Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
so in fact people are saying hitting their handicap seems easier in the winter as they can attack the pin?
Winter h/c Vs Summer H/c
- Thread starter Oddsocks
- Start date
andiritchie
Journeyman Pro
I would say so.You get no bad bounces as such and the shorter course length in my case.Suppose if you played on a course where you where on full tees all year it would be a different story
pokerjoke
Money List Winner
Summer also helps the shorter hitting players and the older players as they cant hit the ball so far in the winter and the harder fairways help.
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
I should add both scores are off the yellows if it counts not whites
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
My h'cap hasn't gone up but I too struggle with bump and run. I'm much better on soft greens when I can fly it at the flag.
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
I wouldn't say it's easier but I think it suits my game better. I'm pretty accurate with my wedges and so if I've got a yardage and know it will stop I just pick a club and hit it. I don't have to worry about the bounce or how hard to hit it and as a result I'm more comfortable with what I'm doing.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Is the correct answer.
I've got a mate, plays off 17. He never plays in official competitions so his handicap is inactive now. But according to him it's his "official" and come hell or high water he won't play off of anything less.
Despite the fact that he goes out almost every single time and shoots 36 points or more and usually figures in the frame of any society event he plays in.
It's not right. He knows it's not right. But he always takes the "official" handicap stance.
I know he's a mate, but in my eyes he's a cheat
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
By the looks of your profile pic your due to get them eyes tested anyway 
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
By the looks of your profile pic your due to get them eyes tested anyway
It's not my eyes I'm worried about.
It's my 11" whang
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
No wonder your moaning about an iffy swing lol
One thing you haven't mentioned (or I missed it) is why you aren't a member of a course. There are plenty of courses around your neck of the woods and not all of them are top end in terms of costs to join. If you could get in, get your handicap and play three qualifying events per year you'd have an official handicap and so would know where you are officially and see how easy it is to get 34+ everytime with a card and pencil in your hand.
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Homer I haven't bothered joining anywhere as I find once I'm a member of a course I always end up just playing that course (to get my money's worth) once I get into that habit two years and I'm on a gap year as I get bored. I much more prefer to play different courses each week (although we stick to around 5 or 6 mainly) and that way i stay keen. I have been a member of Shirley park and dukes Dean (or the now named woldingham) when I was at Shirley park as a junior I played every monthly medal without fail.
But the point is without a home base you can't have a valid handicap so can't accurately measure your progression. I've been a member of my club for four years now and usually manage about 80-110 rounds per year and play in all the events. I still play away as well to test myself on different layouts. I'm not sure I understand how you could get bored unless ou were playing every single day. I usually play 3-4 times a week in summer and every round is different. If I am getting stale I'll hit irons or 3 woods off the tee to give myself different challenges.
The bottom line is how will you truely know whether you play better or worse in the winter unless you play in a proper competitive environment and on a regular basis
The bottom line is how will you truely know whether you play better or worse in the winter unless you play in a proper competitive environment and on a regular basis
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Yeah valid point. I do run a spread sheet which covers all of my game from nett, gross,points, birdies, pars, bogeys, doubles and worse etc but i do get ya point Suppose the only way forward then is cough up a grand
Leftie
Tour Winner
Not necessary mate.
If you want to "belong to a club" for official competitions and official handicap reasons at not too much money and still be able to play a lot of other courses, you could do worse than joining High Elms GC , not a million miles from Croydon, and one of the best "public courses" I know. A handicap gained there is a true reflection of your potential.
Not sure if it is still the same, but when I was a member there, members block tee times at weekends were available particularly for comps.
http://www.hegc.org/membership/membership_options.php
Oddsocks
Ryder Cup Winner
Leftie I've just spent a while reading their website as I'm only the other side off biggin hill anyway and I've played the elms a few times (last time there I drove the 17th fringe) I noticed on the site they offer a membership for £133 and then you still pay green fees at a discount rate am I right in assuming this also entitled you to comp entries too. Interestingly enough though the elms is one I always struggle at or have in the past
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
It sounds like the "Associate" membership I had at my old club. When I first joined we paid £85 andgot a discount on green fees but had all playing rights of a full member. You just had to remember to pay before going out.
Very cost effective way of maintaining a handicap
Very cost effective way of maintaining a handicap
HawkeyeMS
Ryder Cup Winner
That's exactly what we do. £220 upfront and disount green fees. The discount gets bigger the more you play until you've paid what you would have paid upfront anyway.
It's a good system but the downside is the course is rammed in the summer being a pay and play. Seriously thinking of stumping up to join somewhere next year so I get more game time after work.
