the thought of offering services to just a portion of a club.

Multi-members do not receive a reimbursement of their multiple fees for the simple fact that there are real costs and real independent benefits for a golfer that is listed under two clubs.

Q. How do become a volunteer?

A: Visit this link for more information and to complete an application.

Q: I just got a hole-in-one. What do I do?

A: The entry form is available for download onthe NCGA’s website. The requirements to register your hole-in-one with the NCGA are that the course must be an NCGA course, and you must post the score to be eligible. Please refer to the entry blank for the other requirements.

Q. How often are handicap indexes updated on the website?

A: A Handicap Index is issued through your NCGA club and only updated on the first and 15th day of each month per the NCGA’s revision schedule. Therefore the Handicap Index via our web site is updated on the first and 15th of each month. The initial screen of scores displayed is merely a snap shot in time and shows the scores that were used in your current Handicap Index calculation. It literally captures the scores that were successfully posted toward your score file as of the monthly cutoff dates (the 14th and the last day of the month) at 6:00 PM Pacific Time.

A golfer added after the cut-off dates will see only partial membership information displayed on our web site along with an NH (No Handicap Index).

All active members must click on the CLICK HERE FOR RECENT SCORES link to see scores that have been posted throughout the month.

Golfers not active through a golf club will not have information displayed.

Q: Can I post my scores over the Internet?

A: Yes. The NCGA/GHIN Handicap System allows clubs the option to have their members post scores via the Internet. Such an option is designed to fill in for those occasions when a golfer may not be able to post their score at the golf course at which they completed their round (i.e., rounds completed at dusk when the posting PC is not available). More on posting a score.

Q: Whom do I contact to correct an erroneous score that has been posted to my NCGA number?

A: All score changes, corrections, and deletions must be performed by a club official by making that change at the club computer. For non-electronic clubs, a club official must notify the NCGA in writing of the appropriate score change.

Q: How do I obtain my index every month?

A: You can view your current index and 20 scores (as of the most recent revision) directly through our website. Insert your NCGA/GHIN number in the box labeled “Check Handicap Index” to view your current index or register your e-mail address to have the Handicap Index e-mailed to you. Your e-mail address can be registered on the homepage of the NCGA website.

Q: What is the definition of a multi-member?

A: A multi-member is an NCGA member who belongs to more than one NCGA golf club. However, the player is issued only one NCGA number no matter how many NCGA clubs he or she joins. To ensure that all scores will be routed to your score file, provide all clubs with your existing or pre-existing number.