Working out the handicapping

[nabbit]

I have taken up golf again after a lay off of about 10 years and have really caught the bug big time! Can anyone let me know how a handicap works without getting too technical and how easy or hard it is to get one calculated?

 

[Mike_j_golf]

how ever many shots u shoot over the par of the course if u shoot around 100 and par is 72 handicap should be around 28

 

[johng]

Hi NeilyB.

Hello and welcome.

As I understand it, if you join a club you will need 3 rounds marked by a member to be submitted. These scores will be averaged to make your handicap. e.g.
score a 90, 86, 94. Total 270/3 = 90. If the clubs par is 72 this would mean an 18 h'cap.
I believe that anything over a double bogey is not counted for handicap. So if you take 9 on a par 5, the most it will score is a 7.

In club comps the handicaps are altered depending on your score. If you shoot anything above par you go up 0.1. For every shot below your handicap you come down 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1 depending on your handicap category.

I'm sure someone will provide a more detailed explanation but hopefully this is the rough and ready version.

you can also check the R+A website, CONGU website etc for exact details.

John.

 

[nabbit]

Thanks John most helpful.I'm sure it must seem an odd thing to ask but just wanted some clarification.Glad that a score of 9 will only be counted as a 7! That should make my score look quite respectable lol!

 

[RGuk]

Sadly, the "average" of 3 cards thing is no longer used.
They will take your best card and ignore anything over a double bogey. If your best card was 20 over par with 3 triple bogeys, you'd probably be given 17 (for example).
Other than that, spot on.

 

[backwoodsman]

Sadly, the "average" of 3 cards thing is no longer used.
They will take your best card and ignore anything over a double bogey. If your best card was 20 over par with 3 triple bogeys, you'd probably be given 17 (for example).
Other than that, spot on.

You beat me to it - best card it is.

NeilyB: have a look at past threads - there's plenty of discussion there. Use "Congu" as your search word and plenty should come up.

 

[jeffc]

Always baffled me how the stroke index relates to your handicap,
I know a hole with SI1 is supposed to be the hardest and SI18 the easiest but how does this relate to where you do get a stroke and where you don't?

have looked in the R&A booklet but could not find anything

 

[Doh]

Always baffled me how the stroke index relates to your handicap,
I know a hole with SI1 is supposed to be the hardest and SI18 the easiest but how does this relate to where you do get a stroke and where you don't?

have looked in the R&A booklet but could not find anything

Easy Jeff

Say if your handicap is 10 the you get a shot at holes SI 1 to 10 and so on.

If Your handicap is 28 you will get two shots on holes with SI 1 to 10 and one shot on holes with SI of 11 to 18.

Provided your playing off full handicap.

 

[jeffc]

Thanks doh, now the pennies dropped.

 

[jeffc]

Is SI 1-10 normally used as the break of point?

for example for handicaps of say 15 to 20 would it still apply SI 1-10 two shots, and 11-18 one shot.

Sorry if I seem an ignoranus but have never had it explained to me.


now edited

 

[dangermouse]

Is SI 1-10 normally used as the break of point?

for example for handicaps of say 15 to 20 would it still apply SI 1-10 two shots, and 11-18 one shot.

Sorry if I seem an ignoranus but have never had it explained to me.


now edited

Jeff - its really quite simple, if your handicap is under 18 (say 14), you get a shot on all holes that are SI1-14. (1-16 if handicap is 16 etc).

Only if your handicap is over 18 do you get 2 shots on any hole, and the remaining shots are applied in the same order eg if playing off 20, you have a shot on all 18, plus an extra shot on SI 1 & 2. Hope this makes sense.

 

[Twire]

I've posted this link before, and i'll probably post it again. It's a quick overview on the handicap system, and explains it in simple terms.

http://golfclub.timesonline.co.uk/pages.php/my_handicap.html

 

[jeffc]

thanks dangermouse, I get it now.

Must start taking more water with it