mikeintopeka
Yep. And I understood your argument. Which is why (comparing to the UK system, of which I'm familiar with) I tried to point out the differing golf cultures between the US and the UK and how difficult it would be to implement such a standard here in the US.
I don't think we're in disagreement here. Both you and I recognized that this was the first step toward a universal handicap, which seems to be coming into perfect alignment for a universal handicap system. The USGA ruling of requiring a witness to post a score toward one's handicap was pretty much indicative of that purpose imo.
Might take a year or three to implement, but I think all of the tea leaves pointed to this eventually happening.
I guess the only question is whether there will be a local (US) handicap and then too (separately) a universal handicap. It would seem (to me) that both would be one in the same? And if not - why? Especially considering that the other governing bodies from other continents would be obligated to adhere to the same competitive standards.
It'll be interesting to see how this develops, and whether or not further restrictions are going to be implemented to individual golfers maintaining a handicap, across the board, to meet the same standard.