Golf handicap

[vraiblonde]

I'm embarrassed to tell you what mine is, it's that high.

But golfers: do you actually use your handicap score when you tell someone what you shot or do you use your real score? Like, if someone says "how'd you do?" should I tell them I shot a 77 rather than the 108 I really shot? (Just an example) What is the purpose of a handicap, other than feel-good everyone gets a trophy bull####?

 

[Larry Gude]

I'm embarrassed to tell you what mine is, it's that high.

But golfers: do you actually use your handicap score when you tell someone what you shot or do you use your real score? Like, if someone says "how'd you do?" should I tell them I shot a 77 rather than the 108 I really shot? (Just an example) What is the purpose of a handicap, other than feel-good everyone gets a trophy bull####?

You tell them what you shot and then you discuss handicap. If you, typically, shoot 108, you're about a 36 and that is NOT bad. "I played so and so course the other day and shot 108. I play to a 36 so, that was a good round for me." If you shot higher than 108, or lower, you had a good-er or less good-er round to your handicap.

So, if, say, you play Tilted and, IIRC, he is about an 8 or, likely to shoot an 80 on a par 72, he'd be giving you your 36 minus his 8 or, 28, so, you get to take 28 stroked off your score, he gets to take off zero.

So, you shoot 108 and he shoots 80, both played to your 'par' and it's a tie. You shoot 107 to his 80, you win by 1. He shoots 79 to your 108, he wins by one.

It allows unequal golfers to play one another allowing for your skill level which facilitates gambling.

So, he'd be 'giving you 28' playing one another. The WHOLE point is to facilitate gambling.

 

[Larry Gude]

I'm embarrassed to tell you what mine is, it's that high.

But golfers: do you actually use your handicap score when you tell someone what you shot or do you use your real score? Like, if someone says "how'd you do?" should I tell them I shot a 77 rather than the 108 I really shot? (Just an example) What is the purpose of a handicap, other than feel-good everyone gets a trophy bull####?

Also, you'll note on your card the holes are ranked by how hard they are relative to one another, 1-18.

If, say, you were playing someone who was a 40 and you are a 36, you'd give them one stroke each on the 4 hardest holes. You're play straight up the other 14.

If you're a 36 playing an 18, they'd give you one stroke per hole, every hole. So, you're 6 would be a 5. Their 5, on the same hole, would be a 5 and the hole is a tie. If they shot 6, you'd win the hole.

 

[Larry Gude]

Furthermore, pro golfers play to a negative handicap. Tiger Woods is probably a -6 so, playing your 36, he'd have to give you 42 stokes. if he shoots -6 and you shoot +36, it is a tie.

Handicaps change based on the slope and course ranking. A course that is a par 72 on the scorecard will also have a 'slope' which is a # used to adjust handicap based on how hard the course is. Course ranking is also used for the same thing. An 'average' course, par 72, would have a 'rating' of 72 and a slope of 113 (based on a formula)

A harder course could be...OK, this is seriously getting into the weeds....

 

[vraiblonde]

Thanks!

Vince and I were discussing this yesterday and couldn't figure out why we'd care about a handicap, except it might make us sound like better golfers than what we are.

Actually I didn't do too bad yesterday - my game has improved dramatically over last fall.

 

[Larry Gude]

http://golftips.golfsmith.com/average-golf-handicap-america-2455.html

In determining where you stand among amateur golfers in general, it helps to know what the average handicap is for both men and women. The average male golfer has a handicap of 16.1, while the average female has a handicap of 28.9.

 

[vraiblonde]

http://golftips.golfsmith.com/average-golf-handicap-america-2455.html

Now THAT is helpful. I also like to compare my drive to the average women's drive (I think it's like 180) to see where I stand.

 

[Larry Gude]

- my game has improved dramatically over last fall.

That is the other big reason for all of this, slope, rating, handicap, to gauge how well you are playing over time. If you are a 36 at your 'home' course, what you typically shoot, around 36 over par, and go on vacation and play some killer, gorgeous, really hard track with a slope of 140 (to your home course of 118 or so) and a rating of 74 (from the ladies t's) to your home of 71 or whatever) you could be expected to shoot several strokes higher on score but, have played better, or worse, than your 'normal' based on the slope and rating.

So, you show up at, say, WISP, a tough course, and are playing someone who plays there all the time. You're both playing the same course but, they're used to it. Say they are a 36 and so are you. For betting purposes, you could come to agreement how many extra strokes you get, even though you have the same handicap, on account of not being familiar with the course based on the obvious reasoning that, even though you have the same handicap, the local, surely, would still beat you straight up. So, they offer you, say, 2 a side, you ask for 4 a side, you settle on 3. Or, they talk you into 5 and then give you one each on the 5 highest handicap holes. Or, you talk them into giving you 6 but, on the 6 easiest holes. Or whatever.

This, of course, is all then getting to whether you are playing stroke or match play. Handicap applies either way. Match being total of holes won or lost regardless of total strokes, stroke play being you count them all.

 

[Larry Gude]

Now THAT is helpful. I also like to compare my drive to the average women's drive (I think it's like 180) to see where I stand.

Look at you!!! 180 is very respectful for a woman of your age....

 

[Larry Gude]

Then, there is the Nassau...

Greenies, sandies, mulligans...

The game was invented for people with NOTHING better to do who need a reason to stop gambling on gin for awhile and go outside and get some fresh air...

 

[Gilligan]

Look at you!!! 180 is very respectful for a woman of your age....

:ducks:

 

[Larry Gude]

:ducks:

She's a 36. I'll stand in the middle of the fairway and be safe as a baby in a crib. She'll never hit..... "OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[Pete]

Now THAT is helpful. I also like to compare my drive to the average women's drive (I think it's like 180) to see where I stand.

You hit 180?

 

[Monello]

This is why I prefer to fish.

 

[vraiblonde]

Look at you!!! 180 is very respectful for a woman of your age....

Oh, my average drive is NOT 180 - that's the average for all amateur women. My average is probably closer to 150.

 

[vraiblonde]

You hit 180?

I *have* hit 180, but that is not my average and you know that because you've golfed with me.

This is why I prefer to fish.

Excuse me, sir, but I recall conversations with you about fishing that were rather in depth and detailed regarding bait and lures and poles, and why these two identical lures are not identical at all, and slow reeling vs. trolling, etc etc.

 

[Pete]

Oh, my average drive is NOT 180 - that's the average for all amateur women. My average is probably closer to 150, unless there is water involved. Then my average equals the average distance from the T-box to the middle of the water.

Fixed

 

[vraiblonde]

Fixed

I dropped three in the drink yesterday.

 

[Monello]

Excuse me, sir, but I recall conversations with you about fishing that were rather in depth and detailed regarding bait and lures and poles, and why these two identical lures are not identical at all, and slow reeling vs. trolling, etc etc.

I didn't realize that you were actually paying attention to what I was saying.
:blahblahblah:

 

[Pete]

I dropped three in the drink yesterday.

Did you take the penalty strokes? They figure into your handicap.

A handicap is nothing more than strokes given/taken to level the playing field when you play other golfers for fun or a tournament. If you didn't have a handicap you would have to play head to head against everyone else and you would never win unless you played players who were equal to or lower than your skill level.

We just play for fun but if we played for real you would have to count ALL the strokes, even the 3 feet drives, and so would I. My handicap is about 17 yours about 45. I would have to give you a 2 stroke headstart on the hardest 10 holes and 1 stroke on the last 8. If I hit a 4 on #1 and you hit a 6 we tie. If I hit a 5 and you hit a 6 you win.