US handicapping system....

[MadAdey]

Looking at joining somewhere now, but have been keeping track of my scores and been putting then into an App I have for handicap calculating. If I was to hand those 5 cards in for handicap then the App says my handicap would be 2.6!

As much as it would be nice I could never be competitive off that, then again that is obviously how well I have been playing since being here. Amazing what some lovely hot sun, well manicured greens that will take a good iron shot, but still are nice and slick for putting can do for your scores. I think having a driver back in the bag has had an effect as I am 2/3 clubs closer to the hole every time and playing off the back tees with the courses measuring nearly 7000 yards it sure helps.

 

[Lump]

Stop it....😂

 

[Ethan]

The course ratings tend to be a bit inflated which helps reduce handicaps compared to the UK.

 

[JustOne]

Looking at joining somewhere now, but have been keeping track of my scores and been putting then into an App I have for handicap calculating. If I was to hand those 5 cards in for handicap then the App says my handicap would be 2.6!

Sounds about right... that's why we deport bandits from the UK :thup:

 

[MadAdey]

The course ratings tend to be a bit inflated which helps reduce handicaps compared to the UK.

Most definitely. What they call a difficult course is not what I would call one. Course played yesterday was par 72, index 72.8 and sloped at 129. Shot a 76 and lipped out 6 birdie putts, but even though I played well, I would not have it down as a difficult course, it said that my handicap was indexed at 2.6 for that round. I think at your place Ethan playing like that I would have still shot a good score but not got away with a couple of stinky shots I hit from the tee box.

 

[Foxholer]

Most definitely. What they call a difficult course is not what I would call one. Course played yesterday was par 72, index 72.8 and sloped at 129. Shot a 76 and lipped out 6 birdie putts, but even though I played well, I would not have it down as a difficult course, it said that my handicap was indexed at 2.6 for that round. I think at your place Ethan playing like that I would have still shot a good score but not got away with a couple of stinky shots I hit from the tee box.

I always tend to associate the US system to Society Handicaps - where 36 points is 'expected'.

The US Index is very much a 'does played to' rather than 'can play to' if that makes sense. In the end it's all relative so doesn't actually matter, but demonstrates that the 2 systems aren't really compatible. There are things I like and dislike about both systems!

 

[G1BB0]

Sounds like my kind of courses

How do memberships compare to here Adey? From what I have read/heard they are pretty pricey

Nice going with the 2.6, if you want a game for a few quid over here off that give me a shout haha

 

[Junior]

Nice to see your playing well and enjoying Florida mate. I've heard they use mulligans a lot over the pond

 

[MadAdey]

Sounds like my kind of courses

How do memberships compare to here Adey? From what I have read/heard they are pretty pricey

Nice going with the 2.6, if you want a game for a few quid over here off that give me a shout haha

Pricey does not even come close to the realism of it. A basic starting price round here is about $1000 a month, that is full membership. But most people are nomadic and just go round all the various pay and play as they are fantastic courses. I have found an absolute steal of a deal bring ex military, the Navy Golf Club down the road for only charges $10 a round with being in the military and it is nothing like the old runway courses of the RAF bases.

What most people do is join the men's club at a pay and play for about $100 a year so you get a maintained handicap and competitions to play in, then play wherever you want. Every course has a GHIC (Golf Handicap and Information Network) terminal so just whack your score in there and it will update your handicap on the network.

 

[MadAdey]

I always tend to associate the US system to Society Handicaps - where 36 points is 'expected'.

The US Index is very much a 'does played to' rather than 'can play to' if that makes sense. In the end it's all relative so doesn't actually matter, but demonstrates that the 2 systems aren't really compatible. There are things I like and dislike about both systems!

I quite agree, the system here is more aimed at what you are currently playing to. If I put those 5 rounds in against my handicap from the UK (9.4) I would now be down to 6.2 which I would say is what I was playing to back home. I think they need to find th middle ground between the systems to get it correct. Over here I like the fact that every round is taken into consideration so it hinders people protecting their handicap as much.

 

[Foxholer]

Nice to see your playing well and enjoying Florida mate. I've heard they use mulligans a lot over the pond

Florida?

About as far from Florida as you and me!

re:Navy Golf Club. Sounds perfect! Certainly better than Barrowhill that I thought of for the 2nd time in as many days! Though The Berkshire is rather full of military types - and there's a few more in the other 'old boys network' clubs in the same area! And Army GC is certainly worth playing!

 

[Junior]

Florida?

About as far from Florida as you and me!

re:Navy Golf Club. Sounds perfect! Certainly better than Barrowhill that I thought of for the 2nd time in as many days! Though The Berkshire is rather full of military types - and there's a few more in the other 'old boys network' clubs in the same area! And Army GC is certainly worth playing!

Ahhhh sorry, your right it was the West Coast wasnt it!!! Now i'm more jealous.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Some good playing matey and hope you get in somewhere soon. Much easier to get an idea of how you are doing once the cards are in and back and playing comps again

 

[MadAdey]

Some good playing matey and hope you get in somewhere soon. Much easier to get an idea of how you are doing once the cards are in and back and playing comps again

Cheers Homer. Will be nice to play some comps and get a real feel for a handicap once a card is in hand, but out here every card will count so shouldn't make a lot of difference. The courses I have played here have always been off the blue tees, so playing the courses at their hardest so not going to have the shock of moving to the back tees after getting my handicap sorted.

 

[upsidedown]

I was sceptical of same system in NZ but once got into it could see the benefits , if you keep a close eye on it the round you're playing that could knock a good round out ramps up the pressure nicely :thup:

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I was a member at a club in Florida a few years ago, I was playing off 10 at home and switching between 7 & 8 in Florida, so I agree that USA h/c's tend to flatter the player a little.

 

[MadAdey]

I was a member at a club in Florida a few years ago, I was playing off 10 at home and switching between 7 & 8 in Florida, so I agree that USA h/c's tend to flatter the player a little.

It sure does, I would say that 6/7 is what I would have expected to be off at the end of this year if I had not moved and kept playing on a regular basis.

 

[upsidedown]

I was a member at a club in Florida a few years ago, I was playing off 10 at home and switching between 7 & 8 in Florida, so I agree that USA h/c's tend to flatter the player a little.

Or is Congu handicapping too hard? Did you play to a US handicap more then a UK one?

For me I think yes I probably did but that might have been due to better playing conditions so maybe unfair to compare. By being able to use every round for handicapping does make it easier to go lower if in a vein of form.