Poll: Equitable Stroke Control?

[Harry Longshanks]

^^^ Once again, Sandman has said what I was trying to say in a much clearer way!

[MrSandman]

So if a newbie regularly has 10 blowup holes, 6 bogies and two pars, he has a handicap of 6 ?

That's some fuzzy math.

The only think that ESC would so is cap the total on the 10 blow up holes at 4 over par each. So in this instance, the player would have: 10 blowup holes - +40 6 bogeys - +6 2 pars - E Total - +46, or a score around 118 So their handicap would be a 36, which is the highest the hdcp allows. As opposed to if those blowup holes were actually 10's and 12's, adding another 30 strokes to the score for a 148.

[sacm3bill]

That's some fuzzy math.

Your point is correct but I fixed some of the numbers for you (in bold).

The only case where ESC is related to par on the hole, as opposed to an absolute number, is for course handicaps of 9 or lower (in which case ESC is double bogie).

[meenman]

even if you trim your strokes by recording your ESC for every hole, your handicap would still be the maximum of 36.4 for men, 40.4 for women. (That is, there is no such thing as a 50 handicap index. Maximum 36.4 men/40.4 women.)

you can actually have a higher handicap than those numbers - it is just shown with an L after it. Example when I first started posting I was at a 40.4L

[Harry Longshanks]

you can actually have a higher handicap than those numbers - it is just shown with an L after it. Example when I first started posting I was at a 40.4L

Not with a USGA handicap index. 36.4 (men) and 40.4 (women) are the maximums.

The "L" signifies that your index was a local handicap, and not a USGA handicap index.

Local Handicap A "local handicap" is either a handicap that is above the maximum Handicap Index limit (Section 3-4), a handicap that is revised more frequently than allowed (Section 8-3) or a handicap based on a player's temporary disability. A local handicap is not a Handicap Index, and it must be identified by the letter "L" to indicate that it is for local use only. A local handicap is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place and is used to convert to a Course Handicap (e.g., 41.5L). (See handicap type, trend handicap, and Section 3-3.)

[gr8hntr]

if i shoot a 10 i write it down
i shot a 9 today w/ 2 lost balls :(
and at the end of the round i count all strokes
made and thats my score

[mikelz]

Whomever started this poll does not play for money.

[dave s]

Couple takes on this issue:

1) In my league, a double-par is the most you can 'card.' Yes, we still have players who can card 4 pars, 4 bogeys and an 11 on league night. No wonder I'm stroking these guys and losing every week!

2) My wife knows her limit. It's usually around 10 and she picks up. We card a '10' for her on a hole she chooses not to finish.

3) I take my lumps and play the ball where it lies, do the best I can and count 'em until the ball hits the bottom of the cup. Which is probably why I'm always either side of 90 anymore!

dave

[Stacey_E]

In a match, I personally play it out and adjust later. My partner doesn't care about my ESC. He's salivating at my possible double OB and 10 on one hole. Regardless I always post my ESC for handicap. Funny thing, I see far more vanity handicaps on the course than sandbaggers. Just my experience though.

[b-squared]

Like many others, I play out, and put down my real score, I'm not fond of ESC...

[iacas]

Like many others, I play out, and put down my real score, I'm not fond of ESC...

Why?

And are you aware that the RCGA has different rules re: ESC than the USGA? http://www.rcga.org/innerpage.aspx?x...kXp2NJizBWXhym

[b-squared]

Why?

First off, I don't play in a lot of net tournaments, which is one reason why I'm not fond of ESC. Also, even though I am sand bagging, it's just something I don't prefer using, since I'd rather put my actual score down, which is my preference.

Yes I was aware that RCGA has different rules, though I'm not familiar what the differences are between the RCGA rules and USGA rules...

[sacm3bill]

...even though I may be sand bagging...

Make no mistake, if you play in *any* net tournaments, and have not properly used ESC, you're sandbagging. There's no "may be" about it.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but it's a sore point for me. I've lost too many matches to too many people who somehow had a career day.

[BSweet]

But honestly, those times are rare. I don't make many actual doubles let alone triples that would get adjusted down to doubles.

Everyone makes the occasional double bogey. EVEN the best.

DOUBLE BOGEY CITY Location- Torrey Pines Hole #1 Population: TIGER WOODS! This is a great topic. I love the rule where you can only take so much for various reasons. 1. You wont pay a huge price for one bad hole. 2. You can pick up before your blood pressure goes through the roof. 3. Also, I've had many occasions when I've lost a tee shot or 2nd shot and I thought I could find it, but didn't. Rather than screw up my whole score I just take the max.

[b-squared]

Make no mistake, if you play in *any* net tournaments, and have not properly used ESC, you're sandbagging. There's no "may be" about it.

Yeah no problem, that was my fault...

"Even though *I am* sandbagging"...

[b-squared]

It does not affect your opponent for that round. It affects your opponent for future rounds.

Hmm, this got me thinking...

That post got me to change the way I think of ESC, it does serves for the better of tournament play. It's just I never even read this post until after I posted my previous thoughts, I guess I never really understood ESC to that extent, thanks for the post ...

I voted that I play the hole out, but when I'm just playing against "the course" (i.e. just a handicap round, no match or anything), I'll often pick up at double.

I guess I'll be doing that pretty much from now on as well...

[dd-11]

I play it out, and adjust accordingly.

[PianoSteve]

I never understood ESC until reading this thread. I don't have an official handicap yet (listed mine as the max because honestly, I've never broken 113 on 18 holes yet, although I did shoot 50 on 9 once), and haven't even played enough rounds yet to have 20 to record, but hope to one day.

Now that I understand ESC, I'll definitely be using it when I record rounds. I'm almost anal about playing by the rules, and definitely want to do the right thing in calculating my handicap when the time comes.

Having said that, in response to the actual poll, I will continue to hole out (see my "anal" comment in the previous paragraph! hehe) but will record the ESC score if necessary.

Thankfully, I seem to have reigned in most of my absolute worst holes, and now rarely get anything above a 9 so ESC may not factor in much at all. The odd thing is, I've actually managed to score a handful of birdies and even more pars. But a birdie or par is almost always followed by a snowman or worse.