> Nope. You need a certain GHIN handicap to get into
> qualifying round(s) that, I think, are held around the
> country, but your must perform in that/those rounds in
> order to play in USGA Open.
This may be true for qualifying, but certainly isn't for the tournament proper. For example, I doubt Paul Lawrie carries a USGA handicap, but as The Open champion he will tee it up at Pebble. Even he has established a USGA handicap, could he post ALL scores from USGA sloped and rated courses, in person, at his home club. Ah, perhaps this is why the USGA allow OCCASIONAL phone, fax, or e-mail posting? The USGA to date cannot or will not explain what this means!