RGDave
Money List Winner
I have to say I've never understood this wish. I'm not saying you're wrong (I DO understand the desire to get as low as possible)....but I've always felt that ideally a h'cap should reflect your game fairly accurately at a given time.
Most of the time, I play at my home course against players at my home course which means we play against each other (as it were) regardless of CSS/SSS/course length/impossible holes/crap design etc.etc. This for me, means I want to walk into the bar and say I made 36 points or played "level" (nett) par. Everyone "judges" you by how you played that day, or how you play representing OUR club. There is absolutely nothing to be gained (as far as I can tell) by a player like me playing off 8 and scoring 30-32 points on a weekend or seeming like a total loser playing away against another club and losing every time.
I know folk on here want to get low, I appreciate that BUT having played off every number from 8-24, I'd rather play off a few shots more, hold my head up high and play to it (or damn close) most weeks.
I'm not having a go at anyone, I just don't see where the pleasure is in saying you are off x and never getting close to it (so you go up endlessly week after week 0.1).
To me, it's a kind of vanity. I didn't get any more respect or enjoyment playing off a lower h'cap. Better to be off 16 and get asked to play for the club and be known as a "good" 16 than play off 8 and be known as the bloke who can't play to his h'cap.
Maybe I'm totally wrong.
It's all about what we/you are in the game for. JOuk said the other day something like "does it really matter if I play off 4 or 7 or 10?"......NO....it doesn't. Aim to get as good as possible. Try to make PBs and get as close to gross par....do all these things.....yes.....but if you get to a respectable figure but then can't play to it, no-one is going to respect you MORE are they?
Leftie
Tour Winner
Socks. If it's still as it was 15 years ago when I was a member, there was a "members club" associated with the course that ran regular comps. I was able to gain an official handicap which stood me in good stead as the course is tough.
The only downside is that because it is a good course it is over played and sometimes rounds can take a long time, but that is a problem where ever you go now days.
Re comps http://www.hegc.org/home/what_we_offer.php
If you drove the fringe on 17th, you were off the yellows. Members play off the whites and you have an 80yd narrow avenue of trees to get through before the yellow teebox.
"From the white tee another card destroyer, tee off through a narrow tunnel of trees to the fairway, anything hit left will end up on the road to Farnborough Village. Safe shot is a left to right making sure to avoid the trees. A good tee shot will reward you with a straight approach to the green and a sense of relief. The yellow and red tees are in the tunnel of trees so the tee shot is not as difficult, but you will still need to hit the fairway to give you a chance of a good approach shot to the green.
Hackers Tip:
From the white tee, finish off the Dutch courage you opened on the 13th and take a spare ball or two back with you, if not play from the yellow tee. "
The 13th that was mentioned "The thirteenth, unlucky for some, many a good card has come to ruin here. Out of bounds left and right, three large bunkers in front of the green 224 yard from the white tee and all up hill! Known as one of the top 10 ten most difficult par 3's in Kent, members would not disagree with that. Play short, chip up, 2 putts, take 4 and walk off happy.
Hackers Tip:
3 hail Mary's, quick sip of Dutch courage and a prayer, if not play it as a par 4. "
Not surprised you have struggled on it, it really is a good course and a very good test of golf.
The only downside is that because it is a good course it is over played and sometimes rounds can take a long time, but that is a problem where ever you go now days.
Re comps http://www.hegc.org/home/what_we_offer.php
If you drove the fringe on 17th, you were off the yellows. Members play off the whites and you have an 80yd narrow avenue of trees to get through before the yellow teebox.
"From the white tee another card destroyer, tee off through a narrow tunnel of trees to the fairway, anything hit left will end up on the road to Farnborough Village. Safe shot is a left to right making sure to avoid the trees. A good tee shot will reward you with a straight approach to the green and a sense of relief. The yellow and red tees are in the tunnel of trees so the tee shot is not as difficult, but you will still need to hit the fairway to give you a chance of a good approach shot to the green.
Hackers Tip:
From the white tee, finish off the Dutch courage you opened on the 13th and take a spare ball or two back with you, if not play from the yellow tee. "
The 13th that was mentioned "The thirteenth, unlucky for some, many a good card has come to ruin here. Out of bounds left and right, three large bunkers in front of the green 224 yard from the white tee and all up hill! Known as one of the top 10 ten most difficult par 3's in Kent, members would not disagree with that. Play short, chip up, 2 putts, take 4 and walk off happy.
Hackers Tip:
3 hail Mary's, quick sip of Dutch courage and a prayer, if not play it as a par 4. "
Not surprised you have struggled on it, it really is a good course and a very good test of golf.
