Handicap Questions

[TheGolfingDetective]

I'm sure this has been covered here, but I can't find it, so I'll throw it out again.

Relative newb here with a few h-cap questions.

I have gathered the handicap rankings on the scorecard generally mean 1 is the toughest hole, 2 next, and so on down the line. How would you allocate strokes based upon that in a match play?

And when playing stroke play, is it your overall handicap that counts for your net score, or your course handicap?

The more I learn about the system the more detailed it gets.

Thanks, all.

[krb]

The handicap rankings indicate the order in which you give (or take) strokes. So if you get three strokes from your opponent, you get them on the number 1,2 and 3 handicap holes.

They're not necessarily the hardest holes on the course, they're the holes that high handicappers are most likely to need a stroke on. Low handicappers may consider other holes to be more difficult.

[TheGolfingDetective]

So that's to say that, for instance, I'm a 27.1 handicap, and I'm playing a 10 handicap, I get a stroke on the 17 hardest holes (seventeen stroke difference in handicaps)?

Thanks.

[raygrinberg]

So that's to say that, for instance, I'm a 27.1 handicap, and I'm playing a 10 handicap, I get a stroke on the 17 hardest holes (seventeen stroke difference in handicaps)?

Not quite. You must first determine each others course handicap which is a function of your index and the slope rating for the course and which set of tees you are playing. Then you take the difference between each others course handicap.

[golow72]

Not quite. You must first determine each others course handicap which is a function of your index and the slope rating for the course and which set of tees you are playing. Then you take the difference between each others course handicap.

Any course you play should have a course handicap table in the Pro Shop.

[Augusta Hacker]

What is the point of having an index? I thought the index took into account slope raitings. I play several different courses and track my index. If I wanted to play someone who typically plays one course, we would need to look at a table instead of comparing indexes?

[iacas]

What is the point of having an index? I thought the index took into account slope raitings. I play several different courses and track my index. If I wanted to play someone who typically plays one course, we would need to look at a table instead of comparing indexes?

Yes.

A 15.4 index can get 18 strokes on a course with a rating as low as 129, but a 3.0 index is still only going to get 3 strokes on that course. If you just subtracted indeces, you'd have 12 strokes instead of the proper 15. Your index is "portable." Your course handicap is not.

[Augusta Hacker]

Is there a table for to look at or is it different for each course. I would assume based on course and slope rating. One course I play a good bit is 69.8/130. A friend of mine is 11 and I am a 20.7. His index is based mostly on his course and mine is over several courses. What would be a good match play between us?

[alf174]

Is there a table for to look at or is it different for each course. I would assume based on course and slope rating. One course I play a good bit is 69.8/130. A friend of mine is 11 and I am a 20.7. His index is based mostly on his course and mine is over several courses. What would be a good match play between us?

I use the

calculator at my handicap provider's website; there are more out there. Formula is ((Course Slope / 113) * handicap index) rounded to closest integer. Your 20.7 index for a 130 slope would be a 24 course handicap - your friend's is 13.

[raygrinberg]

Is there a table for to look at or is it different for each course. I would assume based on course and slope rating. One course I play a good bit is 69.8/130. A friend of mine is 11 and I am a 20.7. His index is based mostly on his course and mine is over several courses. What would be a good match play between us?

The handicap index is designed to even out the differences between courses. My 10.7 index computes to a 13 handicap at my home course with a rating of 71.4/137 but I would be a 12 at your course with its 69.8/130 rating. Your handicap is 25 at my course and 24 at yours. As Iacas noted the lower index player will not see the variations that you and I see between courses.

[Augusta Hacker]

I use the

So a fair match would be me getting 11 strokes on the top 11 holes, correct?

[alf174]

So a fair match would be me getting 11 strokes on the top 11 holes, correct?

Correct. For a match between the two of you assuming you are playing the same tees, you'll receive a stroke on the holes handicapped 1-11. As pointed out earlier these may not be the hardest holes.