Frequently Asked Questions

Joining the AGA is done entirely online through GHIN. Visit join.ghin.com/bvp39x to sign up or renew your membership. The process takes just a few minutes and you'll receive your GHIN number and Handicap Index shortly after joining.

Your AGA membership includes:

• USGA Handicap Index® with daily revisions and bi-monthly email updates
• Access to the Golf Handicap Information Network® (GHIN®)
• Free GHIN Mobile smartphone app (search "GHIN Mobile")
• Free stat tracking, charting, GPS, and game features in the GHIN app
• Eligibility to participate in AGA state and regional tournaments
• Free junior memberships for golfers 18 and under
• Monthly AGA e-Newsletter
• Hole-in-one certificates
• Free copy of the USGA Rules of Golf upon request
• Member discounts with AGA partners including Radmor Golf and Stracka

Membership fees are listed during the sign-up process at join.ghin.com/bvp39x. Junior memberships (age 18 and under) are free. Contact the AGA at golfalaska@gmail.com or 907-350-4880 for current pricing information.

Yes — junior memberships for golfers age 18 and under are completely free through the AGA. This includes a full USGA Handicap Index and all the same GHIN benefits as adult members. The AGA is committed to growing junior golf across Alaska and removing financial barriers to participation. Sign up at join.ghin.com/bvp39x.

The AGA eClub for membership has been renamed to AGA-Southcentral. This change was made in 2026 to better define where a golfer resides and encourage members to join or renew in their correct region. The change was made with input from WA Golf and the AGA Board of Directors. If you have questions about which club to join, contact us at golfalaska@gmail.com.

AGA members currently receive the following discounts:

• Radmor Golf Apparel — 20% off using discount code GOLFALASKA20 at radmorgolf.com
• Stracka — 20% off green-reading books (USGA legal, available for 35,000+ courses worldwide) at strackaline.com

Additional discounts may be added throughout the year. Check the Membership page for the latest partner offers.

The AGA office is located at Fox Hollow Golf and Sports Dome in Anchorage. The AGA moved to this location in 2026 to better support the expansion of junior golf programs. Mailing address: 11801 Brayton Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99516.

A USGA Handicap Index is a numerical measure of your potential golf ability. It allows golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other on any rated course in the world. To participate in AGA tournaments, you must have a current Handicap Index. It's also useful for friendly competition, tracking your progress, and playing in events at your home course.

You can post scores in several ways:

• Through the free GHIN Mobile app (search "GHIN Mobile" in the App Store or Google Play)
• Online at ghin.com
• At a score posting terminal at your home course (where available)

Scores must be posted for all rounds played on USGA-rated courses. You should post your score on the day you play or as soon as possible after your round.

Your Handicap Index is revised daily through GHIN whenever a new score is posted. You also receive bi-monthly email updates summarizing your current index. The AGA emails revised handicaps to members periodically throughout the season.

Yes — scores posted at officially rated military courses count toward your USGA Handicap Index just like any other rated course. Moose Run (Creek and Hill courses) and Eagleglen are all officially rated by the AGA and are in the USGA NCRDB. You must have legitimate access to the facility to play and post there.

No — scores from Muskeg Meadows (Wrangell) and Mendenhall Golf Course (Juneau) cannot currently be used toward your official USGA Handicap Index because these courses are not yet rated under the USGA Course and Slope Rating System. The AGA encourages these facilities to pursue an official rating. Contact us at handicappingalaska@wagolf.org for more information.

The free GHIN Mobile app is your all-in-one golf companion. It's available for iPhone and Android — search "GHIN Mobile" in your app store. With the app you can:

• Post scores from anywhere instantly
• View your current Handicap Index and score history
• Track stats and chart your performance over time
• Access GPS yardages and games features
• Look up any golfer's Handicap Index

The World Handicap System is the unified international handicap system adopted in 2020, combining six previously separate handicap systems into one global standard. The USGA and R&A administer the WHS worldwide. Your AGA membership and GHIN Handicap Index operate under the WHS, meaning your handicap is valid and recognized at courses around the world. The AGA provides WHS education as part of its member services.

The 2026 AGA tournament schedule includes:

• USGA U.S. Open Local Qualifying — May 18 · Palmer Golf Course
• AGA Spring Jackpot — June 6 · Settlers Bay Golf Course
• AGA State Match Play Championship — June 26–28 · Settlers Bay Golf Course
• AGA 2-Person Best Ball Championship — July 11–12 · Moose Run Creek
• USGA Senior Amateur Qualifying — July 23 · Palmer Golf Course
• USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifying — July 29 · Palmer Golf Course
• AGA State Amateur & Senior Championship — July 31–Aug 2 · Palmer Golf Course
• USGA Senior Women's Amateur Qualifying — Aug 8 · Anchorage Golf Course
• AGA Fall Jackpot — September 12 · Palmer Golf Course

The AGA has established a five-year rotation for its major events for the first time in association history.

Registration information for each event is posted on the AGA Tournament Calendar. For USGA qualifying events, registration is handled through the USGA Championship Management system at champ-admin.usga.org. For AGA-run events, registration links are posted on the individual event pages. You must be a current AGA member with a valid Handicap Index to enter most events.

Yes. An active USGA Handicap Index through the AGA is required to participate in AGA-sanctioned tournaments. This ensures fair competition across all skill levels. If you don't have a Handicap Index yet, join the AGA at join.ghin.com/bvp39x and begin posting scores — you'll need a minimum number of scores before an index is established.

