Golf Handicapping the Unhandicapped

[bkuehn1952]

This is a loooooong winded narrative so if you don't like long stories, move on. 😉

Our senior club typically gets about 25 new members each year. We lose about 25 members each year for various reasons (moved to FL/AZ, disabled, dead, too expensive). Of the new members, usually 20 have an active GHIN handicap. About 5 each year do not have a GHIN handicap. When they join our club, we give each member a state association membership that includes GHIN handicapping services.

We play a series of handicapped tournaments over the summer. When we sign up a new member who does not have a GHIN handicap, we attempt to give them an estimated index until they have sufficient scores posted to have an actual GHIN index.  Our first event typically is around May 15 so, in theory, a new member has about 6 weeks to post a few scores. Posting season in the Mitten starts April 1. Inevitably, several of the unhandicapped individuals seem  to either not play until the first tournament or can't figure out how to enter scores (hey, they are seniors).

That situation then leads to my contacting the new member and asking a series of questions:

a. Did you ever have a GHIN handicap? If yes, which State and do you recall what it was?

b. Do you have an alternate handicap through a non-GHIN handicap service or a league?

c. What do you think your average score was last year (for 9 or 18)

d. What was your best score last year? Where did you play and which tee was used?

e. What do you consider a very good score for yourself?

Based on their responses I attempt to give them an index that makes them competitive in the first couple events BUT does not allow them to win their flight in the first couple events. We don't want the new members to finish last and at the same time, we don't want someone with a "20" playing handicap to win the third flight with a net 57. In the event some new member did shoot a net 57, we also advise everyone that we can and will adjust handicaps retroactively when it is clear to us that a member's handicap does not accurately reflect their potential. We don't like to adjust things retroactively and in the 8 years I have chaired the Handicap Committee, we have only done it once.

So here are the questions to the mob:

Any ideas how to do this better?

Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap?

Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?

[klineka]

If you've only had to adjust retroactively one time in 8 years and have around 5 people each year without handicaps, that's like 40-50 people total so it sounds like you're doing a pretty good job. I think your questions give enough to go off of.

10 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?

This might be a good way to get new people to actually post a few scores during the 6 weeks leading into the first event. Something like "New members will be eligible for tournament money once they have at least 3 posted rounds in GHIN" or something like that. If they can get 3 rounds in prior to their first event, then they're eligible. If not, they'll soon become eligible after an event or two assuming they play a little bit outside of events.

[DaveP043]

I agree with @klineka, you're clearly doing something right.  Its always going to be a bit of a guessing game if you don't have any scoring history.  On the other hand, understanding that it takes only 54 holes to establish an actual handicap, and they have about 6 weeks in which to play and post enough scores, I don't think its at all unreasonable to require them to have an official handicap before they become eligible for prizes.  I don't know how you structure the fees for the series of competitions, but if its possible they'll play with the group without being eligible for prizes, you could consider a way to let them do that without contributing to the prize pool.

[StuM]

2 hours ago, bkuehn1952 said:

So here are the questions to the mob:

Any ideas how to do this better?

Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap?

Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?

I agree with @klineka & @DaveP043 above.  When a new member first joins the club they cold be told that they are not eligible for tournaments until they have an established HCP.  As you said, it only takes a few rounds.  If they do not to post HCP that was their choice and choices have consequences.  If playing in the tournament is important to them then they should step up and establish an HCP.  Maybe they miss the 1st tournament, is that a real big deal?  And if it is a "Big Deal" to them then they had the opportunity to establish the HCP.

As for not knowing how to report for HCP I assume your club has a pro and they should be able to assist in getting the scores reported and I suspect out of state courses may also have staff that can assist if asked.

[bkuehn1952]

Thanks for the feedback.

@StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.

[StuM]

1 hour ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Thanks for the feedback.

@StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.

I did not realize that, I was thinking a more traditional golf club.  

[Beastie]

Here in England a player must submit 3 rounds worth of golf scores(or 6 x 9 holes scores) for their handicap to be assessed. If these rounds are in a competition they are marked as For Handicap and the player plays off scratch. Seems fair enough. 

[boogielicious]

As someone who has one a league the first year, I think you’re doing fine. They asked me the same questions. I took out a GHIN, but the league did their own HC. I gave them my typical scores,  but since before the league I was playing once a year, there wasn’t a lot of data. I just kept getting better because I was playing regularly.