3/4 handicap

[Stub]

I'm sure this has probably been raised before but, if so, I missed it.

I play in a weekly roll-up in which handicaps are cut to 3/4 full handicap. As a relatively new player struggling to play consistently to 28 the loss of 7 strokes per round is significant, whereas someone off 12 loses only 3, albeit he would argue that still makes him struggle.

My beef is simple. If there is a system for compiling handicaps and reviewing them, why make arbitrary adjustments that seem to favour the lower handicap player?

 

[Ethan]

3/4 handicap is OK in matchplay, because the reasoning is that you can only win or lose one hole at a time, but the higher player often loses the hole by more than 1 shot, so an imbalance is introduced if they get full handicap.

In stroke/medal, I think full handicap is appropriate.

Stableford falls somewhere in between, because the impact of really bad holes is reduced and this benefits higher players more then lower players.

 

[HughJars]

3/4 handicap is OK in matchplay, because the reasoning is that you can only win or lose one hole at a time, but the higher player often loses the hole by more than 1 shot, so an imbalance is introduced if they get full handicap..

There's no imbalance, stats prove low handicappers still win more often than high handicappers, even off full allowance, which is why ful lallowance became mandatory.

 

[Imurg]

used to play in a roll-up and we used 3/4 handicaps.
A lot of the higher handicappers moaned about it and in the end the organiser - Me - decided to use 7/8ths instead.
We were playing off the yellows at my old club and there were 2 shots difference in SSS so it seemed reasonable.

 

[HughJars]

used to play in a roll-up and we used 3/4 handicaps.
A lot of the higher handicappers moaned about it and in the end the organiser - Me - decided to use 7/8ths instead.
We were playing off the yellows at my old club and there were 2 shots difference in SSS so it seemed reasonable.

But you're still all playing off the same tees

 

[eltub1]

Your probably playing off yellows therefore the course is a little easier so having that many shots over a shorter course would be a bigger advantage. On my course any comp all year round is 3/4 off the yellows i know some courses only implement this in the winter. If you have only just started golf id give it a little time as no doubt as long as you stick at it your h/cap will come down in time and you will see the reasoning behind some of the weird and wonderful rules of our game!

 

[SGC001]

But you're still all playing off the same tees

Anytime you are shortening the course you are making it easier not to drop shots, yet not reallyas much to make birdies so it tends to help higher handicappers more.

At my old club we went 3/4 in winter as we are off mats, people moaned that it favoured low handicappers. Results showed mid handicappers and high handicappers were winning mroe comps than low handicappers even taking nto account proprtion of mid, low and high handicappers. We lost a lot of yardage though.

 

[jimjoachim]

I reckon it should be full handicaps and if high handicappers start winning temporarily cut them. Put it back to normal when the main season starts back up.

We run both a winter league and a rollup. The winter league is over 9 holes and plays to 3/8ths and the rollup plays off full handicap with hcap cuts where appropriate.

Playing off 19 im losing 3 shots off my handicap in the 9 holes. At the same time we have a guys that plays off plus 1 who actually gets a shot back using this format. Winter League has just finished and he has averaged >21 points per week off 9 holes. Yes i know hes shooting gross -3 to score this and thats great, hed prob still be winning with an average of 20 points but tell me how its fair that hes getting an extra shot?

rant over

 

[papyt]

we are having work done on the course so our winter comps are 14 holes only,i have my h/c reduced to 3/4 but 3 of the 4 holes not in play are my scoring holes so i lose another 3 shots and what could be 14 points i know everyone else is the same but that cuts my h/c to 2 and with the best will in the world i aint a 2 h/c.