WHS 9 hole calculations

[SurreyGolfer]

If I play 18 holes at my course I get 31 shots. However if I decided I wanted to play 9 holes, I get 14 on the front, 14 on the back.....don't need to be a maths whizz to work out that doesn't add up to 31.

Is the reasoning for this as simple as 'it's easier to string 9 good holes together than 18?' Theoretically it's harder to cut a handicap if all I did was play 9 holes as I get less shots to begin with?

 

[rosecott]

If I play 18 holes at my course I get 31 shots. However if I decided I wanted to play 9 holes, I get 14 on the front, 14 on the back.....don't need to be a maths whizz to work out that doesn't add up to 31.

Is the reasoning for this as simple as 'it's easier to string 9 good holes together than 18?' Theoretically it's harder to cut a handicap if all I did was play 9 holes as I get less shots to begin with?

Which course?

Do you know Course Rating and slope for Front 9, Back 9 and 18-hole course?

And your Handicap Index?

 

[Colin L]

Each 9 is rated as a discrete course and so your course handicap is based on these ratings not on the 18 hole ones. Also, the calculation of 9 hole course handicaps includes the difference between the 9 hole course rating and the 9 hole par whereas the 18 hole course handicap calculation doesn't. The 9 hole formula is

Course Handicap =
[Handicap Index ÷ 2] X [(9 hole Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (9 hole Course Rating - 9 hole Par)]

See Rule 6.1b of the WHS Rules of Handicapping

 

[SurreyGolfer]

WHS Index is 29.5
Course rating 68.5, slope 120 - 31 shots
Front 9 34.2 & 121 - 14 shots
Back 9 34.3 & 118 - 14 shots
Both are Par 36

My expectation was that it would be 16 shots on front 9, 15 on back 9 to add up to 31?

 

[rulefan]

WHS Index is 29.5
Course rating 68.5, slope 120 - 31 shots
Front 9 34.2 & 121 - 14 shots
Back 9 34.3 & 118 - 14 shots

My expectation was that it would be 16 shots on front 9, 15 on back 9 to add up to 31?

What is the par for each 9? See Colin's post above.

 

[D-S]

Is there a published rationale behind the CR- Par calculation in 9 hole handicaps but not in 18 hole handicaps?

 

[D-S]

What is the par for each 9? See Colin's post above.

Reply, in his post he states par 36 for both 9’s.

 

[wjemather]

Is there a published rationale behind the CR- Par calculation in 9 hole handicaps but not in 18 hole handicaps?

Yes, it's consistent with how handicaps were calculated previously under CONGU's UHS.

 

[Swango1980]

Yes, it's consistent with how handicaps were calculated previously under CONGU's UHS.

But NOT consistent with how handicaps are calculated for 18 holes under UKs version of WHS

 

[wjemather]

But NOT consistent with how handicaps are calculated for 18 holes under UKs version of WHS

Yes, but that wasn't the question. Probably in order to avoid such commentary, CONGU actually used the word "constancy" rather than "consistency".

 

[D-S]

The question was ‘ is there a published rationale’ i.e. has any authority given any written specific reason for the difference in 9 & 18 hole handicap calculations?

 

[wjemather]

The question was ‘ is there a published rationale’ i.e. has any authority given any written specific reason for the difference in 9 & 18 hole handicap calculations?

That was the question I answered; i.e. the rationale was "constancy with UHS" (CONGU).

 

[Swango1980]

Yes, but that wasn't the question. Probably in order to avoid such commentary, CONGU actually used the word "constancy" rather than "consistency".

Good call, they didn't use consistency because that is defined as "your thinking makes sense and one position does not contradict another", whereas constancy is defined as being "faithful and loyal".

It is intriguing, in that had they decided to go with consistency, then it would make logical sense to golfers and could at least be easily defended. Had a golfer said it was not being faithful to the previous handicapping, then the defenders of WHS would absolutely say "so what, WHS is a completely new system, and therefore 9 hole handicaps are now calculated consistently in line with 18 hole handicaps"

Anyway, the point is probably somewhat relevant to the OP, because I'd imagine the OPs initial confusion is related to the fact that WHS is not consistent between 18 and 9 hole handicaps in UK. So, making that point may help the OP realise that they shouldn't expect the 9 hole handicaps of each 9 holes to simply add up to their 18 hole handicap.

 

[D-S]

That was the question I answered; i.e. the rationale was "constancy with UHS" (CONGU).

Thank you for that but unless your implied answer is no, it didn’t answer my question

 

[rosecott]

Perhaps someone with a superior mathematical/analytical ability than mine can shed some light on the apparent anomaly the OP highlights. Applying his HI to my course, his 18-hole CH is also 31 but his 9-hole CH is 15 for the Front 9 and 16 for the Back 9. So why do the two 9-hole CHs add up to the 18-hole CH on my course but not on his course?

 

[Swango1980]

Perhaps someone with a superior mathematical/analytical ability than mine can shed some light on the apparent anomaly the OP highlights. Applying his HI to my course, his 18-hole CH is also 31 but his 9-hole CH is 15 for the Front 9 and 16 for the Back 9. So why do the two 9-hole CHs add up to the 18-hole CH on my course but not on his course?

I'd imagine it is related to the difference between his CR and Par and between your CR and Par?

 

[wjemather]

Thank you for that but unless your implied answer is no, it didn’t answer my question

That was the rationale given by CONGU. So the answer to your question is yes, there was a published rationale.

 

[Colin L]

I'd imagine it is related to the difference between his CR and Par and between your CR and Par?

Plus the possibility/likelihood that the slope ratings and course ratings are different.

 

[D-S]

That was the rationale given by CONGU. So the answer to your question is yes, there was a published rationale.

Given where (i.e. where is it published)?

 

[SurreyGolfer]

Thanks for all of your responses, so sounds like the overarching hypothesis is correct that if I play 9-holes at my course and get 14 shots vs playing 18 and getting 31, in terms of handicap cuts it's more advantageous to play 18 and cut out the 9's