Par-3 Course Handicap Factoring

[xrayvizhen]

I was invited by a friend to play with him on a nine-hole par-3 executive course. It’s part of a 50+ community where he lives and I was very surprised to learn when I got there it has been officially rated by the USGA; Index=26.8 / Slope=72. It's a nice course, well maintained, designed by Arnold Palmer with some challenging holes but overall, I found it pretty easy and shot an even par 27. I feel weird about posting the score onto GHIN as the resulting differential, .31, will knock my handicap down by a full stroke. Not that I mind that, but I’m just wondering two things. Is it legit and should I even bother posting. It just seems….wrong. On the other hand, by not posting, would that be wrong. I’m conflicted.

[iacas]

Technically, you're required to post it. Otherwise, you're a sandbagger. 😄 

Also, it's a nine-hole score, so it won't do anything on its own until it's combined with another nine-hole score.

[xrayvizhen]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

Technically, you're required to post it. Otherwise, you're a sandbagger. 😄 

Also, it's a nine-hole score, so it won't do anything on its own until it's combined with another nine-hole score.

Does the second nine-hole score need to be from the same golf course? Because if it is, it will be quite some time (like maybe a year) before I play that one again. And I can't come to grips how a score from a nine-hole par-3 course can be combined with one from a conventional course. It just doesn't make sense to me. 

[iacas]

5 minutes ago, xrayvizhen said:

Does the second nine-hole score need to be from the same golf course? Because if it is, it will be quite some time (like maybe a year) before I play that one again. And I can't come to grips how a score from a nine-hole par-3 course can be combined with one from a conventional course. It just doesn't make sense to me. 

No.

It's just the next (or the previous) nine-hole score you post.

They combine them the same way they combine a differential from another nine-hole course. Or if you play the same nine holes twice.

How would you combine the rating of a par-34 nine to the ratings of a par-37 nine? Same again.

See here:

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/roh/Content/rules/5 1b Calculation of a Score Differential 9 Hole.htm

[xrayvizhen]

I guess I'm just curious how the math works when combining scores from two disparate courses like a Par-3 with a normal course. So the differentials at each 9-holr course are calculated separately and then added together?

[iacas]

19 minutes ago, xrayvizhen said:

I guess I'm just curious how the math works when combining scores from two disparate courses like a Par-3 with a normal course. So the differentials at each 9-holr course are calculated separately and then added together?

Did you read the link I posted?

Cuz it's all right there.

[onthehunt526]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

No.

It's just the next (or the previous) nine-hole score you post.

They combine them the same way they combine a differential from another nine-hole course. Or if you play the same nine holes twice.

How would you combine the rating of a par-34 nine to the ratings of a par-37 nine? Same again.

See here:

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/roh/Content/rules/5 1b Calculation of a Score Differential 9 Hole.htm

I second this.

The GHIN app combines 9-hole scores all the time, whether they are the same nine twice on different days (or even the same day), Or 2 nine-hole scores six months apart. If you post a nine-hole score of any kind on ANY course that has a course rating and slope rating, it just chills in the system until you post another 9-hole score. 
 

@iacas

Is this why 18-hole courses have ratings for each nine holes? So one can post nine-hole scores and maintain and index?

[iacas]

Just now, onthehunt526 said:

Is this why 18-hole courses have ratings for each nine holes? So one can post nine-hole scores and maintain and index?

Yes.

[Club Rat]

On 7/2/2023 at 8:11 PM, onthehunt526 said:

Is this why 18-hole courses have ratings for each nine holes? So one can post nine-hole scores and maintain and index?

An example would be if you played the front or back twice due to course maintainence or let's say you play front nine on one day and then play it again on another day.

This is common for players who can only play nine holes due to schedules at work or other reasons. There are many players who typically play only nine holes.
Such as after work or early before work.