The National Institutes of Health Golf Association is a club operated under the auspices of the NIH Recreation and Welfare organization.  NIHGA provides its members an opportunity to play at an attractive variety of courses about twice a month during the spring and summer seasons.

In 2004, we had 196 members divided into seven teams.  We can accommodate up to 200 members in eight teams.  Both men and women are welcome.  The first part of each season is team/individual stroke play.  The second part is double-elimination team match play.  Take a look at the tentative stroke and match play schedules for the 2005 season

NIHGA annual dues are $25. You must, also, be or become an R&W member ($5). If you are interested, email Howard Somers or call him at 301-496-8477 for information before March 20.  Actually, you may join later in the season, if openings exist, but we need to get the teams organized in advance of the first outing.

At the eight stroke-play outings, we award sleeves of balls for 2 long drive holes and closest to the pin on all par 3s, and for low gross (2 low + ties) and low net (2 low + ties) for up to 6 flights, depending on the turn out.  Playing in 2 of 8 stroke-play events qualifies a player for the match-play season.

The Year-end scramble and luncheon closes the season.   Trophies are presented for each member of the stroke- and match-play champion teams.  Individual trophies are given to the most improved player, best new player, and the players with the lowest 5 rounds net and lowest 5 rounds gross.

This 18 hole league keeps its own handicaps and insists upon reasonable speed of play.  Our players are required to pick up after their individual equitable stroke control score had been reached. Our handicaps, at the end of 2004, ranged from 2.0 to 40.4. Most men play from the white tees and women from the red, but an individual may choose to play all his/her matches from another set of tees.