Welcome to Stuff Golfers Should Know, a GOLF.com series in which we reveal all kinds of useful golf (and life!) wisdom that is sure to make you the smartest, savviest and most prepared player in your foursome.
Good news, golfers: Some of you can now enter scores for your Handicap Index. And if you are among the group who still can’t — sorry Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire and others! — don’t fret, your time is fast approaching. There may still be snow on the ground where you live, but this is time to rejoice. The golf season is drawing closer!
First, a refresher: The United States Golf Association has an active and inactive season for select regional associations when it comes to posting handicap scores. Why? Because depending on where you live, the weather doesn’t always cooperate, and we want our handicaps to be as accurate as possible.
The Etiquetteist: An overwhelming number of golfers don’t carry handicaps. Here’s why they should.
Let’s take Wisconsin, for example, which has an active season of April 1 to Oct. 31. Your local course might very well be open on a rare balmy day in late November — and you should definitely tee it up while you can — just know that score won’t be eligible to post to your handicap. That’s because the USGA believes playing a round in the inactive season — like November in Wisconsin — comes with seasonal weather that impacts course conditions. That will affect your score and, if you entered it, your handicap, which means it wouldn’t be a completely true reflection of your overall game.
Some associations, like those in the south, are active all year. But the first handful of seasonal associations opened on March 1. More will open March 15, April 1 and, the latest opening date, April 15. The seasons are then active until about October or November, depending on your association. (One caveat: if you live in an inactive season but travel and play within an active association, you can and should post those scores.)
Below is a complete list of regional associations with seasonal schedules, including their active season dates for 2023. If an association is not listed it’s because it’s a year-round active season. For more information, click here.
And if you don’t have a handicap yet, what are you waiting for? Register for your own Handicap Index here.
State Golf Association — 2023 active season dates
Alaska Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Colorado Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 14
Connecticut State Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Delaware State Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Idaho Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 14
Chicago District Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Indiana Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 14
Iowa Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Central Links Golf (Kanas) — March 1-Dec. 31
Kentucky Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 30
Maine State Golf Association — April 15-Oct. 31
Maryland State Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 30
Massachusetts Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Golf Association of Michigan — April 1-Oct. 31
Minnesota Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (Missouri) — March 1-Nov. 14
Missouri Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 14
Montana State Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Nebraska Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 14
New Hampshire Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
New Jersey State Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Metropolitan Golf Association (N.Y.) — April 1-Nov. 14
New York State Golf Association — April 15-Oct. 31
Rochester District Golf Association — April 15-Oct. 31
Northern Nevada Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 30
North Dakota Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 15
Greater Cincinnati Golf Association (Ohio) – March 15-Nov. 14
Miami Valley Golf Association (Ohio) – March 15-Nov. 30
Northern Ohio Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Ohio Golf Association — March 15-Nov. 30
Oregon Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 30
Golf Association of Philadelphia — April 1-Nov. 14
Western Pennsylvania Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
Rhode Island Golf Association — April 1-Nov. 14
South Dakota Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Utah Golf Association (Northern Section) — March 15-Nov. 14
Vermont Golf Association — April 15-Oct. 31
Washington State Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 14
West Virginia Golf Association — March 1-Nov. 30
Wisconsin State Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Wyoming Golf Association — April 1-Oct. 31
Register for your own USGA handicap here.