Does stroke index dictate way you play hole

duncan mackie said:
I think this response strongly supports the fact that you aren't really dictated to by the SI at all. If the same hole was SI 16 you would play it the same - it's the strategy that represents your best opportunity of making a point with a realistic chance of 2 and a significantly reduced chance of 0. A more aggressive strategy won't increase the number of points over time but brings that sin of all sins in medal play into play - the nett triple bogey!
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Surely it does matter if in a matchplay scenario I am giving my opponent a shot? Though saying that that does suggest to me that it is not because of the SI per se - more that I am giving a shot. In my stroke play you are quite correct.
 
ScienceBoy said:
No, I have my game plan for the shot in front of me.

They layout of the hole from the green backwards has an effect on where I want to play my next shot from only.

Play the shot, not the hole.
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Pretty sensible approach. Likewise I asses what is in front of me and play accordingly. I've made more birdies playing conservatively than lashing a driver or trying to make a carry.
 
Only time I worry about SI is when playing matchplay - every other time its the same approach to every hole regardless of the SI
 
After reading the answers and speaking to my Pro today at a lesson, Only in Matchplay for me now, Cheers, everyday's a school day :whoo:
 
KenL said:
Perhaps just an SGU thing but stroke index is not neccesarily related to how difficult holes are anymore. I believe there is guidance that they should be evenly spread with index 1 & 2 about the middle of each half. Also holes 1, 2, 9 & 10 are meant to follow some pattern. Our index 1 is a totally straight forward hole with the wind in the prevailing direction. Our index 8 is a 460 par 4 up a slight slope with a challenging green into the prevailing wind!

I only really consider stroke index in match play. If I am giving a stroke I know I need to "go for it". If not them I am thinking I need to win the hole.
I'm not that good at match play BTW!
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Is how it should be for everyone.

Stroke index dictates whether I get a shot or not but doesn't really influence how I might play a hole. It just affects how many points I get and my H/C.

Difficulty of hole and length, however, may well influence how I play it. For example, on a longer hole, a three wood off the tee then a five iron off the fairway is likely to be a better bet for being on in two, rather than a driver then attempting to play a 7 iron in from the rough. But then I think that's just called course management
 
Maninblack4612 said:
Fancy changing your mind after listening to people's opinions. you must be really open minded!
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Had a good chat with the Pro and showed him the thread, he's of the opinion it's one less thing to think about, unless matchplay and even then he'd be looking at how his opponent may approach certain holes not himself.
 
As the OP was a thinly disguised reference to me and my point of view it's nice to see on here that it wasn't just me and others have the same "cobblers" approach.

In point of fact, the original reference was taken out of context, and why bother arguing, and while it does dictate the way I play and I may play a hole conservatively (I'd be interested to what the OP thinks that means in relation to my game as I never said) it doesn't have to automatically mean I'm resigning myself to a bogey or worse. It just means, that because a hole doesn't suit my eye, especially on a course I've not or rarely play, or is a hole that causes me regular on my own course, I will ensure I am taking a car crash score (double or worse) out of the equation as much as a mid-handicapper can.

That isn't to say I'd not consider the options, subject to the tee shot and the risks involved in going for it in two (assuming a par four). However it's a method I have employed with some success over the years and used it round St Pierre in the GM Centenary qualifier and more importantly in the final where I had decided that any hole over 420 yards (and I got a shot on each) was going to be a lay up and rely on my pitching. Worked perfectly. I've done it since at the Race to Hillside, club matches (especially away games) and at my own club regularly especially when I don't feel I am swinging great. At the end of the day, like all aspects of my game, I'm more than happy to plough my own furrow and have long since stopped listening to the knockers. I might not be playing great at the moment, not my handicap where I want it, but as long as I'm having fun trying to get lower (and contrary to popular belief I do) then that'll do for me and if that means I use SI to influence me then so be it
 
No not really. I can either reach the green or I can't.
Long par 4s or long par 3s are just tough for me and if I can get close and up/down it then fantastic. If not, hopefully I had a shot!

Recently I played a long 4 on the Bracken at Woodhall Spa with not shot, I just absolutely leathered it off the tee to get it as far as I could and proceeded from there. Turns out I nearly birdied from the fringe and was chuffed with a par in the end.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
As the OP was a thinly disguised reference to me and my point of view it's
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Actually, it wasn't. I posted because I was interested in what other folks thought since, in 60 years of playing golf, I'd never given it a thought. As someone earlier said, if you're confident you'll never do worse than a double bogey, the SI is irrelevant. Without having a poll, it looks like it's about 50:50.
 
In stroke play no. I keep the game simple and just try and par every hole. usually end up with pars on quite a few of the low indexed holes, and bogies or worse on the high ones.:(
 
Getting things back on track.

I play the course. The course is measured against par.

I play reach hole looking to par or better.

Stroke index doesn't even enter the equation in either format.
 
One Planer said:
Getting things back on track.

I play the course. The course is measured against par.

I play each hole looking to par or better.

Stroke index doesn't even enter the equation in either format.
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I agree, although I don't necessarily 'try' for par on certain holes on certain courses.
As I said somewhere in another post, unless it's matchplay, I really don't know the SI.
 
No because I play to score Par.

I know a lot of people play to score birdie and result in bogey.

Play to par and you'll play to scratch.
 
Nope. SI is irrelevant. I try to score the lowest score I can on every hole. In fact, I couldn't even tell you what the SI are on every hole at my course.
 
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