Working out my rough h'cap off the WHS...

[rulefan]

I found this comment interesting

Scratch Golfer

Is one who can play to a Course Handicapâ„¢ of zero on any and all rated golf courses.
He (she) can hit tee shots an average of 250 (210) yards and reach a 470 (400)-yard hole in two shots.

Bogey Golfer

Is one with a Course Handicap of 20 (24). He (she) can hit tee shots an average of 200 (150) yards and can reach a 370 (280)-yard hole in two shots.

That was done by sampling many thousands of shots made by amateur scratch and bogey golfers.
The USGA recently re-sampled and found the scratch drive had gone by 4-5 yards but didn't change the rating parameters because it was pretty insignificant in the scheme of things.
I think the average pro drive is about 285 yards

 

[Backache]

A bunker at 250 is not an issue for the model bogey player.

.

It'll kill my second shot.

 

[GG26]

Had a go working out mine using stableford points a few days ago. Best eight rounds average at 35.25 points, although in two rounds will drop the best score of 41. So presumably would currently be playing off of one extra shot.

 

[Foxholer]

I know it's not the way to look at things typically but is it our problem to learn? I assume there will be a calculator once all courses have their slopes that does all the hard work for us....

You don't NEED to learn it, but it helps!

Slope is simply a method of adjusting handicaps to account for the REALITY that while SSS may be appropriate for Scratch (the middle 'S'), an adjustment is needed for the 'not so gifted' that encompasses the vast majority of us! And that the tougher a course is, the more additional allowance is required - thus 'Slope'.

I'd certainly hope there was a calc made available. In the meantime, you could use the USGA one https://www.usga.org/course-handicap-calculator.html

...

My only understanding is that a neutral course is 113 less is easier, higher is harder and handicap is adjusted up and down depending on difference to your home club? Same as you though slope number means nothing to me, I wouldn't know how to adjust accordingly.

If you change the bold 'handicap' to 'Handicap for the round, then you are correct.

Re the bit in italics....That's irrelevant/wrong! Slope/WHS gives/will give you an Index, from which your handicap for a particular round can be calculated.

 

[Foxholer]

Had a go working out mine using stableford points a few days ago. Best eight rounds average at 35.25 points, although in two rounds will drop the best score of 41. So presumably would currently be playing off of one extra shot.

Not quite (at least by my understanding)! That would give you your Index which would then be used to calculate a handicap for a particular round.

 

[louise_a]

As everyone's handicap Index will be calculated to the same slope rating, then each club will have a chart and you will just have to look up your index against the tees you are playing and that will be your handicap allowance for that course.

 

[Imurg]

You know what......
I'm just going to let them give me a number and I'll play off that.....
This is way too complicated for me ...
I'm just gonna play golf .

 

[Fish]

We’ve been rated at 139, most clubs in the area are between 129-135, so when they visit us they’ll get extra shots, and when we visit them I’ll lose shots, is that right?

 

[Region3]

A quick curiosity driven question.....

If my hypothetical home course has a slope of 124 (so 124/113 is 1.1) and my best 8 of the last 20 average out to 20 over the course rating, is that figure then adjusted down by dividing by 1.1 to get my handicap index?

 

[rulefan]

Two key definitions. NB There is no definition for Handicap

Handicap Index
The measure of a player's demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty (that is a course with a Slope Rating of 113)

(The handicap index is the base start point computed from the average of the best 8 from the last 20 scores.)

Course Handicap

The number of handicap strokes a player receives , before handicap allowances, from a specific set of tees as determined by the Slope Rating

 

[Region3]

We’ve been rated at 139, most clubs in the area are between 129-135, so when they visit us they’ll get extra shots, and when we visit them I’ll lose shots, is that right?

139??

That’s an extra shot for me

We’re 128 so you’ll lose a couple at mine

 

[rulefan]

A quick curiosity driven question.....

If my hypothetical home course has a slope of 124 (so 124/113 is 1.1) and my best 8 of the last 20 average out to 20 over the course rating, is that figure then adjusted down by dividing by 1.1 to get my handicap index?

In your example 20 is your Handicap Index (in practice it is calculated as a decimal value - similar to the CONGU exact handicap)
(as I said in post#39 The handicap index is the base start point computed from the average of the best 8 from the last 20 scores)

So you will play off 20.0 x 124/113 = 21.95 (rounded to 22). This is your Course Handicap

 

[Fish]

In your example 20 is your Handicap Index (in practice it is calculated as a decimal value - similar to the CONGU exact handicap)
(as I said in post#39 The handicap index is the base start point computed from the average of the best 8 from the last 20 scores)

So you will play off 20.0 x 124/113 = 21.95 (rounded to 22). This is your Course Handicap

😂😂 he plays off 4, your giving him 16 shots 😳😜

 

[louise_a]

People will need to get their heads around the fact the their handicap index will not be based on their home club but on a course rating of 113

 

[Region3]

😂😂 he plays off 4, your giving him 16 shots 😳😜

Sounds good 👍

I was just trying to use nice round numbers.

I’m off 5 now though. Shot 78 in that hideous wind Saturday and CSS stayed at 72

 

[rulefan]

We’ve been rated at 139, most clubs in the area are between 129-135, so when they visit us they’ll get extra shots, and when we visit them I’ll lose shots, is that right?

Sort of.
A player's Handicap Index is course independent.
So any player (including home players) who's Handicap Index (usually abbreviated to Index) is 12.7 (say), will get a Course Handicap of 16
(12.7 x 139/113 = 15.6)

 

[Orikoru]

People will need to get their heads around the fact the their handicap index will not be based on their home club but on a course rating of 113

That makes absolutely no sense to me, because all the rounds my handicap is based on were at my course. So how is my handicap not for my course?

 

[azazel]

People will need to get their heads around the fact the their handicap index will not be based on their home club but on a course rating of 113

So, if the average of my best 8 from the last 20 is 7.125 on a course rated 132, does that help me work out what my index would be on this theoretical 113-rated course?

 

[rulefan]

So, if the average of my best 8 from the last 20 is 7.125 on a course rated 132, does that help me work out what my index would be on this theoretical 113-rated course?

That makes absolutely no sense to me, because all the rounds my handicap is based on were at my course. So how is my handicap not for my course?

Because your handicap index is not your CONGU handicap. It will be adjusted by the algorithm I mentioned earlier to take account of all your scores and your course's USGA Course Rating and its new Slope Rating. I don't have details of the exact formula but that is the principle.

 

[Region3]

In your example 20 is your Handicap Index (in practice it is calculated as a decimal value - similar to the CONGU exact handicap)
(as I said in post#39 The handicap index is the base start point computed from the average of the best 8 from the last 20 scores)

So you will play off 20.0 x 124/113 = 21.95 (rounded to 22). This is your Course Handicap

Thank you. I think I’m still confused though.

If my index is based on me (for want of a better phrase) “playing to 20” on my home course, doesn’t my course handicap have to come out at 20, otherwise I’m getting an extra couple of shots over my best 8 from 20.

(I’ll go back to post 39 and re-read it.)