Stroke index

[Dave1980]

I can remember reading somewhere that there is a "Rule" where certain holes can not be allocated a certain stroke index. Does anyone know any more information on this?

I recently was knocked out in a matchplay comp when the first hole is stroke index 4 (lost of the first extra hole giving away 4 shots), but a course I am playing in the next couple of weeks has two sets of SI, one for match play and one for stroke play as the first hole is SI3!

 

[Imurg]

I think Congu or EGU sites have the "guidelines" - that's all they are really.
Playing off 8 I should get 4 shots each half - one local course's SI gives me 3 on the front and 5 back...

 

[Crow]

As I understand it the Congu guidelines are for matchplay to try and prevent a stroke being received on play off holes and the indexes aren't necessarily an indication of a holes difficulty. If you go to the Congu site you should be able to find it all explained better than I have.

My course has to sets of indexes, one for matchplay and one for strokeplay. This was done as several holes don't reflect their playing difficulty such as the first which is 9 on the matchplay but 3 on the stroke play.

 

[Dave1980]

Thanks for you comments, just looked on Congu website and as you both say they are guidelines!

Crow, you course is not Ullesthorp Court by any chance?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Smiffy]

Hever have a different set of stroke indexes for match and stroke play marked on the card.
Gets a bit confusing for a numpty like me.

 

[Paul_Stewart]

Don't you get a shot at each hole anyway Smiffy?

 

[Crow]

Crow, you course is not Ullesthorp Court by any chance?

It is Dave, have you played it?
The indexes used for stroke play were set using past results from medal format competitions. Whether it achieves anythig or not is debateable as you're only losing a stroke on one hole and gaining it on another so by the end of the round I can't see how it affects your score.

 

[Smiffy]

Don't you get a shot at each hole anyway Smiffy?

Knob

 

[bobmac]

Don't you get a shot at each hole anyway Smiffy?

Not yet, but give it time

 

[Dave1980]

Crow,

I have not played it yet, but have been invited to a 3 day society staying in the hotel, later this month! Any tips that I should know for the course or local entertainment/nightlife?

I quite like the idea of having two sets of SI, as when I look on the round details on HDID it always throws up some surprises, i.e. stroke index 2 regularly appears in the 5 easiest holes, and stroke index 17 (the first) one of the hardest!

 

[Crow]

Dave, the first thing I'd say is that pace of play can be slow so don't expect a quick round! I played in Medals yesterday and today and they both took over 5 hours...

The course is generally pretty open with not too much rough. You'll be lucky if you find a flat putt as most greens have one or two slopes and some of them are bordering on severe, the greens are also quite fast at the moment so make sure your putting is sharp!

The first hole can be a pig, being an uphill par 5 of 552 yards off the yellow tees with two ponds and OOB all the way up the right, many people play it as a four shotter.

Take care if you fade the ball as OOB features on the right of the first 8 holes, it shouldn't really come into play on the 2nd, 4th or 8th but I've been OOB on them all at some time or other. Holes 6 to 8 generally sort the men from the boys.

Once you're into the back nine things get a little easier. There are two nice par threes at 9 and 12 played from elevated tees on the disused railway embankment, the 12th looks easy but miss the green at your peril.

If you're a long hitter then the 5th and 17th can be driven.

The round ends with another par 5 which is played mostly downhill to a raised green behind a pond and is a great finishing hole.

I hope you enjoy the visit and would be interested to hear how you got on!

Re nightlife, I;ve passed the big 50 so not the best person to ask. There are plenty of village pubs in the area, Hinckley is the nearest town of any size and if you want late night entertainment then it's Coventry or Leicester.