Handicap?

[tubbyrob]

I know this has probably been asked before but i could not find anything that would help under search. How do u figure what your Handicap is?

Thank you in advance for any info

[klaymon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_handicap

You can also use a web site like www.oobgolf.com to calculate it or pay $30 a year at your home course and they will calculate it for you and it's a real USGA HCP that you can use in tournaments.

[PiKapp23]

For the formula and explanation, see this site:

http://golf.about.com/cs/handicappin...calculated.htm


Here is an actual 'free' caluculator that you can use:

http://www.csgnetwork.com/golfhcapcalc.html


There are also a large number of websites that you can join and maintain your handicap. Some you have to pay a membership (almost all that have an official USGA handicap you must pay for). Some have an 'unofficial' handicap and those sites are usually free. Additionally, there are several software packages that can do this for you (including the banner ad at the top of the page for "Scorecard".)

[ks8829]

www.greenskeeper.org

[Nyper]

anyone here use an online service that gives you an official USGA handicap? If so, do you have to report your scores for a single course?

My problem is I'm not a member at any particular course. There are lots of courses in my area and I play different ones all the time. It's not uncommon for me to play five different courses in a row... so I can't establish a handicap at one single course.

I've been using Yahoo's free tracker for kicks & giggles..

[PiKapp23]

  Nyper said:

anyone here use an online service that gives you an official USGA handicap? If so, do you have to report your scores for a single course?

I use the service at

www.golf.com for an official hanidcap ($29.99/year I think). You can post scores for any course in the world. Most courses are already in their database. The slope and rating that is assigned to each course are what makes it possible to post scores for different courses. I seldom play a single course more than a few times a year, but play around 30 different courses and have no problems recording scores and maintaining my 'official' handicap on golf.com. There are many other websites that also allow you to maintain handicap and they are all the same way with entering scores from multiple courses.

[MiniMoe]

I use the following web sight to track not only handicap, but many other stats....and it's free. I like free.

http://www.mobilegolfstats.com/overview/overview.php

[PiKapp23]

  MiniMoe said:

I use the following web sight to track not only handicap, but many other stats....and it's free. I like free.

This site is good if you do not need/want an official USGA handicap. The following is from the FAQ section on that website: 1. Can my MobileGolfStat (MGS) handicap be used as an official USGA handicap? While your MGS handicap is calculated with the same formula as the USGA, it can not be used as an official USGA handicap. It is for recreational purposes only. If you're just looking for an unofficial handicap this site is good (unless you intend to play in events that require an official handicap, this sort of handicap is fine). It also allows you to track your stats, which can be helpful to find your strengths and weeknesses over several rounds.

[David in FL]

I use an online site.

www.ushandicap.com

Keeps track of stats too if you're so inclined.

[tjy355]

  Nyper said:

anyone here use an online service that gives you an official USGA handicap? If so, do you have to report your scores for a single course?

The USGA system uses a method that allows you to post a score from any course that has a slope and rating. In fact, a USGA handicap requires one to post every score from every round.

To the OP: if you are interested in how a handicap is calculated, refer to the source (for USA golfers) : http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/handicaps.html

[Dub]

  Nyper said:

anyone here use an online service that gives you an official USGA handicap? If so, do you have to report your scores for a single course?

I'm using GHIN.com

I was "enrolled" in it when I joined my course. They have provisons for you to input scores from any course as long as you know the slope & rating values. Many courses have info already stored in the handy program. I'm very happy with this program. I'm not sure what the fee is...I suspect about $30 per year...somewhere in that range.

[donrogerson]

LETS DO AWAY WITH THE PRESENT HANDICAP SYSTEM

My criticism And beef is with the need for Golfers to keep a handicap, I don't see any valid reason for every Golfer who would like to play in a tournament to be required to present a handicap card, a card that requires extra time and bother to keep, you know what I mean, only 2 strokes on a par 4 if my handicap is such and such, and on and on, every game, all summer, and only the best 10 games can be used for the calculation, I know computers have made this chore much easier, but who and when did some peckerwood come up with this wild idea? I bet it was 4 hundred years ago in Scotland eh?

Everyone who golfs knows about or keeps a handicap, makes it much more fair for poorer players to compete with better players, I've been told this by almost everyone that I discuss this with.

