Can my Handicap be right ? (seems too low)

[colint]

Put my 3 cards in a few weeks ago for first handicap at new club, was expecting something around 16. Playing off SSS of 70, my scores were 85, 86 and 87. Never had worse than a double, had good runs such as nine in 3 or 4 over, but always spoilt with dodgy other nine.

My handicap has come in at 11.5, which I'll be delighted with if it's deemed fair, but just can't see how it's been calculated. I thought it was average of the 3 cards with maximum 2 over per hole ?

 

[Imurg]

They should take your best score - with no worse than a double - and take the SSS from that. So 15 should be the one.
This just seems to be getting more arbitary all the time. When CVG got his handicap he put his 3 cards in +15, +18 and +19 I think - no bad scores. He was given 14.5! OK he's playing off 15 but how can your first handicap be a fraction of one?

 

[colint]

It's almost as if they've taken my best score on each hole over the 3 cards, wish I'd kept a copy of them

 

[backwoodsman]

It's based on your best score - not the average. (I guess the other two cards are to show that your best isn't totally out of kilter).

Handicap should reflect what you are capable of - not what you "normally" do. People who turn in 34-35-36 points more weeks than not, have a wrong HC. My best card suggested (to me) a HC of 24 - I got 19 and haven't played to it yet.

 

[alan_h]

Does seem a bit low based on your scores. I believe it's the best score but still seems a bit low. A higher CSS on the days you submitted your cards (assuming you were playing in a competition) might account for some of the difference.

Depends how "formal" the club is. I play at a very small club and if reports come back that a new member "can play a bit" e.g. be out in 3 or 4 over then our handicap convener might be persuaded to shave one or two off.

 

[Imurg]

Handicap should reflect what you are capable of - not what you "normally" do. My best card suggested (to me) a HC of 24 - I got 19 and haven't played to it yet.

Therefore yours is wrong too - as you are clearly not capable of playing to it.
Its a very imperfect way of doing it but I doubt there's a better, more equitable way.

 

[colint]

Cards were not in comp, we're not allowed to play in them without hcap, so just played 3 social rounds with another member. Weather wasn't an issue, I just didn't realise that so much discretion could be used when calculating.

 

[alan_h]

Further to my previous answer see the answer to Q1 at the below:

http://www.congu.com/faqDetail2.asp?id=86

The weather was either bad or your playing partners considered you would be a potential bandit off 16.

I'd think the same if I was accompanying a new member and he shot 3 or 4 over in/out.

 

[backwoodsman]

Handicap should reflect what you are capable of - not what you "normally" do. My best card suggested (to me) a HC of 24 - I got 19 and haven't played to it yet.

Therefore yours is wrong too - as you are clearly not capable of playing to it.
Its a very imperfect way of doing it but I doubt there's a better, more equitable way.

I don't know all the in's & out's and would tend to agree. But one 9 was good & the other 9 wasn't. If I could play both 9s as the better then the HC would be fairly reasonable. Perhaps thats the way it's done?

(Ps: me not mind - I see it as a target. And am getting damn close. When I hit it, the weekly swindle money is mine )

 

[JustOne]

It's based on your best score - not the average. (I guess the other two cards are to show that your best isn't totally out of kilter).

I just joined a new club last month and literally just put 3 cards in as I didn't have a proper CONGU handicap...or anything valid for that matter unless you go back 12 years, one of the cards was 3 over, I just got my h/cap today....6???

Don't tell Smiffy as I'm gonna hustle him for a few quid next time out

Pretty funny not even being a cat1 golfer anymore... I'll go get my poncho and sombrero

Apparently I couldn't be a cat1 golfer as that would have meant referring me to the County Golf Assoc?? My actual h/cap is 5.5... YEEEEEEEEEHAAWWWWWWWWW Ride'em cowboy!!!!

 

[Smiffy]

I just got my h/cap today....6???
Don't tell Smiffy as I'm gonna hustle him for a few quid next time out

Yeah right!!
Bring it on at Bearwood Lakes


I said six didn't I????

 

[USER1999]

6? Flippin heck, 26 more like. Smiffy should be giving you shots.

As to the OP, were you off the competition tees? As that can make a big difference to SS, which they would have projected for the days you played. If you played a shorter course then they will make allowances for this by giving out a lower h/cap.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
If you shot 4 over front nine on one card and then the next day shot 4 over on the back nine a fair handicap may be 11 if you are capable of going that low on one 9 u should be able to do it on the other 9.
Mike

 

[didsbury_duffer]

Based upon the cards the handicap would usually be 15 - which is a result of the best card (85) with nothing more than double bogey on any hole, known as the best adjusted score. However, the following rule also applies - "The Handicap Committee may allot a player an initial whole number Exact Handicap less than the best adjusted score if it has reason to consider that a lower handicap is more appropriate to the player's ability."
Clearly, in this case, the score of 3 or 4 over for one of the nines has influenced the committee into believing that the player could be better than 15, hence his lower handicap allotment.

 

[colint]

If it's a fair assesment I'll be delighted, but the rule states "whole number exact handicap" and I've been given 11.5. Going to give the club a call today

 

[Region3]

were you off the competition tees? As that can make a big difference to SS, which they would have projected for the days you played. If you played a shorter course then they will make allowances for this by giving out a lower h/cap.

Surely that's the other way round Murph?

If you play a shorter course it would be easier, therefore you'd need more shots when back on the competition tees?

 

[JustOne]

If it's a fair assesment I'll be delighted, but the rule states "whole number exact handicap" and I've been given 11.5. Going to give the club a call today

... and if they give you either 11 or 12 does it really matter?

 

[Fyldewhite]

Although this may not be the case here, I think the failure of clubs to properly administer the handicap system is fairly common. As handicap chair I've lost count of the rediculous arbitary suggestions that are put forward week in week out often by other committee members. For me the rules are clear as is the advice available and if all clubs followed it there would be less confusion and inconsistency all round. It's clear though that many clubs just go their own way (allocating fractional handicaps like 14.5 mentioned above is a common one that our club has done in the past and clearly against the documented procedure).

Regarding the OP, try asking what the reasoning was and see what they say. If they can't justify it then it is wrong, simple as. Hopefully you will soon get to a standard where you can compete off the handicap but if not make sure the club conduct an annual review where they should examine newly allocated handcaps to ensure they have worked out to be reasonable.

 

[JustOne]

I was told that the first handicap ISN'T calculated... it's just a pot luck guess by the h/cap secretary given on the 3 cards handed in minus the odd shot here eg: to cover for the double bogey you had on the easiest stroke index 18 hole or the triple you had on another hole.

After the initial allocation of handicap it can become a bit more scientific as all cards will subsequently be processed the same way - for the entire field.

 

[Smiffy]

When I handed my cards in at Highwoods they read an 82, an 83 and a 78 against a par of 70.
I got given 12.


Admittedly, they were off the yellow tees, not white, but the SSS is still 69.