The AGA hosts local qualifying rounds for several USGA national championships each year, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur, and U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. Players who qualify through the AGA's local qualifying round advance to sectional qualifying or directly to the national championship, depending on the event. Registration for USGA qualifying is handled through the USGA at champ-admin.usga.org.

The AGA awards points to players based on their finish in AGA-sanctioned events throughout the season. Points determine the season standings and Player of the Year award in each division (Men's Open, Senior 55+, Women's Open, and Junior). Full details on the points structure are available on the Points System page.

Junior memberships for golfers age 18 and under are completely free. Sign up at join.ghin.com/bvp39x. Your junior golfer will receive a full USGA Handicap Index and GHIN number. There is no cost and no renewal fee as long as they remain under 18.

The AGA is actively expanding its junior golf programs in 2026. Junior golfers are eligible to compete in AGA-sanctioned events and the AGA supports junior development through its partnership with Fox Hollow Golf and Sports Dome in Anchorage. The AGA also supports the Youth on Course program, which provides subsidized rounds and a GHIN handicap for $30/year for junior golfers. Visit the Junior Golf page for full details.

Youth on Course is a national program that allows junior golfers to play subsidized rounds at participating courses for $5 or less. In Alaska, a Youth on Course membership ($30/year, rolling 365 days) includes a USGA Handicap Index through the AGA, access to scholarship and mentorship opportunities, and a complimentary GolfPass video membership until age 19. Visit youthoncourse.org for participating Alaska courses and to sign up.

Yes. Junior golfers with a valid AGA Handicap Index are eligible to compete in AGA-sanctioned events. Some events have a dedicated Junior division with age-appropriate tee selections. Check each event's entry requirements on the Tournament Calendar. The AGA also lists junior-specific events on the Junior Golf Schedule page.

Yes — a verifiable USGA Handicap Index through the AGA is recognized by college coaches nationwide and is essential for NCAA eligibility. Alaska junior golfers have successfully gone on to play college golf. The AGA's Pathway to College Golf page has information on the recruitment process, AJGA membership, and NCAA eligibility requirements.

There are 14 golf courses in Alaska affiliated with the AGA, spread across five regions: Anchorage (4 courses), Mat-Su Valley (3), Fairbanks (3), Kenai Peninsula (2), and Southeast Alaska (2). You can view details on all 14 courses including ratings, slope, yardage, and tee information on the Course Directory.

• Palmer Golf Course — State Amateur & Senior, Fall Jackpot, USGA U.S. Open Local Qualifying, USGA Senior Amateur, USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifying
• Settlers Bay Golf Course — Spring Jackpot, State Match Play Championship
• Moose Run Creek Course — 2-Person Best Ball Championship
• Anchorage Golf Course — USGA Senior Women's Amateur Qualifying

Moose Run Golf Course (Creek and Hill) and Eagleglen Golf Course are located on military installations and access is restricted to active duty military, retired military, dependents, and authorized guests. Contact the courses directly for their current guest access policies. Moose Run: 907-428-0056. Eagleglen: 907-552-3821.

A Course Rating is the expected score for a scratch (0.0 handicap) golfer under normal conditions. A Slope Rating measures relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer — the standard is 113, and higher numbers mean the course is proportionally harder for higher-handicap players. Both ratings are required to calculate a proper Course Handicap. Full details are on the Course Rating Services page.

Contact the AGA Handicap & Course Rating department to request a rating visit. Email handicappingalaska@wagolf.org or call 907-216-4719. The AGA will coordinate with a certified USGA rating team to schedule a site visit during the playing season. Full details are on the Course Rating Services page.

The Alaska Golf Association (AGA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1959 and is Alaska's USGA allied golf association. The AGA is responsible for administering the USGA Handicap System across Alaska, conducting course ratings, running state championships and qualifying events, supporting junior golf, and providing Rules of Golf education. The AGA is the authoritative source for USGA Rules of Golf in Alaska.

The AGA is an allied golf association of the USGA and partners with WA Golf (Washington Golf) to meet the USGA's core requirements for allied golf associations. These requirements include Handicap Administration, Course Rating, Championship Management, Education & Outreach, and supporting local golf. WA Golf assists the AGA in fulfilling these obligations and the two organizations communicate regularly.

The AGA has undergone significant changes since late 2025. Key updates include new staff leadership, a partnership with WA Golf, a robust 2026 tournament schedule with a new five-year event rotation, expanded focus on junior and women's golf, a move of the AGA office to Fox Hollow Golf and Sports Dome, and a redesigned website. AGA President Jeff Ranf outlined these changes in the March 2026 issue of PNGA Magazine.

• General inquiries: golfalaska@gmail.com · 907-350-4880
• Handicap & Course Rating: handicappingalaska@wagolf.org · 907-216-4719
• Mailing address: 11801 Brayton Drive, Anchorage, AK 99516
• Social media: Facebook · Instagram @golfalaska

AGA members can request a free printed copy of the USGA Rules of Golf by contacting the AGA at golfalaska@gmail.com. The full Rules of Golf are also available free online at usga.org/rules-hub.html.

Alaska's golf season typically runs from May through September — roughly five months. Most Anchorage-area courses open between May 1 and June 1 depending on conditions, and close in late September or early October. Fairbanks courses have a slightly shorter season. Southeast Alaska courses (Juneau, Wrangell) may have a longer season due to milder temperatures but are subject to significant rainfall. The AGA packs its full tournament schedule into this five-month window.