Far Hills, N.J. (July 1) – The Guam National Golf Federation has joined the United States Golf Association’s Golf Handicap and Information Network® (GHIN), becoming part of a growing number of international federations within the GHIN family.
Overall, the GHIN network now comprises 70 state, regional and national golf associations covering 41 states, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic and Guam. Founded in 1989, the Guam National Golf Federation currently assists the island’s nine golf courses with a range of services. The Federation also selects and trains golfers to represent Guam in international competitions, including the South Pacific Games and the World Amateur Team Championship.
“We are very excited to make the GHIN service available to clubs and players here on Guam,” said George Benoit, president of the Guam National Golf Federation. “It should help grow the game, enable more accurate handicaps among our golfers and perhaps even motivate them to practice more to lower their handicaps. I am confident that the GHIN service will greatly improve golf on Guam and the surrounding islands.”
“We are pleased to assist the Guam National Golf Federation, its members and member clubs,” said Christie Austin, chairman of the USGA’s GHIN committee. “With electronic media capabilities continuing to grow throughout the world, GHIN is able to fully support international governing bodies that are licensed to use the USGA Handicap System™.”
Started in 1981 at the request of state and regional golf associations, the GHIN service has grown to serve more than 12,000 golf clubs and more than two million golfers. It is an optional offering for clubs in meeting the requirements of the USGA Handicap System that allows all golfers to compete on a relatively equal basis.
About the USGA
The USGA is the national governing body of golf in the USA and Mexico. The USGA annually conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and 10 national amateur championships. It also conducts two state team championships and helps conduct the Walker Cup Match, Curtis Cup Match and World Amateur Team Championships.
The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, provides expert course maintenance consultations, maintains a Handicap System® and celebrates the history of the game. Since 1983, the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program has awarded more than $31 million to more than 400 research projects for better turf and a better environment at universities across the country.The USGA also funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program, which has allocated more than $65 million over 13 years to programs that bring the game’s values to youths from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.
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