New golfer, handicap question

Hi all

I'm 33, I just took up golf last month. Have taken a couple of lessons, played a few rounds of a 9 hole course, and just played my first 18 hole course in Phuket. I definitely have the bug - although my scores are high and I've lost a lot of balls, I hit a few good shots each round which keep me coming back!

My problem is, I live in Hong Kong, and all except a couple of courses require an official USGA handicap to play on them. Now I know how to do this here - I need to post 5 scores, the best of which will be my initial handicap. Trouble is, I need to play to get the handicap, but I can't play until I get it....

Now I can post some scores from overseas clubs (Thailand, Australia), but my question is this: if all my scores are more than 36 over par, will I be given a handicap? Or do I need to wait until I have scored at least one round only 36 over? Obviously this is going to be difficult to do until I can actually play on my local courses!

Any advice greatly appreciated - I apologize if the answer is already on the forum somewhere, I've trawled through a few and not found it yet...

Enter your scores. Learn how equitable stroke control (ESC) works and how to apply it properly.

Your handicap will end up at what your handicap will end up at.

Thanks for the advice. I don't think I was clear however. I understand ESC, but applying that based on a 36.4 handicap (which is what the advice is for golfers without a handicap) is not going to help me bring my score down much.

My real question is, if I submit 5 scores, none of which are within the maximum handicap limit even when ESC is applied, will my golf association still be able to give me a handicap at all, or will they refuse until I have posted an acceptable score?

More or less what should happen is this:

Even if you post scores of 144 (the maximum allowable under ESC), you'll end up getting the maximum handicap. It won't come down until your scores do. Once you start scoring in the 90's, your handicap will get into the 20's. But as long as you submit your scores, you'll get a handicap.

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know! Now I can play a few rounds in an upcoming overseas trip, post my scores to the Hong Kong Golf Association, and get a handicap so I can actually play in Hong Kong! I don't care what the handicap is at this stage, I just want to get on the courses...

Hopefully with some practice I can then start bringing my scores down!

Thanks for your help.