FAQ

Practice rounds are at the discretion of the host club. Fees associated with practice rounds vary from course to course. Please contact the club directly to schedule a practice round time, do not just show up.

Caddies are not allowed at MSGA junior events. Juniors may use a caddy during events such as the men’s or women’s amateur championships.

To retrieve your password, visit ghin.com and select “Login Information” below the login button. Enter your GHIN # or email, and you will receive an email containing link to change your password. After you select the link, you’ll be redirected to a page and prompted to enter and save your new password.

Officials of the Maryland State Golf Association are often asked “How do I get a handicap?” Under the World Handicap System Rules of Handicapping, the USGA states that “in order to establish and maintain a Handicap Index, a golfer must be a member of an authorized golf club.” Most golf courses, public and private, are authorized.

In affiliation with the USGA, the MSGA is the Allied Golf Association in Maryland and Washington D.C. The USGA and R&A authorize the MSGA to use the World Handicap System, and a golf club located in this region must be authorized by the MSGA to issue Handicap Indexes. The MSGA will help you find an authorized club in our region, and you can search for an authorized club in the Member Club Directory or join the MSGA eClub  to start posting scores to your handicap. For more information visit our Join Now page.

Yes, distance measuring devices are allowed as long as they do not measure slope or wind Rule 4.3a(1) & 4.3a(2).

Penalty for Breach of Rule 4.3a(1):

• Penalty for first breach from single act or related acts: General Penalty
  Match Play – Loss of hole; Stroke Play – Two strokes.
• Penalty for second breach unrelated to first breach: Disqualification