Please see James Thompson to get a copy  of the USGA Golf Rules & Handicap book.

GolfCourse Etiquette

What is it? It is Information about how the game is played. It is simple information about common courtesy! There is real sadness in seeing a golfer who has a narrow view of golf - whether they wear the latest from Gucci or a T-shirt from K-Mart. They seem never to understand the simple beauty of the game they take for granted. Each one of us should strive to embody more than the ability to strike a ball crisply. As members of the Association, we should set the standard for honesty in the game. Let's raise it to a dignified level, but always display great humility.

No Time? Here Are Tips You Need To Focus On

Something that we never tire of - tips to make our games better! You dream about getting on the course every day; but truth is, the weekend is usually the only time you have to work on your game.

Let's Talk About Handicaps!

There are some members who have been accused of walking around The Courses at Fort Meade with sand dripping out of their pockets. While this page is not current as of today, it does allow you to see if you are getting the correct number of strokes for your matches.

And, talking about "sandbaggers," did you know that in 1913, an amateur staged perhaps the greatest upset in golf history?  Francis Ouimet, 20, who caddied at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, stunned professionals Harry Vardon and Ted Ray to win an 18-hole playoff for the national championship there.  Chances of something like that happening again are more remote than ever.

The USGA, overwhelmed by players attempting to qualify for its myriad championships, tightened entry requirements for six of its men's tournaments in 1998. For the U. S. Open, the maximum handicap index fell to 1.4, a full stroke under previous requirements. Almost 38,000 golfers attempted to qualify for the USGA's 13 national championships in 1997: double the number from 20 years earlier.

Too many of them, it seems, were showing up for qualifiers and posting scores that would not contend for Stag Day prizes. "At one point our attitude was to let as many people as possible have a chance to qualify and we still want that. But the bottom line is that USGA Championships are for the best players," said Tom Meeks, USGA Director of Rules and Competition.

Handicap limit changes as of 1998: