So I bought a handicap system membership and the number Im getting seems low to me...

[RocktimusPryme]

So I broke 80 for the first time yesterday, and decided to try and do something I had been putting off for a while. Which is establishing a real USGA handicap. I bought a membership to nethandicap.com.

I scrounged some old scorecards off the flooboards of my car. Including the 78 thats now hung on my wall, I input 5 scores 78, 88, 88, 89, and 99 including total putts, gir, and fir.

anyway, when I get done the number it gave me is a 7.9 . Now even though I had the 78 in there, considering my average round is right around 90 I would think im more like a 15 or 16. I tried to read the usga system, and it seemed like it said something like the low round is weighted heavier.

Does this number seem right to you guys?

By the way I am super proud of myself for the 78, I think thats pretty good for being at this for a year and a half. I thought i was gonna have to wait at least another year before I broke 80. Thats legit too I keep a correct score.

[Titleist Man]

What was the slope of the course you played because i have a 78, 79 and five 80-82s and Im a 10. If the system keeps a legit handicap you must have played a really hard course.

[flopdarock]

hmmm... 5 scores is kinda sketchy for a true average... alot of sites want 20 rounds in for a more accurate picture of where you are and 10 minimum... i think the low score is weighing pretty heavy due to the fact that out of the 5 it would impact it more than if you had say 19 rounds of 89's and 1 round of 78

[RocktimusPryme]

its not really that tough of a course 68.8 / 125. I know I need more rounds input, bear in mind I just got this yesterday.

The other thing i did notice in the regulations is the USGA only updates on the 1st and 15th of every month so I dont have a USGA number now, just a "recreational handicap" mayeb the number will change when I get an actualy USGA number, and Im sure Ill have a couple more rounds to inset by then too. I play like 3 times a week

[flopdarock]

hope you have many more low scoring rounds so your handicap drops even more ::thumbsup smiley::

[RocktimusPryme]

You and me both my friend, Ive been playing around the same way for a while, but I ussually have a blow up hole, and blows up my score as well

[Titleist Man]

Ive been playing around the same way for a while, but I ussually have a blow up hole, and blows up my score as well

You and me both

Good luck w/ the handicap.

[Stacey_E]

What it is, is that intitially when starting a handicap your lowest scores are disproportionately represented. Google around and you will see that the first 5 or so scores only go on your best 1 or 2 scores. As you get more scores the amount of scores used go up until eventually you are using the best 10 out of 20. I had the table at one time but lost it. But with 5 scores, they are only using 1 or 2 of your best scores.

[RocktimusPryme]

okay that make sense. Lol I will say this is going to be disconcerting though, as Im doing this to establish a number and then make it come down. Looks like Im going to have to watch it go up first

[zeg]

Stacy_E nailed your answer for you. After 5 posted rounds, you use only the lowest score to compute your initial handicap. Then, for every two additional posted rounds, you add your next lowest round to the computation until you get to 20 posted rounds, at which point you use the low 10 from there on out. Until you reach 20, it's going to be pretty volatile...

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...n_10.html#10-2

[microcrayfish]

So with a site like that you don't need a marker to sign off your scorecard for you?

[Stacey_E]

So with a site like that you don't need a marker to sign off your scorecard for you?

Not really, as odd as that may seem.

I have a GHIN website handicap. My home course is a member of that site, so to speak. There is always the "peer review" issue here in the states. But as for myself, can't speak for others, the "membership comittee" at my course (informally that'd be the super, the ranger and such) know I'm not sandbagging. Ironically I've seen many, many guys with vanity handicaps and almost no sandbaggers.

[Chas]

okay that make sense. Lol I will say this is going to be disconcerting though, as Im doing this to establish a number and then make it come down. Looks like Im going to have to watch it go up first

Yeah, but it serves you darned tootin' right for shooting such a low number like that and then right off getting a provisional handicap

Of course, I'll be doing the same, just as soon as I get myself on the right side of the big Eight-Oh. Sometime this year I'm hoping ......... [nice thread btw, most encouraging]

[microcrayfish]

Not really, as odd as that may seem.

That's what I thought, I could see a lot of people that don't play properly, taking mulligans and the like or just plain making up scores, getting handicaps that they don't deserve. Of course that's not going to help them when they play in a tournament and do crap because they're nowhere near as good as their handicap.

I'm in a similar position as the OP with regards to having limited cards in so my handicap will be fluctuating a bit. I often shoot my best scores playing by myself (to the rules of course) but just have to accept the fact that I can't hand my card in.

[RocktimusPryme]

That's what I thought, I could see a lot of people that don't play properly, taking mulligans and the like or just plain making up scores, getting handicaps that they don't deserve. Of course that's not going to help them when they play in a tournament and do crap because they're nowhere near as good as their handicap.

I see that alot too, I go out as a single alot, and just get paired with random people. Being in vegas alot of people have bets going on, and i see them talking about how they shoot and whos giving who stokes and whatnot. then hear them discussing scores after the round. Hardly ever do people really keep an accurate score. Especially on the greens, Im not a good putter at avg 34 per round. But man the people i end up playing with are lucky if they are under 40 putts, and thats giving themselves 3 footers. Its actually frustrating to hear someone quote a score thats lower than yours when you know for a fact they didnt shoot anywhere near what they are saying

For myself when I started playing a year and a half ago I always told myself I wanted to be able to play in competition in a few years so I keep a pretty accurate score.

[Stacey_E]

That's what I thought, I could see a lot of people that don't play properly, taking mulligans and the like or just plain making up scores, getting handicaps that they don't deserve. Of course that's not going to help them when they play in a tournament and do crap because they're nowhere near as good as their handicap.

Yeah it's great if you are playing against those guys. But if you are teamed up with them you are screwed. All you hear all day long is "man I'm sorry I'm usually better than this". I always want to say "No you're not". The truth is the scores they post are usually better. But they are not legit scores.

Hardly ever do people really keep an accurate score. Especially on the greens, Im not a good putter at avg 34 per round. But man the people i end up playing with are lucky if they are under 40 putts, and thats giving themselves 3 footers. Its actually frustrating to hear someone quote a score thats lower than yours when you know for a fact they didnt shoot anywhere near what they are saying

That's why I don't give gimmees. And I tell my partners upfront to not give me any either. I've seen 1 footers missed. I've missed many a 3 footer. If I'm a better putter than my competitor why would I want to give that advantage away by saying "thats good" on anything inside 5 feet? I've been out driven by a lot of players. But I don't think they'd say "that's good" just drop your ball up here next to mine.

If you keep playing by the rules, play everything down and hole every putt then I have a prediction. You'll beat 8 out of 10 golfers with your same handicap everytime out IF you hold them to the same rules. I think that holds true for anyone at a 10ish handicap or over. Once you get to single digits I think a lot more of the population are playing to the rules than the "average" golfers. Maybe those guys got there by posting real scores that they could measure their progress with?

[flopdarock]

golf is a game of honor and even tho im mostly a recreational golfer with the occasional tourney here an there... i take my scoring pretty seriously... most of my friends dont... mulligans here an there... 2 or 3 tee shots cuz of flubs... they have no clue or care less about even keeping a handicap... but if they wanna play like that... its not my business... i let them do whatever as long as it doesnt kill my pace of play... and it doesnt embarass me due to their poor ettiquette... but my brothers and i even if we play a casual game are very competitive and we play by the rules...

plus i always wondered why a guy would tell you he was a low handicapper when playing against him could lead to potential embarassment

[David in FL]

Looks like Im going to have to watch it go up first

Good luck with that.....! Remember, with your handicap, ESC won't let you card more than a double on any hole.