But I contend that an average of every game a player plays would be much more realistic, much more an indicator of a players level of expertise, much easier to keep and calculate than this cumbersome outdated handicap system that we presently use and that I would like to see scraped and replaced with a simple average of all a players scores .. Of course it would not interfere with the noble art of sandbagging, this would remain the same…

[Gerald]

  donrogerson said:

Originally Posted by donrogerson

LETS DO AWAY WITH THE PRESENT HANDICAP SYSTEM

My criticism And beef is with the need for Golfers to keep a handicap, I don't see any valid reason for every Golfer who would like to play in a tournament to be required to present a handicap card, a card that requires extra time and bother to keep, you know what I mean, only 2 strokes on a par 4 if my handicap is such and such, and on and on, every game, all summer, and only the best 10 games can be used for the calculation, I know computers have made this chore much easier, but who and when did some peckerwood come up with this wild idea? I bet it was 4 hundred years ago in Scotland eh?

Everyone who golfs knows about or keeps a handicap, makes it much more fair for poorer players to compete with better players, I've been told this by almost everyone that I discuss this with.

But I contend that an average of every game a player plays would be much more realistic, much more an indicator of a players level of expertise, much easier to keep and calculate than this cumbersome outdated handicap system that we presently use and that I would like to see scraped and replaced with a simple average of all a players scores .. Of course it would not interfere with the noble art of sandbagging, this would remain the same…

Welcome to the forum ...... let me say first there is no need to use a large heavy font to add weight to your message.

It doesn't matter which system is used for the handicap system the USA system, has just as many flaws as the CONGU or EGA systems used in Europe.

Both systems only work good for players that turn in at least 20/30/40 or more scores per year, so their handicaps about reflect their current level of play.

It is fair that a handicap system reflects the players ablllities and is based on the best 10 scores as most people (with a current index) play a little as 1 in 3 or 4 rounds around their index and about 1 in 7 rounds below their index.

I feel the USA system more accurately gives a current level of play (for active golfers, turning in plenty of scores) ....... sandbagging is a problem in the USA system, as people can easely manipulate the system....... Sandbagging in the CONGU or EGA system is a bit more difficult to be done, but it also happens a lot especcially by golfers playing only social rounds, playing like a 15 hc and having an active 25 hc based on only a few scores in official rounds ........

Anyone playing more than 6 strokes below their stated hc. with a swing belonging to a better index ....... needs to be disqualified (or shot )

It happens always at semi social tournaments, that the guy or girl winning is a 24 index, playing like 18-20 orso, walking of with a big price ........ serious golfers avoid these tournaments.........

These problems can be avoided a little to play 3/4 handicaps in tournaments like these....... as it is hard for a 24 index sandbagger to play 18 if he has to start from 18 index........

[bunkerputt]

You need handicaps to be competitive. Period. Otherwise the best guy would always win in the long run. Without handicaps, there is no competition and we would have to do away with amateur tournaments.  I think it's a great system and is quite reflective of someones ability to score the way the ELO system in chess ratings is reflective of someones ability to win games.  It doesn't say how you win them, what courses you play, dictate style, etc.  It only matters that you win.  That's the beauty of it.  Golfers with completely different styles and skill levels with different home courses can actually play together on level terms.

If you want to approximate your handicap with reasonable certainty, take your best score in the last 5 rounds and plug it into this formula:

(Score - Course Rating) * 113/Course Slope Rating * .96

then drop all but the tenths digit after the decimal.

For example, I shoot an 82 on a course 72.2/133, my handicap would be pretty close to 8:

(82 - 72.2) * 113/133 * .96 = 7.993 = 7.9

If you know how arithmetic works, the formula should make perfect sense.  If you want to know how to grade a courses course and slope ratings, check out the USGA website.  The idea behind it (e.g. reasoning behind take your best score, lower it by 4%) is that it represents how good you can do, not how good you actually do all the time.

[bunkerputt]

  Gerald said:

Originally Posted by Gerald

These problems can be avoided a little to play 3/4 handicaps in tournaments like these....... as it is hard for a 24 index sandbagger to play 18 if he has to start from 18 index........

That's so simple it's brilliant.

[Mattplusness]

I use oobgolf.com

It's easy to use and keeps your stats

[BuckeyeNut]

It always crack me up when a thread that has been dead and buried for more than a year..........and is suddenly resurrected out of the blue.  LOL

[bunkerputt]

By a spam bot no less.