As a fellow Wisconsinite your correct as far as playing in Wisconsin however if you play outside the state during our "closed" season and the state you play in is in season then you should post those scores.  Here is a reference to the WSGA page where the fourth question covers out of season scores and specifically addresses posting....

http://www.wsga.org/interior.aspx?id=164

I believe it is in the true spirit of golf to post all scores regardless of the circumstances.  I usually play up one tee during the winter which helps offset the loss in distance and roll which is taken into account when my handicap is calculated.  My one tweak over the winter is that I don't take a penalty stroke if I loose a ball in a pile of leaves or somewhere I know it came down in-bounds, I'll just play it from where I can best estimate it ended up.  Stay warm!

Most of the state golf associations stop accepting local scores after posted dates. In MA, November 15th was the closing date of the handicap season. Any rounds played locally are not posted. However, if you travel to a state that is still "in season", Florida for example, you should post all of those scores and they will be included in your season opening handicap in the spring. You will not see any change in you handicap until your state stats handicap revisions again.

No posting of scores for our club between Oct 31st and March 15th, so all my late fall/winter rounds are just practice (Don't normally get too many in anyway).

The few courses around me here in CT that stay open during the winter months usually have temporary tee boxes, so the course ratings and slope on the card wouldn't apply anyways.  If I'm out playing in 30 degree weather, I'm not expecting to score well, I'm just happy to be out, keeping loose and enjoying the company of fellow golf enthusiasts.

I could not agree with you more.Just to be out enjoying the day is good enough.!

When I play with my normal group, we don't turn any cards in.  The course won't even acknowledge them after hdcp deadline, which is end of Oct. I believe.  For the reasons of leaves, extra wetness and dealing with mud.  Also, we play a lot of different games and tee's during this time.  Because the course is much less crowded, we play the ladies tee's for fun, birdies galore.  Or we play rotating tee's, or select clubs only.  It's pretty fun, playing 1 club only plus a putter, it really gets you into learning to get a lil extra out or laying off of it.  Back to the card thing, only turn them in if its during the hdcp allowed time for doing so, otherwise, just enjoy the out of peak season golf that most wish we had more of.

Carl, I feel you pain and confusion.  Since I moved to southeastern Texas five years ago, I've noticed that my handicap index fluctuates from around 9 or so to about 5 and then back up to around 9 during the year.  To me, there is a direct correlation between the amount of clothing worn and scores:  more clothes (i.e., colder or inclement weather) equals more strokes.  I relate that to the fact that I do not rotate through the ball as well, as much as to the shorter roll and thin grass conditions.  Sadly, though, I think it has as much to do with how well I feel the stroke, as my performance on and around the greens suffers the most.  Fine movements are more affected by the weather, to me.  I post year around and just live with the results.  

I may have to come down and visit you and Chris...  I need to get out and most of the courses around here are closed.. 

In regards to posting handicap in the winter, I only post when the course is FULLY open.  So i agree with George on that one..  I'm heading to FL in a few months and i plan on posting my lovely scores... 

Julianna, you bring up a great point. Here in the US, we post (or should post!) every round we play. The best 10 of the last 20 are used in the handicap calculation. Thus our handicaps are a measure of our scoring potential, not our actual avarage score. Our system also does not account for differing weather conditions.

In the UK, the only rounds that count towards your handicap are those played during "stipulated medal rounds". At some clubs this may only happen once or twice a month. These rounds are usually in rither the 'monthly medal" or similar competitions. Your hndicap there is based on competitive performance. There is very little manipulation of the handicap scores in this system. The other thing that they do is assign a "Standard Scratch Score" or SSS as it is shown on the card. This can vary daily with the current conditions. For example; if the SSS is 73 and the Par is 71 (as it is for my course), a scratch player should shoot 73 on a normal day. If however the wind is blowing 20-30 (as it does on the West Coast of Scotland) the Professional or the Committee may raise the SSS to 76. The expectation is then that a scratch player would shoot 76. On this day any number above 76 would be over par. So the scratch player that shoots 78 on that day is actually only +2 NET.

As said, we can not post here in the northeast this time of the year in Massachusetts!!!  It is not an issue and if I did play, I'd have to wear heavier clothes and wouldn't be comfortable, so my scores would be higher and not fair to my handicap!!!

No posting in Utah after November 15. 

I think this is one of those cases where the rules can be used to your benefit.  Simply put, don't play by the Official USGA Rules of Golf during casual rounds.  Play the ball up, give and take gimme's, invoke the leaf rule, whatever...just treat these occasions as practice rounds.  Remember, scores can only be posted for rounds played by the rules.  So if it's an official event/tournament, post. Otherwise give yourself a break and enjoy the game.  

