Handicap too low?

[Craggles89]

Hi all,

After some wisdom, as I do not know too much about the handicap system, but as I am not a member anywhere, decided to use an online handicap tracker as I was tired of playing to 28, having a good round and the bandit cries begin to echo.

So I took to my local course, to play 3 rounds over the last couple of weeks and recorded the following;
SSS 67
R1 82
R2 87
R3 99

This equated to a handicap of 18.3

I would say I am normally breaking 100, in and around mid to low 90's on a good day; with the exception of the two rounds above.

Since I have played 4 times and shot mid 90's (as usual) but upon entering these scores I have a string of 0.1's added (which I understand)

I dont want to go into rounds thinking I'm an 18 hcp when I know I wont shoot to that before I have even started the round

My question is, as it isnt official, should I delete the 'good' rounds to get a more accurate handicap, or just accept it keep adding 0.1's until it averages out?

Thanks in advance

 

[Alex1975]

Hell no! Your handicap is a reflection of the best you can play every 3-4 rounds.

 

[Stuey01]

If you returned those 3 cards to get an initial handicap at a club you would be a 15 handicap, so you might say you're too high already.

 

[MendieGK]

Hi all,

After some wisdom, as I do not know too much about the handicap system, but as I am not a member anywhere, decided to use an online handicap tracker as I was tired of playing to 28, having a good round and the bandit cries begin to echo.

So I took to my local course, to play 3 rounds over the last couple of weeks and recorded the following;
SSS 67
R1 82
R2 87
R3 99

This equated to a handicap of 18.3

I would say I am normally breaking 100, in and around mid to low 90's on a good day; with the exception of the two rounds above.

Since I have played 4 times and shot mid 90's (as usual) but upon entering these scores I have a string of 0.1's added (which I understand)

I dont want to go into rounds thinking I'm an 18 hcp when I know I wont shoot to that before I have even started the round

My question is, as it isnt official, should I delete the 'good' rounds to get a more accurate handicap, or just accept it keep adding 0.1's until it averages out?

Thanks in advance

Just so you know an official handicap at a club is based off of your lowest score of the 3 rounds (after any stableford reductions too), so the maximum you should be playing off is 15.

 

[Craggles89]

Hell no! Your handicap is a reflection of the best you can play every 3-4 rounds.

Which part of the question is the 'Hell no' aimed at? Do you think I should continue as is, as I had some good rounds and they happen to be in my initial 3 cards.
I guess if it was a real club I wouldn't have this choice

 

[daverollo]

Looks to me like your handicap would be about right. Your best round of those 3 was still 3 under a handicap of 18! I know some clubs who'd have you playing off 15 with scores like that returned. It will average out over time if you keep playing above it.

The way I consider handicaps is:
1 - Play really well and shoot below handicap
2 - Play well shoot on or around handicap (within the buffer)
3 - Play average shoot 3-4 shots over handicap
4 - Play poorly and shoot 5-10 shots over handicap
5 - Disaster

The last full season I had I played in 17 medals
1 = 2 rounds
2 = 4 rounds
3 = 4 rounds
4 = 4 rounds
5 = 3 rounds

Ended the season knocking 2.2 shots off the handicap I started with

 

[Craggles89]

Just so you know an official handicap at a club is based off of your lowest score of the 3 rounds (after any stableford reductions too), so the maximum you should be playing off is 15.

Understood. Not to disprove your point, as I am merely trying to understand the system a bit better, but do you think this is a good move to use the lowest score, as I would incur a handicap review after 7 consecutive 0.1's under the new rules, am I right?
Also, seems if I were to use this handicap in matchplay or societies, i would loose every time :rofl:

 

[daverollo]

Understood. Not to disprove your point, as I am merely trying to understand the system a bit better, but do you think this is a good move to use the lowest score, as I would incur a handicap review after 7 consecutive 0.1's under the new rules, am I right?
Also, seems if I were to use this handicap in matchplay or societies, i would loose every time :rofl:

So is the glass half full or half empty?

Rather than worrying about the handicap going up, why not focus on believing in your potential? You shot two very good rounds, 1 at 15 over and 1 at 20 over, far better than the average round you 'normally' play.

Why not set the bench mark lower and start believing you should be shooting mid 80's on the course you play when you play well? You've done it before now go and do it again

 

[MendieGK]

Understood. Not to disprove your point, as I am merely trying to understand the system a bit better, but do you think this is a good move to use the lowest score, as I would incur a handicap review after 7 consecutive 0.1's under the new rules, am I right?
Also, seems if I were to use this handicap in matchplay or societies, i would loose every time :rofl:

you are correct (from next season).

