Handicapping - Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

Handicaps are a unique feature of the game of golf...

Allowing golfers with differing abilities to compete equitably against each other.

In the early 1980’s the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) in New York and USGA jointly developed the GHIN® (Golf Handicap Information Network®) service used by over 3 million golfers nationwide today. Handicapping is MAGA’s most visible and widely used service.

An official Handicap Index® is one of the many benefits of a Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Membership.
There are FOUR easy ways to join and get your GHIN Account today:

Private Course Membership - As a member of a private Metropolitan Member Club in this area you are already a member, just ask your club for your GHIN!
Public/Municipal Courses - Virtually every public and municipal golf course in the area has an organized Metropolitan Club that is easy and inexpensive to join
An e-Club Membership - The Metropolitan eClub, SIGA eClub, and USGA/MetAmateur GC are for those that do not have a course/club they call home
Club Without Real Estate - The Metropolitan offers a Club Without Real Estate option for clubs/groups, facilities, and businesses that do not have a course

The Metropolitan provides all of its members with full time staff support, supplies, educational seminars, publications and equipment necessary to administer the GHIN® Handicap Service. For more information on Handicapping and Membership follow the links below:

To renew your membership with a specific course or club, please contact them directly. Visit (or call) the course to request a Handicap Membership Renewal or Creation. Be ready to provide your name, GHIN number (if already established), and email address for a quick and smooth process.
Note: If you have ever had a GHIN number at any point in your life, you can and should still use that same number.
If you do not remember the number, it can be looked up, so contact us for help!