USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
Do you expect to play to your handicap whenever you go out?
I have read a few comments recently (on here and elsewhere) regarding whether 36 points is a reasonable expectation when ever you play, and to me, it is.
My handicap is based off the very back tees, with the pins tucked away, and the pressure of my name in the competition book. In these conditions, I have to play within my buffer zone of two shots off standard scratch in order to maintain my handicap. If I shoot better, I get cut 0.2 per shot, if worse I go up 0.1. Therefore ignoring buffer zones, for every round I am 1 under, I will shoot two rubbish round to go with it.
However, most bounce games, and most games away from my club, I am at best off the middle tees, and often off yellows (society games). Since there is no SS for bounce games, I would expect to shoot at least 36 points, since I am playing an easier course where SS would be 2 or 3 shots under par if it was calculated.
In our Saturday roll up, my average for the year is a poor 32.4 points off the white tees, but not the medal tees. Disappointing really. The best average is a guy on 37, which is pretty good, and the worst is on 24 points which is tosh. Most are between 30 and 33, which makes me decidedly average. The stats are skewed however by winning. If you win, you get cut one per shot plus another for winning, and then you get one back per week until you are back where you started. I would guess the guy on 37 has never won, as a 42 pointer (needed to win, minimum) will loose you 7 shots, and take you 7 weeks to get back level. If this is factored in, I would guess most of us in the swindle average close to 36, and have won once during the year, and maybe a couple of second places too (only lose one shot for coming second). I would also guess the guy on 24 is never going to win anything (how he plays to a 15 h/cap is beyond me).
So unless I play a strange course, which is notably tougher than mine, I would expect to shoot around 36 points pretty much every time I play (not medal, and clearly not round RCD either).
I played with a guy earlier in the year who I would imagine always cards 36. He is off 19, and uses all his shots, even laying up from 150 on one hole, because he got a shot there so might as well use it. clearly with some risk, he could do better, but he never will, as he plays to his handicap. Odd. Cheating? Not really, as he never goes for it in comps either. Better to be steady. Can't see what he gets out of it though. No fun.
My last few rounds have included 39 in our medal, 33 at Copthorne (new track for me), 35 swindle, 38 with HTL and JustoneUK at my track, and 34 in the last swindle, which kind of backs up my theory as that averages 35.8.
So what would you expect to score in your next round?
Me, I am looking at a 36 in the swindle on Saturday, followed by a total disaster round Bearwood lakes with Smiffy as I haven't had a really bad round recently, and he saps all the skill out of my game. It must be all the time I waste looking for his ball.
I have read a few comments recently (on here and elsewhere) regarding whether 36 points is a reasonable expectation when ever you play, and to me, it is.
My handicap is based off the very back tees, with the pins tucked away, and the pressure of my name in the competition book. In these conditions, I have to play within my buffer zone of two shots off standard scratch in order to maintain my handicap. If I shoot better, I get cut 0.2 per shot, if worse I go up 0.1. Therefore ignoring buffer zones, for every round I am 1 under, I will shoot two rubbish round to go with it.
However, most bounce games, and most games away from my club, I am at best off the middle tees, and often off yellows (society games). Since there is no SS for bounce games, I would expect to shoot at least 36 points, since I am playing an easier course where SS would be 2 or 3 shots under par if it was calculated.
In our Saturday roll up, my average for the year is a poor 32.4 points off the white tees, but not the medal tees. Disappointing really. The best average is a guy on 37, which is pretty good, and the worst is on 24 points which is tosh. Most are between 30 and 33, which makes me decidedly average. The stats are skewed however by winning. If you win, you get cut one per shot plus another for winning, and then you get one back per week until you are back where you started. I would guess the guy on 37 has never won, as a 42 pointer (needed to win, minimum) will loose you 7 shots, and take you 7 weeks to get back level. If this is factored in, I would guess most of us in the swindle average close to 36, and have won once during the year, and maybe a couple of second places too (only lose one shot for coming second). I would also guess the guy on 24 is never going to win anything (how he plays to a 15 h/cap is beyond me).
So unless I play a strange course, which is notably tougher than mine, I would expect to shoot around 36 points pretty much every time I play (not medal, and clearly not round RCD either).
I played with a guy earlier in the year who I would imagine always cards 36. He is off 19, and uses all his shots, even laying up from 150 on one hole, because he got a shot there so might as well use it. clearly with some risk, he could do better, but he never will, as he plays to his handicap. Odd. Cheating? Not really, as he never goes for it in comps either. Better to be steady. Can't see what he gets out of it though. No fun.
My last few rounds have included 39 in our medal, 33 at Copthorne (new track for me), 35 swindle, 38 with HTL and JustoneUK at my track, and 34 in the last swindle, which kind of backs up my theory as that averages 35.8.
So what would you expect to score in your next round?
Me, I am looking at a 36 in the swindle on Saturday, followed by a total disaster round Bearwood lakes with Smiffy as I haven't had a really bad round recently, and he saps all the skill out of my game. It must be all the time I waste looking for his ball.
