Sorry for the previous post. I was just seeing if I could post a new topic.
I am planning to start up a casual golf league next year with my buddies. However, I need some advice on how I can make the league a level playing field for all. I'm assuming that we can use the handicap index to do this but I'm unsure how to do it.
Also, I'm thinking that we use the 5 18-hole rounds to calculate our handicaps. Can we calculate a reasonable handicap using only 5 rounds?
Yes, you should be using the handicap index to “level” the playing field. For what it’s
worth, that why the handicap index was created, but there are ways around it
(cheaters!).
Here’s how it works:
Each hole has a handicap number which refers to the difficulty of the hole relative to the other holes. Lets assume Player A has a handicap index of 10 while Player B as a handicap index of 15.
For play A, this means that he gets 1 free stroke for each of the 10 hardest holes while Player B gets one free stroke for each of the 15 hardest holes.
Lets assume for the sake of simplicity that the handicap number for each holes corresponds to the hole number themselves (which is never the case).
So hole 1 has handicap 1 (hardest hole) hole 2 has handicap 2 (second hardest) …
In a par 72 course Player A gets 10 extra shots, meaning if he shoots 95 then his adjusted score is 95 – 10 = 85 implies he shot 13 over (a really bad day). In essence, if he was having a normal day he should have shot around 82 so his adjusted score would have been 72 (par).
Now, if Player B shot 99, his adjusted score would be 95-15 = 80 which means Player B wins even though he shot 95.
Player A = 95 => 95 – 10 = 85 (adjusted)
Player B = 99 => 99 – 15 = 84 (adjusted) … Winner
If you’re playing skins then Player A gets 1 extra shot for the first 10 hardest hole while Player be gets 1 extra shot for the first 15 hardest hole.
If person
has a handicap over 18 like 20 then that person gets an extra shot for all holes plus an extra shot for the first 2 most difficult holes.
Hope this makes sense, you might want to check the USGA.com site for more details and might be wrong, this is just off the top of my head.
The description of how the Handicap works is correct. You can use as few rounds as you like to adjust it for starters.
I suggest updating weekly. There is a formula, but I can't remember it offhand. Basically you add your rounds and average them, then do some math with the rating and slope of the course.
If you are playing different courses you will want to adjust to the slope and rating of each course, each person's handicap. It will work out basically the same as far as how many strokes you get from/give to other players, but the strokes you get on the courses will vary.
If you update as the league goes on, it should work out pretty well and you will have established handicaps to start the next year. Remember that it is only a set number of your best scores that factor into the handicap. It is not supposed to be an average, but rather what you are capable of.
Check the USGA site. I believe they have the formula. Also a good reference for how handicapping works and other rules of golf.
Before I joined this website, I had my own handicap tracker which I
still keep in addition to this site. Up until about 3 weeks ago they
agreed perfectly. All of a sudden, this site gives me a lower index
than mine does. I have not changed any setting on my computer to cause
a difference. I have checked and double checked my postings and course
statistics and can find no reason for the difference. I am at a loss.
I was a casual golfer playing once or twice a year up until last season when I finall discovered my hidden passion for the game. I started taking the game seriously last Summer and have been tracking my scores to obtain my handicap. I have 12 rounds in and have yet to break 100 (going down every week, put in a 101 last week) but had some questions as to whether I am tracking properly. I am using a program on my iPhone, Golf Handicap, where you just put in your score, slope and rating for the round and it calculates your index. My Dad told me that even though I am just starting I am still not supposed to take more than a certain amount of strokes per hole (he thought the # was 8 but was not positive). Does anyone know if this is true and what the # is for one who does not yet have an HC?
Yes, there is a hole maximum but the idea is typically to prevent throwing off your handicap index. I believe this is called Equitable Stroke Control. It's typically based on your handicap, though. But just to give you some context, a hole maximum of 8 would indicate that your handicap is somewhere between 20-29 (I think). I'm thinking a handicap less than 10 (0-9) would mean you couldn't post anything higher than double bogey (but it might be triple bogey). Don't hold me to that, but I think the 8-9 range is good for someone around the 100 mark.
And in the beginning, you'll really figure out some things that will drastically drop your score. The hard part is when you actually get relatively good, and you have to work incredibly hard to drop a single stroke. Either way, fun stuff :-)
You're right, that does seem rather low. I'm working on a stat-tracking application that computes such things. Having said that, I've just been studying up on all of the computations that go into a handicap index, and that does seem low. Are you sure you're pulling the most recent 10 differentials, rather than you "best 10" differentials? This is a common mistake, from my experience.
Handicap Index
Sorry for the previous post. I was just seeing if I could post a new topic.
I am planning to start up a casual golf league next year with my buddies. However, I need some advice on how I can make the league a level playing field for all. I'm assuming that we can use the handicap index to do this but I'm unsure how to do it.
Also, I'm thinking that we use the 5 18-hole rounds to calculate our handicaps. Can we calculate a reasonable handicap using only 5 rounds?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.
