Handicap conversion calculation USGA to CONGU

scubascuba3

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I've got a USGA handicap and I'm exploring whether i can play in a UK CONGU open competition. Apparently there is a conversion calculation. Anyone know what it is? It doesn't come up in a Google search
 
I've got a USGA handicap and I'm exploring whether i can play in a UK CONGU open competition. Apparently there is a conversion calculation. Anyone know what it is? It doesn't come up in a Google search
In actual fact, you have an USGA "Handicap Index" which is to be converted to a "course handicap" by using the slope rating of the course being played,
course handicap = handicap index times course slope rating divided by 113, the answer be rounded to the nearest hole number with .5 being rounded up.
Not sure what you do if the course being played does not have a slope rating.
 
Persaonnly I would just ask the comp organisers if they would accept what you have.

One thing to watch out for is that the vast majority of UK clubs insist that a player has competition status as part of their handicap.
 
Wrote a long reply and it's gone walkies!

From memory you use a generic 113 course slope index because you aren't converting it to play to par but to SSS/CSS and the rating is inherent I that figure.

It's optional for organisers as to whether they accept entries with EGA/USGA/etc handicaps, and I believe they can also adjust handicaps too if they feel appropriate! Certainly many who play EVA events with CONGU handicaps have found that organisers like to deduct a bit from the arithmetic calculation (I believe 3 is common).

The lower the handicap index the closer to parity between the systems although, generally, the USGA basis moves faster and further. As with both systems extremes of course rating/ease or difficulty still reflect in the strength of the handicap based on that course.
 
There's two American who are members at my club, both that have holiday homes in Nairn and come over for the summer and play and both of them have separate handicaps as it was too much hassle.

They play a load of comps without any problem, no good to you though.
 
There's two American who are members at my club, both that have holiday homes in Nairn and come over for the summer and play and both of them have separate handicaps as it was too much hassle.
Out of interest, how do their US and CONGU handicaps compare?
There's a general feeling in my club that CONGU handicaps tend to be lower than US ones due to the way handicaps are maintained (eg. it's harder to get down to, say, 10 in the US than in the UK).
 
Out of interest, how do their US and CONGU handicaps compare?
There's a general feeling in my club that CONGU handicaps tend to be lower than US ones due to the way handicaps are maintained (eg. it's harder to get down to, say, 10 in the US than in the UK).

i think they are about the same tbh, both off 10ish. my understanding was the other way round.
 
I've got a USGA handicap and I'm exploring whether i can play in a UK CONGU open competition. Apparently there is a conversion calculation. Anyone know what it is? It doesn't come up in a Google search


The USGA handicapping system is not directly comparable with CONGU and there is no conversion calculation.

CONGU handicaps may be allocated to players based on their full playing records.
There are special provisions for Cat 1 players attending a Golf Academy or on a University Golf Scholarship in the USA.

However, if a GB & I course has a Slope Index, USGA players should record/return the scores in order to update their USGA handicap.
 
Out of interest, how do their US and CONGU handicaps compare?
There's a general feeling in my club that CONGU handicaps tend to be lower than US ones due to the way handicaps are maintained (eg. it's harder to get down to, say, 10 in the US than in the UK).

I'd say they are the other way round, my NZ handicap ( simliar system ) was 3 where as here I'm a 5 . We had friends who came over in the Summer from UK and they also were a couple of shots better.
 
I'd say they are the other way round, my NZ handicap ( simliar system ) was 3 where as here I'm a 5 . We had friends who came over in the Summer from UK and they also were a couple of shots better.
That's interesting. We've been informally discussing this at my club, and as we understand it, US handicaps are a rolling average of the 10 best cards out of the last 20 - is that right?

If that is the case, then the general feeling is that since playing to handicap only happens about 20% of the time (at least for mid and high handicappers), then the US-style average is likely to result in a higher handicap. Maybe low handicappers are consistent enough that it wouldn't affect them the same way?

(Presumably if and when a world handicapping system comes into force, it's likely that the Britain will adopt something similar).
 
That's interesting. We've been informally discussing this at my club, and as we understand it, US handicaps are a rolling average of the 10 best cards out of the last 20 - is that right?

If that is the case, then the general feeling is that since playing to handicap only happens about 20% of the time (at least for mid and high handicappers), then the US-style average is likely to result in a higher handicap. Maybe low handicappers are consistent enough that it wouldn't affect them the same way?

(Presumably if and when a world handicapping system comes into force, it's likely that the Britain will adopt something similar).
Could you explain the bolded part further, including the source of the statement? Seems to me that if mid to high handicappers only play to their handicap 20% of the time then the handicaps are likely too low.
My experience is that a 5-6 N. American handicap plays more like an 8-9 in the UK, and has to give the UK player strokes without any adjustment.
 
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Could you explain the bolded part further, including the source of the statement? Seems to me that if mid to high handicappers only play to their handicap 20% of the time then the handicaps are likely too low.
My experience is that a 5-6 N. American handicap plays more like an 8-9 in the UK, and has to give the UK player strokes without any adjustment.

Whilst I don't like such generalisations the basis for such statements is often based around simple arithmetic .

A cat 4 golfer goes up 0.1 above buffer and comes down 0.4 for only 1 shot below,min simple terms their handicap will decrease if they play even 1 shot better than their handicap more than 25% relative to their failures to meet buffer. Add in a probability that any better score will be more than 1 and its easy to conclude that beating their handicap more than 1 in 5 (20%) and they will be coming down in handicap.
 
Could you explain the bolded part further, including the source of the statement? Seems to me that if mid to high handicappers only play to their handicap 20% of the time then the handicaps are likely too low.
My experience is that a 5-6 N. American handicap plays more like an 8-9 in the UK, and has to give the UK player strokes without any adjustment.

Perhaps the expectation that you should buffer or better in 33% of your scores is easier to visualise?

Given that the demographic of clubs tends to be skewed towards older men and women whose game is declining faster than the system of 0.1 increases allows for, you could expect as significant amount under-handicapping around. A player who returns the minimum of 3 scores per year can take 3 years for his playing handicap to increase by 1 stroke. Meanwhile, over 3 years, what is happening to his golfing performance?
 
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I've got a USGA handicap and I'm exploring whether i can play in a UK CONGU open competition. Apparently there is a conversion calculation. Anyone know what it is? It doesn't come up in a Google search

Just over a year ago you posted that you had a USGA and a CONGU handicap. What has happened to your CONGU handicap?
 
Just over a year ago you posted that you had a USGA and a CONGU handicap. What has happened to your CONGU handicap?

Yes i had two handicaps in Thailand one CONGU and One USGA. I left the CONGU group and my handicap isn't getting updated so no point using that.

On the subject of how they both compare, mine were the same within 1 or 2, USGA higher. More interestingly my USGA Thailand handicap is higher than my UK handicap because i play far more courses than just the one i played in the UK and so its more difficult.

Having used both systems for a few years now i prefer USGA so will be quite happy when the new World handicapping system comes out.
 
Yes i had two handicaps in Thailand one CONGU and One USGA. I left the CONGU group and my handicap isn't getting updated so no point using that.

On the subject of how they both compare, mine were the same within 1 or 2, USGA higher. More interestingly my USGA Thailand handicap is higher than my UK handicap because i play far more courses than just the one i played in the UK and so its more difficult.

Having used both systems for a few years now i prefer USGA so will be quite happy when the new World handicapping system comes out.
Do you play much tournament/competition golf?
 
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