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What's your handicap? Turns out, that's a loaded question

A new associate editor at *Golf Digest* faced an unexpected challenge before her first day on the job: she couldn’t recall her golf handicap. Invited to the company’s annual Seitz Cup tournament at Tamarack Country Club, she was asked to submit her Handicap Index—a routine request for a scramble event—but hadn’t tracked it in years.

Once a competitive high school golfer who regularly shot in the low-to-mid 80s and carried a 13 handicap, she hadn’t played consistently since college, leaving her skills and index unclear. Guessing a number between 15 and 16, she submitted it without hesitation—only to spark playful accusations of sandbagging from colleagues.

The experience highlighted a common dilemma for occasional golfers: how to establish or re-establish a handicap when years have passed since their last round. For those in the U.S., the process begins with registering through the GHIN app or joining an authorized golf club, then posting scores from at least 54 holes to calculate an official Handicap Index.

The incident served as a lighthearted reminder of how quickly golfers can lose touch with their game—and the importance of keeping records up to date, even for casual players.

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