D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
I get your post, as I put I read it and wish I could find the link, I've tried, I wasn't disagreeing or trying to prove anything, just a post. :thup:
Should I Be Shooting My Handicap?
- Thread starter Vardon11LDN
- Start date
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
It happens a lot at the beginning, I won 2 of my first 3 competitions after getting a handicap of 17.
KenL
Tour Rookie
Last year I played about 30 comps, including about 6 away events. About 6 of these comps were reduction only due to high scoring, due to it being SO windy.
I had far more buffer zones than I had plus 0.1 scores. Some of my point ones were when in category 1 where the buffer zone is only 0.1.
Perhaps the statements about people should only should buffer about a third of the time is only applicable to higher handicap categories?
I had far more buffer zones than I had plus 0.1 scores. Some of my point ones were when in category 1 where the buffer zone is only 0.1.
Perhaps the statements about people should only should buffer about a third of the time is only applicable to higher handicap categories?
rosecott
Money List Winner
It does vary according to handicap category, with there being a higher expectation of cat1s buffering.
rosecott
Money List Winner
Therefore SSS would be reduced for qualifiers.
D
Deleted member 15344
Guest
It would be a non qualifier
rosecott
Money List Winner
I know many who play 3 qualifiers per week all year round. 3.5 buffers seems to be a very low target.
We are off the yellows over the winter other than our 7th which is slightly forward, that means the 1st & 10th are no longer par 5's and become par 4's, there tough par 4's in the summer but in the winter you won't get on in 2, a heathland course or one not being subjected to the deluge most of us are experiencing may still play with some run or be so short it does make a difference, but it doesn't at ours, it's a full measured course off the yellows but with the winter elements all against you, so it's certainly not easier in the winter for us.
ChrisB0210
Assistant Pro
Our course is set up so it plays pretty much to its normal length in winter, although four temp greens at present mean that it's approximately 60 yds shorter than summer. Given the cold air, plugging on fairways and lack of run I'd say that it plays tougher in winter than summer.
D
Deleted member 17920
Guest
Most courses generally are easier over winter as most play forward tees etc, your course sounds like its a full course but I imagine you do gain somewhere along the line.
but i think the hotchkin is Defo easier over winter as we have the tees roughly 10 yards different per hole on most but it's the green were the main difference is, right now you can fly a 5 iron in and stop it, you have no chance of doing that in the summer.
I think it's playing 2-3 shots easier through the winter.
evahakool
Challenge Tour Pro
I suppose it depends on what each club is set up for the winter, I can only go on mine, as I said it's the full course bar one par 3 which we play of the ladies tee , and one long par 4 which we play off the yellows 60 yards forward , this hole with a good drive I still need a wood to reach the green.
I can understand if some courses are shorter and have receptive greens it will be easier for some in the winter, but with the distance I loose in the winter because of balls plugging and no roll ,also hitting off wet fairways it sure makes it harder for me.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
The course might be shorter but it certainly doesn't play that way at our place. Even with the forward tees I'm left with longer approaches than I would have off the whites in summer most of the time, mostly I suspect due to it always seemingly being windy and/or wet.
Odvan
Journeyman Pro
So basically when I came over there, instead of you scoring 27 points, you should have really scored 24/25?
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
Agreed Jim, I know guys at our place who only play 3-4 a year to keep an active handicap. I will keep trying to find the source, I was surprised when I read it and that's why it stuck with me.
Slime
Tour Winner
I found this a while back and found it very illuminating;
According to and written by the EGU.
A Category 1 player (handicaps scratch to 5.4) is expected to play on average 2 shots
worse than handicap.
A Category 2 player (handicaps 5.5 to 12.4) - 3 to 4 shots worse
A Category 3 player (handicaps 12.5 to 20.4) - 5 to 6 shots worse
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.
According to and written by the EGU.
A Category 1 player (handicaps scratch to 5.4) is expected to play on average 2 shots
worse than handicap.
A Category 2 player (handicaps 5.5 to 12.4) - 3 to 4 shots worse
A Category 3 player (handicaps 12.5 to 20.4) - 5 to 6 shots worse
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.
robert.redmile
Assistant Pro
This surprised me, now I understand the annoyance expressed by some of my playing partners! - at last things seem to be dropping into place for me and have shot 41,40 and 43 points in last 3 rounds, off my handicap of 22. They've cut me to 18 in the Sunday morning roll up.
I guess this view above is because it's easier to come down in handicap than go up? - is that the way it's designed?
rob
UlyssesSky
Head Pro
To give you another reference, here are some excerpts from a table by the german golf association regarding the expected average net points per handicap.
A cat 4 player should on average expect 30 net points, a cat 3 player 31, cat 2 player 32 and a cat 1 player 33.
Seeing our handicap system is a little different from congu, this isn't too dissimilar to the number Slime posted.
A cat 4 player should on average expect 30 net points, a cat 3 player 31, cat 2 player 32 and a cat 1 player 33.
Seeing our handicap system is a little different from congu, this isn't too dissimilar to the number Slime posted.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Not only is it easier - the system is designed to cut you quicker than you go back up. So your Cat3 player scores 2 under CSSS and he is cut 0.6. It will take him 6 rounds scoring outside the buffer zone to get back to where he was before the cut. That is why your handicap is a stretch indicator and why my 31-32pts for 'a normal day' round works (and also why US's, Foxholder's and Slime's analyses are the case)
SugarPenguin
Challenge Tour Pro
Handicaps are always the most contentious subject about golf. Its really difficult to get it right unless you play about 20 tournaments in a season in my opinion. I manage our society handicaps and nobody is ever happy.
In answer to your question I remember doing a poll on this last year which was pretty interesting
http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?74232-Handicap-How-often-do-you-play-to-it
In answer to your question I remember doing a poll on this last year which was pretty interesting
http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/showthread.php?74232-Handicap-How-often-do-you-play-to-it
Ethan
Money List Winner
This is exactly as it should be, because the handicaps are not based off average (whether mean, median or other) score, they are based off something around the 75% percentile. This is because handicaps are all about variability. Lets compare a scratch player and a 20 handicapper. 90% of the time, the scratch player scores between 2 or 3 under and 4 or 5 over. They have a variability range of about 8 shots. The 20 handicap typically scores between 82 and 110. They have a variability range of 28.
Now, comps are won when you are at the good end of your variability range, so the scratch scores net 68, but the 20 scores net 62. So there needs to be a pivit point around which scores vary such that these players good scores are more similar. Hence, the average scores will be further from SSS for the 20 than the scratch, because the dynamic range or variability of scores is greater.