Playing off 18 at a society event is a lot more acceptable than turning up and playing off 28!!

 

[Craggles89]

So is the glass half full or half empty?

Rather than worrying about the handicap going up, why not focus on believing in your potential? You shot two very good rounds, 1 at 15 over and 1 at 20 over, far better than the average round you 'normally' play.

Why not set the bench mark lower and start believing you should be shooting mid 80's on the course you play when you play well? You've done it before now go and do it again

That is the other option ha ha ha
I didnt want it to seem as I was moaning and trying to squeeze extra shots, just dont think people would believe me if I said I play to 15 and then dont break 100 !!

 

[Craggles89]

you are correct (from next season).

Playing off 18 at a society event is a lot more acceptable than turning up and playing off 28!!

Not at some of the societies I have played at, one of the dont cap the maximum and play with guys of 35 - 42 !!!!!
Impossible to win!

 

[BTatHome]

That is the other option ha ha ha
I didnt want it to seem as I was moaning and trying to squeeze extra shots, just dont think people would believe me if I said I play to 15 and then dont break 100 !!

well you first round you mentioned would be 15 h/cap, which shows you are perfectly capable of shooting that score.

 

[pbrown7582]

The bit most people forget is your handicap is supposed to reflect your ability on a good day (ie your potential) not what you score on an average round. Only 3/4 rounds out of ten should you be playing to your handicap if its accurate.

 

[Craggles89]

The bit most people forget is your handicap is supposed to reflect your ability on a good day (ie your potential) not what you score on an average round. Only 3/4 rounds out of ten should you be playing to your handicap if its accurate.

You learn something new everyday! I would have guessed it would be an average.
Guess I better get working to maintain this 18 hcp then :thup:

 

[pbrown7582]

You learn something new everyday! I would have guessed it would be an average.
Guess I better get working to maintain this 18 hcp then :thup:

Which is how a lot of people think and causes much discussion.
Also being your best would help explain why you would of been given 15 from initial posted cards.

 

[The Green Fairy]

You learn something new everyday! I would have guessed it would be an average.
Guess I better get working to maintain this 18 hcp then :thup:

I would suggest that an average would be correct for you to play a society day, or against your mates. A club handicap is given according to the formula given for the best card. A 'congu' handicap is a proper competition handicap and would be used in qualifying competitions at a golf club, where the handicaps would be properly adjusted.

There is no need for you to try and apply a congu equivalent handicap. Play off something that is near the ability you are capable of playing to, on a good day, not something that you beat regularly.

 

[guest100718]

Does the society not have its own system? Ours does and it works pretty well in spreading the winnings

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As others have mentioned - a correct handicap will have you on an average good luck/bad luck day, playing your OK game with nothing outrageous - scoring about 31/32 pts stableford.

 

[Ethan]

I would suggest that an average would be correct for you to play a society day, or against your mates. A club handicap is given according to the formula given for the best card. A 'congu' handicap is a proper competition handicap and would be used in qualifying competitions at a golf club, where the handicaps would be properly adjusted.

There is no need for you to try and apply a congu equivalent handicap. Play off something that is near the ability you are capable of playing to, on a good day, not something that you beat regularly.

The problem with an average is that the range of variability around it is too great, so the handicap is fixed closer to the better end of your range of scores around which the variability is less. For each handicap category, the reduction per shot below CSS is the same as the total increase for each score above buffer, so given that the typical decrease is probably around 2 or 3 shots rather than 1, that would suggest that the typical handicap is set so that you will better handicap once for every 2 or 3 times you are above buffer. Buffer scores don't affect it either way.

The US handicap system does this more explicitly based on 95% of the best 10 or the last 20 scores. This boils down to a handicap around the 75th percentile of your last 20 scores.

In both systems, even if their average score is the same, an inconsistent player will have a lower handicap than a player with a very tight range of scores.

 

[Slime]

Some while ago, due to an argument with a mate of mine, I found this and I'm assuming that it's still relevant.

[FONT=&quot] "According to and written by the EGU.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A Category 1 player (handicaps scratch to 5.4) is expected to play on average 2 shots
worse than handicap.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]- A Category 2 player (handicaps 5.5 to 12.4) - 3 to 4 shots worse.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]- A Category 3 player (handicaps 12.5 to 20.4) - 5 to 6 shots worse.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]- A typical Category 4 player (handicaps 20.5 to 28) should expect to play, on an
average day, 6 to 7 shots over handicap e.g. a 21 handicap player will usually play
to 27 over."

I hope this helps to convince you that what you are doing is correct.
Continue to play off 18 and aim to bring that down over time.

Slime.

[/FONT]