Is Your Handicap Accurate?

[iacas]

2 hours ago, TRUCKER said:

I guess a better, or new question to me would be, "Does your handicap ever change?" "If not, WHY or HOW?"

I don't think that's a better question.

[David in FL]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

I don't think that's a better question.

Nor is it related to the OP...

[Cantankerish]

I am pretty certain that my handicap is not accurate, considering all of the details that are being discussed here.  And frankly, I do not care. I do not compete.  I do not play solo rounds, but if I did I would include those as well because, you know...I have no interest in cheating my own records.  The only thing I do is enter the number of strokes, slope, and course rating.  And then I update it.
  perhaps someday I will have reason to do it right.  But for now, I do it for me to tell me if my efforts to improve have been working.  And including it here is fun.

Golf Handicap Calculator

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Two free calculators for computing a golf player's course handicap and the player's USGA handicap index based on their past scores. In addition...

 

[TRUCKER]

21 hours ago, iacas said:

I don't think that's a better question.

Why?

17 hours ago, David in FL said:

Nor is it related to the OP...

A question about handicaps isn't "related" to a post about handicaps? smh...🤦‍♂️

[DaveP043]

18 minutes ago, TRUCKER said:

Why?

A question about handicaps isn't "related" to a post about handicaps? smh...🤦‍♂️

I'd say its a bit off-topic, but if you're interested in that discussion, I encourage you to start a new thread for it.  If you can word it effectively, you might choose to include a poll.

[ChetlovesMer]

I've only played 5 rounds so far this year. Which is a ton by my usual central Ohio standards for March.

After only 5 rounds my handicap sits at 14.9. 

So, I'm putting that on my profile. I plan to update it often. 

[DaveP043]

9 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

I've only played 5 rounds so far this year. Which is a ton by my usual central Ohio standards for March.

After only 5 rounds my handicap sits at 14.9. 

So, I'm putting that on my profile. I plan to update it often. 

It definitely takes a little more attention to keep the handicap on our profiles accurate now that handicaps are updated after each round.  

[ChetlovesMer]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

It definitely takes a little more attention to keep the handicap on our profiles accurate now that handicaps are updated after each round.  

True that. 
But I hang out here a lot. So, I figure I should at least keep my handicap relatively accurate. 

[boogielicious]

19 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

It definitely takes a little more attention to keep the handicap on our profiles accurate now that handicaps are updated after each round.  

Yours is getting close to Pi. 

[CarlSpackler]

I’m playing to a ???, and that is very accurate. 

[mohearn]

Season's starting here in the north, and I'm trying to be 100% in line with handicapping rules. I've deleted two scores that were out of season at the end of last year (didn't realize the system wouldn't automatically handle that) and where I live April 1st is the date that starts the handicapping season.

So I have a couple questions, and having reviewed other threads it's not clear to me. So in the attempt to be 100% compliant:

If I use a laser with slope enabled to give "true golf distance" is that allowed for handicapping?

If I use a Garmin S62-like smart watch with all the standard features enabled?

If my league uses "Rake and place" in bunkers?

 

[DaveP043]

10 minutes ago, mohearn said:

Season's starting here in the north, and I'm trying to be 100% in line with handicapping rules. I've deleted two scores that were out of season at the end of last year (didn't realize the system wouldn't automatically handle that) and where I live April 1st is the date that starts the handicapping season.

So I have a couple questions, and having reviewed other threads it's not clear to me. So in the attempt to be 100% compliant:

If I use a laser with slope enabled to give "true golf distance" is that allowed for handicapping?

If I use a Garmin S62-like smart watch with all the standard features enabled?

If my league uses "Rake and place" in bunkers?

 

What are you using for your handicap?  I tried to enter an "out of season" score through GHIN, and it wouldn't let me.  

Using a laser with slope enabled is against the rules, and disqualifies your score from handicap posting.  This is made clear in Interpretation 2.1b/2 in the Handicapping Rules  (https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/2020-rules-of-handicapping.html).  The same would apply if the Garmin watch does any of the things prohibited in Rule 4.3.  If it gives you elevation information, and recommends clubs based on elevation change, that's a problem.  Giving you wind speed and direction based on available weather forecasting is OK, measuring wind is not.  I would hope that Garmin has a simple setting that turns off all of the "unacceptable" features.

As to "rake and place" and handicap posting, that's a decision your local Handicap Committee should make.  At my club, we're doing the rake and place thing when the ball is in a location that was disturbed by previous traffic, and we require that scores be posted as normal.  Your league should tell you what to do about posting your scores.

 

 

[Billy Z]

There will always be sandbaggers, as well as the opposite. The best way for to tell is playing in tournament situations. Someone who says the are a 7 and shoots 95 all the time, well you know. Or someone who always seems to win or close to it in tournaments is probably sandbagging. I like competitive play for being the truth teller.

[DaveP043]

9 minutes ago, Billy Z said:

There will always be sandbaggers, as well as the opposite. The best way for to tell is playing in tournament situations. Someone who says the are a 7 and shoots 95 all the time, well you know. Or someone who always seems to win or close to it in tournaments is probably sandbagging. I like competitive play for being the truth teller.

I didn't do a search, but I'm sure there are other threads for discussion of sandbagging.  This thread, as stated, is about your opinion of your own handicap's accuracy.

[pganapathy]

My handicap is reasonably accurate.  I am currently at 15 in my home club.  I shoot between a 10 and 20 during most rounds.  I was a 12 when I joined TST, since I played more regularly then 

[Darkfrog]

15 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Using a laser with slope enabled is against the rules, and disqualifies your score from handicap posting. 

This question may be more suited for RoG forum and slightly OT here.

If I am playing in a group, and one person uses a range finder with slope calculations, and they announce on the tee "yardage is 165, playing 150", have other players in the group violated a rule for hearing this information?

Also, secondary question. I have a slope adjusted range finder, but I turn off the slope feature unless I am playing a practice/investigational round ahead of a competitive event. What is the distinction between having a bunch of elevation adjustment notes from a practice round in a yardage book or similar, versus using a slope enabled range finder in a round?

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, Darkfrog said:

This question may be more suited for RoG forum and slightly OT here.

If I am playing in a group, and one person uses a range finder with slope calculations, and they announce on the tee "yardage is 165, playing 150", have other players in the group violated a rule for hearing this information?

Also, secondary question. I have a slope adjusted range finder, but I turn off the slope feature unless I am playing a practice/investigational round ahead of a competitive event. What is the distinction between having a bunch of elevation adjustment notes from a practice round in a yardage book or similar, versus using a slope enabled range finder in a round?

You haven't asked for the information, so you're not penalized simply for hearing it.  Similar to actual advice, you can't always  stop another player from giving you advice.

And this is from 4.3a(3):

Quote

Allowed.

Using information that was gathered before the round (such as playing information from previous rounds, swing tips or club recommendations),

so your elevation notes from a previous round are acceptable.  Many tour pros use slope-enabled lasers during practice rounds, and I'm sure they write down notes to use during the competition.

If you (or others) are interested in going further, we certainly could set up a new thread.

[Darkfrog]

10 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

If you (or others) are interested in going further, we certainly could set up a new thread.

Thanks - I may do some rule reading later and start a new thread for discussion.