Knowing exactly when to post your golf scores in Washington State can feel a little confusing, especially with the state's diverse climate. This guide clears up all the questions. We’ll cover the official posting season dates for both sides of the mountains, explain *why* an off-season exists, and give you practical advice on how to handle your game when scores don’t count.
The concept of an "inactive season" isn't a random rule, it’s a core part of the World Handicap System, administered by the USGA and implemented locally by Allied Golf Associations like WA Golf. The entire system is built to maintain the integrity and accuracy of your Handicap Index®, which should be a true reflection of your demonstrated ability under normal playing conditions.
Winter in the Pacific Northwest changes those conditions significantly. Think about what our courses go through:
Trying to get an accurate score in these conditions would be like trying to log a personal best 100-meter dash time while running across a muddy field. It just isn’t a representation of what you can do. The inactive season ensures that the scores going into your handicap record are from rounds played when the courses are in proper, consistent shape.
Because Washington's climate varies so much from the coast to the inland empire, WA Golf has established two different posting seasons. The Cascade Mountains serve as the dividing line for these schedules.
If you primarily play golf west of the Cascade Mountains, your official posting season starts on March 1st and ends on November 14th. This region is defined by its wetter, milder winter climate.
During this period, any acceptable score you shoot at a Western Washington course must be posted for handicap purposes. If you try to post a score from a course in this region in, say, January, the GHIN system will prevent you from doing so.
For golfers east of the Cascades, the season is a little bit longer thanks to a drier climate that often allows for playable conditions later into the year.
The logic is simple: the ground in Spokane tends to stay firmer and drier longer than the ground in Seattle. This small difference allows for two extra weeks of official score posting.
This is where most of the questions come up. Just because you can’t post a score doesn't mean you have to hang up the clubs for three months. Here’s a breakdown of the common scenarios.
Of course! Many courses stay open year-round, weather permitting. Winter golf can be a fantastic way to stay active, see your friends, and keep a feel for the game. Enjoy yourself! Just know that the scores from these rounds won't be entered into your handicap record.
This is a great question. While a single day might feel like spring, the underlying course conditions are the real issue. The ground is still likely soft, the grass is dormant, and the club may be using temporary tees or greens to protect the course. The inactive season is a blanket policy set by WA Golf to ensure fairness and consistency for everyone. One perfect weather day doesn't change the overall agronomic state of the region's courses, so that great score from a sunny February day still can't be posted.
This is the most important rule to remember: You must post every acceptable score from a round played in a region that has an active golf season, no matter when you play it. The rule follows the location of the golf course, not the home address of the golfer.
Let's use a clear example. You live in Tacoma (Western Washington). In January, your home courses are in their inactive season. You take a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the golf season is active year-round. You play three rounds. You are required to post all three of those scores to your GHIN handicap. The system will recognize the course is in an active region and allow you to post the score.
This works the other way, too. A golfer visiting from Arizona to play in Seattle in December would *not* be able to post their score, as the local course is in an inactive season.
As a coach, I see the inactive season as a huge opportunity. With the pressure of posting scores removed, you can treat your winter rounds as valuable, live-fire practice sessions. Instead of lamenting the end of the season, reframe it as the beginning of your improvement for next year.
This is the perfect time to experiment. Are you nervous about hitting a 3-wood off the deck? Try it five times during a winter round. Do you want to learn how to hit a low, punchy shot under the wind? Now’s your chance. Since the score doesn't matter, you can focus entirely on development. Work on pre-shot routines, test out different course strategies, or play games against a friend. The freedom from posting a number allows you to focus purely on the process and quality of your shots.
The off-season is the best time for focused technical practice. A putting mat in your living room can do wonders for your starting line and stroke consistency. Set up a net in the garage to make practice swings and feel positions without worrying where the ball goes. And, of course, indoor golf simulators are fantastic tools. They provide excellent feedback on club path, face angle, and strike location - data that can help you understand your swing tendencies before the real season starts again in March.
You don’t need a gym membership or heavy weights to get better. The winter months are perfect for building a foundation of mobility and stability that will protect you from injury and add power to your swing. Simple stretching routines focused on your hips, shoulders, and thoracic spine (your mid-back) can make a huge difference in your ability to rotate. Taking 15-20 minutes a day to work on flexibility will pay off a hundred times over when you’re standing on the first tee in spring.
In short, if you golf in Washington, mark your calendar. You’ll be posting scores from March 1st until November 14th in the West or November 30th in the East. Outside of those dates, enjoy your local golf score-free, but always remember to post any rounds you play in regions where the season is still active.
Thinking about golf strategy doesn't stop just because the local posting season does. Honing your course management skills and understanding how to play smarter is a year-round job. We believe that when you have access to expert advice right when you need it, you play with more confidence. With Caddie AI, you can get instant strategy for that winter golf trip or simply ask questions about the finer points of the game, helping you become a more knowledgeable player before the posting season even starts.
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