Getting first handicap - tips when you don't know anyone?

[Chokeahontas]

Hey folks,

I'm looking to get my first official handicap, I joined a club where I don't know anyone, so I was wondering what the etiquette of getting one would be.

It would seem the club has mostly Stableford competitions over the summer, so I have booked myself in with other members (again, none of whom I know) on the basis that this would give me a card to submit.

But now I'm wondering if this is a bad idea - I mean, as it is Stableford, if you have a double bogey stinker (and I will have a few!) you normally pick up to speed up play, well, I won't be doing that.

Is this going to really annoy my partners? How did you all get a handicap, if you were new to a club?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Welcome along.

You are doing the right thing, just announce to the guys you play with that you are a new member and will be submitting a card for handicapping purposes. Just play your own game and you'll be fine.

Enjoy!

 

[IanM]

As below, everyone starts like that... so don't worry.

I would ask the Club Pro what they want you to do about "picking up" on bad holes. (for pace of play and sanity purposes) As I understand it , any shots worse than "net 2 over" are ignored for handicapping purposes.. so at some point picking up might be ok! So calling time at 8 or 9 might be ok.... but who says you'll need to!

Have fun and relax..... everyone was a new member once

 

[Chokeahontas]

Thanks folks!

Been a while since I had an 8 on a hole, but hey, worth asking!

 

[Orikoru]

When I joined my club they just told me to do three rounds, to be marked by any 'competent golfer', and hand the three cards in for handicap assessment. I couldn't enter a Stableford competition to get a handicap, because you need a handicap to enter in the first place.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

When I joined my club they just told me to do three rounds, to be marked by any 'competent golfer', and hand the three cards in for handicap assessment. I couldn't enter a Stableford competition to get a handicap, because you need a handicap to enter in the first place.

Yes, you can't enter the competition but you can still play with other competitors whilst it is in progress. Good way to start IMHO as it gets the OP used to playing in a competitive situation.

 

[Orikoru]

Yes, you can't enter the competition but you can still play with other competitors whilst it is in progress. Good way to start IMHO as it gets the OP used to playing in a competitive situation.

Oh fair enough, I think I misunderstood. It's also useful if you don't know anyone to play with who can mark your cards I suppose.

 

[patricks148]

Just enter the comps and as D4S says you can't win it and you just play" For Handicap" all 3 of my cards were done this way

 

[GG26]

I found out when there was a weekly roll-up and joined that for three weeks. Just explain that you need to hand in three cards for your initial handicap. Was a good way to get to know some guys at the club.

 

[Beedee]

For my three cards I played in two Sunday competitions and one Saturday fiddle. Basically, no matter what the competition was, I played a round of stableford with a handicap of scratch. I picked up on any holes that were going to be more than 2 over par (unless I only had a tap-in left) so that I didn't hold up my group.

I am very shy, and worried about playing with strangers, but everyone at the club has made me most welcome.

 

[rosecott]

As below, everyone starts like that... so don't worry.

I would ask the Club Pro what they want you to do about "picking up" on bad holes. (for pace of play and sanity purposes) As I understand it , any shots worse than "net 2 over" are ignored for handicapping purposes.. so at some point picking up might be ok! So calling time at 8 or 9 might be ok.... but who says you'll need to!

Have fun and relax..... everyone was a new member once

It isn't "net 2 over" - adjustments are made down to "gross 2 over".

 

[jim8flog]

Ian M and Rosecott are right.

Any hole where the score is worse than nett double bogey is treated as nett double bogey for handicap purposes. There is no need to finish a hole.

Just remember do not be in a rush to get a handicap as you could end up with one that does not allow you to play in comps anyway. When we point this out to several of our male newcomers they often ask for the cards to be returned to them and wait until their game is good enough for a 28 handicap.

 

[Chokeahontas]

Ian M and Rosecott are right.

Any hole where the score is worse than nett double bogey is treated as nett double bogey for handicap purposes. There is no need to finish a hole.

Just remember do not be in a rush to get a handicap as you could end up with one that does not allow you to play in comps anyway. When we point this out to several of our male newcomers they often ask for the cards to be returned to them and wait until their game is good enough for a 28 handicap.

Thanks. The handicap isn't for competitions especially, more for tracking progress and so I can be fair when playing others in friendly games as my usual golf buddy has had to retire from weekend golf.

If I get a 28 I'll probably give up golf! I normally shoot between 8-12 shots over depending on course. I've been playing a long time, just never got a formal handicap.

 

[Region3]

Any hole where the score is worse than nett double bogey is treated as nett double bogey for handicap purposes. There is no need to finish a hole.

Apart from when playing for an initial handicap there is no 'nett' score (because the player doesn't yet have a handicap), which is what Rosecott was saying. Big scores are rounded down to gross double.