Also as an aside, no PGA event is ever played in the obscene weather and course conditions many of us have to endure for several months of the year.

I've never really kept a handicap (though I do use the Grint app to get an idea), but I certainly find this topic interesting. I don't see the point in keeping a handicap when conditions are that bad. You also have to figure that you're going to be layered up and constricted in your golf swing so it's doubtful that anyone could post consistently good scores during the winter unless they live in a warmer climate.

Richard, the rule of thumb is:  post all of your scores regardless of conditions.  The USGA bases its handicaps on a percentage of the 10 best of your last 20 scores.  For those of us who play frequently, our handicaps can, and do, fluctuate during the year.  The reason you post them all is you have no control over the conditions when you play.  Oh, you can decide to not play in rain, or cold, or high winds.  Or you can decide to make a round a practice round and take extra shots, not play by the Rules of Golf, etc.  But if you intend to play in USGA sponsored (lot an equivalent local association) events, you should play by the rules and post all of your scores.  If your goal on the course is to have fun, enjoy the views and the weather, and the company, then by all means do not post your scores.  Just please do not ask me to play against you with your "an idea" handicap.

For a lot of states it seems to be pretty clear cut.  You have the bad weather states that don't accept scores in the winter and you have the good weather states that have good weather all year and it doesn't matter.  Where I think it gets tricky would be the middle states.  Nice enough to play, but not nice enough to play well.  I would suggest using common sense.  If conditions are so poor that you know it's not an accurate reflection of your game, make it a practice round and have fun.  But if conditions are acceptable, count it.  Even if the conditions cause you to shoot a few strokes higher, it'll all average out in the end.

I found this regarding posting ----  According to Section 6-2 of The USGA Handicap System manual, "Scores made at a golf course in an area observing an active season must be posted for handicap purposes, even if the golf club from which the player receives a Handicap Index is observing an inactive season."   The manual goes on to emphasize, "The club's Handicap Committee shall make it possible for a player to post these away scores at the beginning of the active season."  So a player in this situation should get the necessary information into his scoring record.  If possible, the club should re-compute the player's USGA Handicap Index at the start of the active season. You should also find out from your club how to post scores vis the internet.

Here is a link to a write up regarding posting scores --

http://www.usga.org/news.aspx?id=24286

I play in a state that closes or considers Oct 31 the end of season but we take trips to states such as AZ or Fl that are "in season" all year and thus I post those via the internet.  If I play in my state prior to the season opening it is just golf and practice rounds as far as handicap reporting.  

Here is a good section from the WSGA that answers the question but also has other points regarding handicap scores.

http://www.wsga.org/interior.aspx?id=164

I live in Oklahoma and we post all year long, now in the winter the scores will go up Ex. last Sept I was a +.03 now Mar I am a 4.5, but every ones is going up not just mine so it is fair between all of us. I say if you are gonna play then post. Yes when we play in 30 mile an hour wind and rain yes scores go up but we are all playing the same conditions windy rainy leaves frozen ground but if the course is open we play. I dont believe in posting a practice round because a true practice round we do not keep score.So to sume it up I believe if you are gonna brave the conditions and get out an play in the bad weather post your score and what ever it is then it is. There is no difficulty course conditions box when entering a score some days a 75 might be better than the 70 from last week. 

In NorCal I post to NCGA all year.

"Well in the winter, my handicap is 2 ... and the summer, it is a 12.  So which one do you want me to use?  And by the way, we are playing a $10 Nassau."

If everyone would post their scores all the time, there shouldn't be an issue.  We all have to play in the same conditions wherever we play.  In the end, the handicap will reveal itself in due time.  So if there is a guy who plays winter rules all the time, shortens the course in the winter by playing a different set of tees, etc. .... it will all come out the minute he plays in a USGA event or club championship during the posting season.  Sandbagger!  The conditions really shouldn't affect your handicap that much IMHO ... you are either a good player ... one who can bear with the conditions and play through anything.  Or you are a Hack ... they couldn't play to a 2 handicap if they played in 80 weather all year long.

When in doubt .... post the scores.  If they are allowed.  Or just don't worry about it at all and don't play in any USGA events or clubs that require a handicap.  "Hey I will play for a couple bucks ... what is your handicap?"  "Sorry I just come out to enjoy the game ... I don't have one."  

It's really that simple. :)