Golf handicap system and methods

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention provides exemplary systems and methods for updating a golf handicap index.
According to one exemplary method, a handicap index is updated by providing a card having golfer information relating to a particular golfer.
Such golfer information includes posted scores used in the calculation of a current handicap index.
A local processing unit is also provided which includes calculation information for calculating an updated handicap index.
The golfer information is transferred from the card to the local processing unit, and a score is also entered into the local processing unit for a completed round of golf.
The local processing unit is then employed to compute an updated handicap index based at least in part on the entered score.
In this way, a golfer is able to obtain an updated handicap index upon completion of a round of golf, rather than waiting for an extended period of time.
Of course, under current USGA regulations, the invention may be configured to produce updated handicap indexes according to current rules, i.
e.
not more frequently than once every two weeks and not less frequent than once a month.
In one particularly preferable aspect, the card is updated with the updated handicap index, if appropriate, and the latest entered score.
In the event that USGA rules require that a person's handicap index may only be updated within certain time periods, the local processing unit may be configured to indicate whether the updated information includes the entered score.
One particular advantage of the present invention is that each golf course may be provided with its local processing unit so that a golfer may take the card to numerous other golf courses to have the handicap index updated after a round of golf.
Further, in the event that the golfer plays at an away golf course, the local processing unit at the away golf course will preferably be configured to transmit the entered score to the golfer's home course.
Preferably, the local processing units will be interconnected by the Internet so that scores and other information may be transferred between the local processing units