Hi, Yes, you should be using
Hi,
Yes, you should be using the handicap index to “level” the playing field. For what it’s
worth, that why the handicap index was created, but there are ways around it
(cheaters!).
Here’s how it works:
Each hole has a handicap number which refers to the difficulty of the hole relative to the other holes. Lets assume Player A has a handicap index of 10 while Player B as a handicap index of 15.
For play A, this means that he gets 1 free stroke for each of the 10 hardest holes while Player B gets one free stroke for each of the 15 hardest holes.
Lets assume for the sake of simplicity that the handicap number for each holes corresponds to the hole number themselves (which is never the case).
So hole 1 has handicap 1 (hardest hole) hole 2 has handicap 2 (second hardest) …
In a par 72 course Player A gets 10 extra shots, meaning if he shoots 95 then his adjusted score is 95 – 10 = 85 implies he shot 13 over (a really bad day). In essence, if he was having a normal day he should have shot around 82 so his adjusted score would have been 72 (par).
Now, if Player B shot 99, his adjusted score would be 95-15 = 80 which means Player B wins even though he shot 95.
Player A = 95 => 95 – 10 = 85 (adjusted)
Player B = 99 => 99 – 15 = 84 (adjusted) … Winner
If you’re playing skins then Player A gets 1 extra shot for the first 10 hardest hole while Player be gets 1 extra shot for the first 15 hardest hole.
If person
has a handicap over 18 like 20 then that person gets an extra shot for all holes plus an extra shot for the first 2 most difficult holes.
Hope this makes sense, you might want to check the USGA.com site for more details and might be wrong, this is just off the top of my head.
Handicapping Leauge
The description of how the Handicap works is correct. You can use as few rounds as you like to adjust it for starters.
I suggest updating weekly. There is a formula, but I can't remember it offhand. Basically you add your rounds and average them, then do some math with the rating and slope of the course.
If you are playing different courses you will want to adjust to the slope and rating of each course, each person's handicap. It will work out basically the same as far as how many strokes you get from/give to other players, but the strokes you get on the courses will vary.
If you update as the league goes on, it should work out pretty well and you will have established handicaps to start the next year. Remember that it is only a set number of your best scores that factor into the handicap. It is not supposed to be an average, but rather what you are capable of.
Check the USGA site. I believe they have the formula. Also a good reference for how handicapping works and other rules of golf.
index calculations
I agree with all that has been said. Below is how to calculate your index.
(Score-Course Rating) x (113/Course Slope)
Take the best (lowest) differentials (1 with 5 scores; 5 with 13 scores; 10 with 20 or more) and average these best differentials.
Finally, take 96% of this number. The result is your handicap index.
From here, the giving and receiving of strokes is exactly as the others have said.
GOOD LUCK in your group. -- Phil
Handicap index discrepancies
Before I joined this website, I had my own handicap tracker which I
still keep in addition to this site. Up until about 3 weeks ago they
agreed perfectly. All of a sudden, this site gives me a lower index
than mine does. I have not changed any setting on my computer to cause
a difference. I have checked and double checked my postings and course
statistics and can find no reason for the difference. I am at a loss.
Newbie
I was a casual golfer playing once or twice a year up until last season when I finall discovered my hidden passion for the game. I started taking the game seriously last Summer and have been tracking my scores to obtain my handicap. I have 12 rounds in and have yet to break 100 (going down every week, put in a 101 last week) but had some questions as to whether I am tracking properly. I am using a program on my iPhone, Golf Handicap, where you just put in your score, slope and rating for the round and it calculates your index. My Dad told me that even though I am just starting I am still not supposed to take more than a certain amount of strokes per hole (he thought the # was 8 but was not positive). Does anyone know if this is true and what the # is for one who does not yet have an HC?
Thanks.
RobStyles
Hole Maximums
Yes, there is a hole maximum but the idea is typically to prevent throwing off your handicap index. I believe this is called Equitable Stroke Control. It's typically based on your handicap, though. But just to give you some context, a hole maximum of 8 would indicate that your handicap is somewhere between 20-29 (I think). I'm thinking a handicap less than 10 (0-9) would mean you couldn't post anything higher than double bogey (but it might be triple bogey). Don't hold me to that, but I think the 8-9 range is good for someone around the 100 mark.
And in the beginning, you'll really figure out some things that will drastically drop your score. The hard part is when you actually get relatively good, and you have to work incredibly hard to drop a single stroke. Either way, fun stuff :-)
Best of luck!
--
Ryan Heath - http://www.golftracapp.com
hcp
i have a 76.77 average score and it says my handicap index is 0.4 that seems way too low. it's not that hard of course slope is122 and i believe 69.2
Hmm...
You're right, that does seem rather low. I'm working on a stat-tracking application that computes such things. Having said that, I've just been studying up on all of the computations that go into a handicap index, and that does seem low. Are you sure you're pulling the most recent 10 differentials, rather than you "best 10" differentials? This is a common mistake, from my experience.
--
Ryan Heath
http://www.golftracapp.com