Handicaps -

[whackywoman]

Ladies and Gentlemen this is probably a silly question but when would one start considering trying to work what out what theirs is after starting to play the game.....and how do you work it out

Many thanks in advance

 

[ScienceBoy]

When I first played I did not know what a handicap was so I when someone told me I needed a handicap to play in a game with them I loaded up with lead weights in my pocket...

I was later corrected

If you are a member of a club talk to them, submit three cards to the handicap secretary (probably have a little post box in the club somewhere). The cards have to be signed by another member who has accompanied you to verify your score.

 

[Heidi]

You have to put 3 cards in, with a member marking your card for you
you can do this in bounce games (friendlies) or during medals or competitions
What sort of scores are you going round 9 or 18 in?

 

[bobmac]

Ladies and Gentlemen this is probably a silly question but when would one start considering trying to work what out what theirs is after starting to play the game.....and how do you work it out

Many thanks in advance

Once you can play regularly below 100
Then look on your course scorecard.
There should be a SSS number of around 70 ish.
Whatever your score is above that will roughly be your handicap.
It's a bit more involved than that but you'll get the idea.

 

[whackywoman]

not a club member at present - that is something I will look at once I move (A decent golf club is one of the things on the list of nearby facilities on my house search list much to the amusement of those not addicted to the game)

Not kept a real tally yet as not played for long but seem to average 8/9 per hole in last couple of rounds which was abysmal but had some lessons since then and lots of practice so hope to see an improvement

 

[Heidi]

not a club member at present - that is something I will look at once I move (A decent golf club is one of the things on the list of nearby facilities on my house search list much to the amusement of those not addicted to the game)

Not kept a real tally yet as not played for long but seem to average 8/9 per hole in last couple of rounds which was abysmal but had some lessons since then and lots of practice so hope to see an improvement

If you are taking as many as that I'm afraid you'd be starting on 36!

 

[louise_a]

As a rough guide your handicap is the number of shots you would have to take off your score to acheive a par round over 18 holes (its actually based on the standard scratch scre, but lets not complicate things too much at this stage).
There is however a maximum handicap limit, for ladies it is 36.so if par is 72 then you would need to score 108 to play to a handicap of 36.

You can submit scores of greater than this, but as Heidi says you would be given a handicap of 36

 

[whackywoman]

right so technically a 36 - sticking to 9 holes at present so let me see say if a course is a par 79 regardless of size if I play in anything l115 or over it is 36 - if average that level over 3 games that is what it would be so as i improve (well that is the plan) my score over par of course will come down and the par is calculated over the average of 3 games .

Would it be a rolling system or a review after every batch of 3 games ?

 

[bobmac]

I'm afraid it's the best score of the 3, not the average.

Once you can play regularly below 100

I meant to write 110 so roughly 6 per hole

 

[Rooter]

If you are not a member anywhere like me, i track mine online. i personally use - http://todaysgolfer.golfscoretracker.co.uk as its the first one i found. once you have submitted 3 cards, it generates your handicap, much like at a club. OK its not official, but its a base to work from.

 

[whackywoman]

I'm afraid it's the best score of the 3, not the average.



I meant to write 110 so roughly 6 per hole

right got it, least it think so, play play practice practice etc once I start playing to a standard where I get 110 or below (is this 18 or 9 ) then I can submit card to a club if I belong to one for 3 games to get a handicap and then after every 3 games do the same ........... in the mean time for my own tracking use one the sites rooter suggested to help keep a record and monitor my progress

 

[bobmac]

right got it, least it think so, play play practice practice etc once I start playing to a standard where I get 110 or below (is this 18 or 9 ) then I can submit card to a club if I belong to one for 3 games to get a handicap and then after every 3 games do the same ........... in the mean time for my own tracking use one the sites rooter suggested to help keep a record and monitor my progress

Almost.
Join a club first then get your 3 cards done as soon as you like.
As I mentioned, the best score will count giving you your handicap.
Then, every time you play in a competition, if your score is below your handicap your handicap goes down. If it's above, it will go up
Thats roughly how it works.
But being golf, as you can imagine it's a bit more complicated than that.

is this 18 or 9

18 I'm afraid

 

[whackywoman]

ah me thinks lol I am sure it will become clearer - no handicap for 9 holes then? guess will have to practice more .............such a hardship to do so......................lol

 

[Heidi]

ah me thinks lol I am sure it will become clearer - no handicap for 9 holes then? guess will have to practice more .............such a hardship to do so......................lol

our club allows some medals for handicap over 9 holes (to re-establish your handicap after the winter), you have to say you are playing 9 before teeing off.
I havent heard of anyone doing 3 cards for initial handicap over 9 holes tho
better get out there and do 18 holes! keep count too

 

[Liverbirdie]

If another player marks your card, note that air shots count also. If you swing and miss the ball, that is still a shot.

 

[rosecott]

our club allows some medals for handicap over 9 holes (to re-establish your handicap after the winter), you have to say you are playing 9 before teeing off.
I havent heard of anyone doing 3 cards for initial handicap over 9 holes tho
better get out there and do 18 holes! keep count too

From this year you can submit six 9-hole cards for initial handicap allocation.

 

[Heidi]

From this year you can submit six 9-hole cards for initial handicap allocation.

Thats a good idea.
Glad the scottish system has been adopted in the UK!! I'm sure not all clubs will go for it
it caused a problem with our CSS when one person opted for the 9 hole comp...

 

[Wolfman]

When you join your club find another member and state you wish to play 18 holes as part of your handicap card

Make sure they fill the card in correctly, name, date, and most importantly you must putt every hole no gimmies

You can choose to use the card if its decent or not your choice after the game, over a few weeks / months do this until you have 3 cards and hand them in to your club, they will rasie an official handicap

Note: the problem is if you are a social golfer like me and play friendly swindle type comps you will not play official comps that keep your handicap alive, i think after a year it will lapse and you have to do the lot again.

If you are playing for fun i wouldnt worry at this stage about official handicaps, but if you intend to play comps etc you must see an official handicap to take part

Its a great system but can be a major hangup to the new golfer, do not worry you can get by without it at most clubs for social golf

 

[rosecott]

the problem is if you are a social golfer like me and play friendly swindle type comps you will not play official comps that keep your handicap alive, i think after a year it will lapse and you have to do the lot again.

A common misunderstanding - your handicap, once gained, doesn't lapse as long as you remain a club member. It may become inactive if you don't play a minimum of 3 qualifiers a year and you have to play in 3 qualifiers (or submit 3 Supplementaries) to become active again - but you still have your handicap.

Another common misunderstanding is that you cannot play in competitions if your handicap is inactive. Your club has, however, the right to prevent you from winning prizes while your handicap is inactive.

 

[whackywoman]

not sure if interested in the competition side of the game, but may go that route in time to come - currently social and enjoying it at that level whilst working on improving and learning the game.

Will go for the sort of site router suggested to I can monitor my progression and review once moved house and found a club I would like to join,