I would be interested to see....

[ademac]

.......what the average handicap is for club golfers in the uk compared to other countries?
I was thinking that if I lived in say spain or portugal and had decent weather pretty much all year, that my handicap would or at least should be a few shots better!
Therefore is the average handicap for club golfers in better weather countries lower than ours also would golfers in worse weather countries have a higher average?
Be interesting to know, think I may try and find out!

 

[ademac]

16.1 for men in the usa apparently?
I'll keep digging!

 

[ademac]

just found a site that says uk is 20.6. I dont think these are reliable and not even "club" golfers though to be honest.
I dont really know where to look or if the information is available?
Be good if any of you guys know as you seem like a trustworthy and knowledgable bunch!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Difficult to compare though. Like you say different course layouts, weather and climate. Also, don't the US have to submit a card everytime they play ?

 

[ademac]

I don't know to be honest?
I know there are lots of different factors involved but I was just thinking generally really.
It may be the case that there are too many factors and you could never get a true reflection or comparison between 2 countries?
I do think though that if I had year round good weather I would have a better handicap, regardless of course layout or any other factors.
Saying that I'd probably still be shite!!

 

[SwingSlow]

At least we have a good stock of explanations/reasons/excuses/bs as to why our handicaps aren't at least 5 shots lower than they would be if we lived somewhere else. Certainly playing in the wind on Monday was good for at least 8 shots and 4 of the 3 balls I lost.

 

[0]

We play golf in Portugal most years and one year when we went the starter asked what our handicaps were at Vila Sol and he said if we were members there it would be 3 shots more ?

Also do you not need to factor in the course you play ?

Once when watching the masters the commentator said if you were a member at Augusta and your handicap was 10 you would be off scracth anywhere else.

 

[Smiffy]

It's got to be a tad easier hitting off of nice lush fairways and putting on decent speed greens all year than some of the crap we have to contend with though, surely?

 

[USER1999]

Spanish / american style courses would lead me to have a higher h/cap.

There is so much water.

Fat one short of the green at my track and I am confident of getting up and down for a par. Do this with water in front, and you are looking at a double at best.

I don't hit many greens.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Think the way they work it in america is the average of there last 20 rounds they don't even have to be in comps they take into account the slope rating our SSS of the courses played so there handicpa can vary a lot from month to month depending on how u are playing not sure how they work them in Spain/ Europe. Thought the average for Ireland was 18. Handicaps would vary a lot from course to course a tough long links course where you have a player has a handicap of 10 would maybe have a handicap of 6/7 on a wide open parkland course.
Mike

 

[MashieNiblick]

Interesting question. Handicaps do try to take into account course difficulty through the SSS system but the effect of totally different playing conditions is unclear. Warmer weather, better underfoot conditions, etc. can make a difference to scores. What about playing at altitude? Would that get you a lower handicap due to hitting further?

 

[19th]

I would imagine that HDID could offer a very close figure for the UK at the push of button!

With the number of UK clubs and score returns they have to hand, they could possibly provide a very accurate figure.

The handicaps on here however must be so much lower than the average. The 300 yard drives etc, will turn the longest hole into a pussy cat par!

 

[19th]

Just had a wee look at HDID and their average competitive score, comparing 21,315,797 rounds, is 91.49.

Not knowing the average CSS but assuming 70 .. this would make the average handicap somewhat higher than that shown in our poll.

 

[USER1999]

Just had a wee look at HDID and their average competitive score, comparing 21,315,797 rounds, is 91.49.

Not knowing the average CSS but assuming 70 .. this would make the average handicap somewhat higher than that shown in our poll.

Bit of a leap of faith, as I'm not sure your h/cap reflects your average round. It shuold represent a good round.

Also, I can shoot 99, or 75, playing off 10. This is going to bias the average score up quite alot, as I can score alot more over my handicap than I can below it.

 

[viscount17]

You are expected to play to handicap only once in four(?) rounds so you need to factor that in.

Good luck!

 

[Parmo]

The US have a lower handicap than euro in the system they use. I would be something like 14 in the states off 18 in the EU.

Also doesn't SSS take care of course difficulties?

 

[0]

Interesting question. Handicaps do try to take into account course difficulty through the SSS system but the effect of totally different playing conditions is unclear. Warmer weather, better underfoot conditions, etc. can make a difference to scores. What about playing at altitude? Would that get you a lower handicap due to hitting further?

Errr Yes and No. Its a toughy - does hitting it farther make you a better golfer - its no good hitting 300 yards if the last twenty is OB or in a forest. Look at Quieros and Watson etc - they dont win that much. what about Jamie Sadlowski was it longest drive champ - he is not a tour pro.
Flip side some the old boys at our course you can out drive with an iron to their woods. Trouble is they hit it dead straight and nevr niss a fairway.
we would all like extra distance but i am not sure we would all be better golfers

 

[Ethan]

US Courses also tend to have higher course ratings than SSS/CSS in the UK which tends to flatter the American golfer. I have played with a fair few Americans over the years and a number of them claimed handicaps which I found to be rather hard to believe.

Also because most Americans get handicaps based on casual rounds, so some of them never play in competitions and would never play close to their handicap if they did.

 

[Region3]

Errr Yes and No. Its a toughy - does hitting it farther make you a better golfer - its no good hitting 300 yards if the last twenty is OB or in a forest. Look at Quieros and Watson etc - they dont win that much. what about Jamie Sadlowski was it longest drive champ - he is not a tour pro.

That's an interesting one regarding Sadlowski.

Apparently he's worked with coaches (I think Kostas(sp?) was one) who really like his swing, unlike most long drive pro's.
I think I read he wants to win a few more long drive wc's then try to play on the pro tour.

His best round is 62, and if he wants accuracy over distance he takes a 20deg hybrid and still hits it further than most pro's hit driver.

I know it's not all about the long game but I for one can't wait to see what he could do. He'd certainly be fun to watch.