What would your handicap be if...

[Pip]

Given that we're always being told the short game is key to good scores, I would bet money that in reality, a lot of people would still play to the same handicap. Would be interesting to try it for real

 

[Region3]

I just had a look for it in case I dreamt it.

I think this is what I remember reading.


The full pdf is here if anyone is that interested.

The Standard Scratch Score reflects the difficulty of a golf course and therefore
the expected score to be achieved by the Scratch Golfer in playing the course in
ideal conditions. The aim of the EGU rating system is to identify the difficulty of a
hole based on how a Scratch Golfer intends to play the course. The course is
assessed on a hole-by-hole basis. Where a full drive is considered necessary, the
hole should be assessed from 260yards from the tee. Maximum available yardage
for a second shot, particularly when playing a Par 5 hole, is 240 yards. Once the
Target Area has been identified, the difficulty of the hole is assessed using ten
Difficulty Factors: Terrain, Fairway Widths, Rough Heights, Fairway Bunkers, Out
of Bounds, Trees, Water Hazards, Green Approach, Greens and Green Missed
Recoverability.
250 yards from tee
Target Area
At the Target Area an assessment is taken on the surrounding difficulty factors
and their proximity to the Target Area by use of the Accuracy Table. The Accuracy
Table identifies the area a Scratch Golfer is expected to hit a ball into two thirds
of the time. The closer the hazard to these target areas, the greater the allocation
of difficulty points awarded. Generally speaking, hazards located away from these
areas are disregarded in terms of SSS assessment. The illustration above shows
that the two fairway bunkers are in a location that results in them being within
the Scratch Golfer’s expected Target Area and receiving maximum difficulty
allocation.

 

[Region3]

I guess if I hit a three iron off all tees I'd be straighter so around +3?

So why don't you, unless you're +4 now?

 

[Region3]

they assume a scratch player would hit a tee shot 260yds

Were you hoping for serious replies to your question Gary ?

I've never seen an un-serious reply here Bob.
Straight talking all the way

I knew I shouldn't have mentioned length.

The point really was if you could have the ball in A1 position after the tee shot.

For me that happens about 5 times a round so the difference would be big for me.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I guess if I hit a three iron off all tees I'd be straighter so around +3?

So why don't you, unless you're +4 now?

How boring would that be?? Middle of the fairway every time??

Where's the fun in that??

Surely, the game's more enjoyable when your ball's buried in 18 inch rough, you've got 250 to the green and a rather large lump to get over!! Oh, and a smallish carp lake to clear.. now, that's real golf!!

 

[sawtooth]

...you started each hole playing 2, 260yds from the tee in the middle of the fairway. Par 3's excluded.

About 14-15, dropping from 300yds to 260 would cause me problems.

 

[patricks148]

Driving is the best part of my game and I'm about this distance off the tee anyway. Prob no change, better for me if i hit the te shot and a scratch player did the rest

 

[funkyfred]

Well 260 yards off two of our tees would put you in the ditch. Not sure about our dogleg left third hole, that would be some draw/hook, about 200 yards up to the corner.

I would expect to drop from my present 25.3 to about 18, maybe a couple more.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I reckon it'd drop a couple from my handicap.

We had our course assessed the other year and I was near to the 260yds spots painted on each fairway.

But if I could guarantee not to get in trouble occassionally off the tee my iron play is good enough to get down more.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Interesting question. Driving is one of the better parts of my game and our course has fairly generous fairways and the rough isn't too penal. On top of that we have 4 very long par 4s where I'd still be the best part of 200yrds away and so would still struggle to hit the green and 3 very short ones where you don't need a 260 drive, so all in all maybe not that great a difference. I guess at least once or twice a round I stick one in the trees so it could knock 2-3 shots off.

However if you offered me the option of never three putting or getting up and down from the fringe every time that would make a difference.