Maybe a stupid question but

[Williamevanl]

Is it harder to score a decent score on a hard course or a awesome score on a really easy course? The reason I ask is that I used to play a collegiate course that was par ~72 and I started shooting about 85 there. Anyway now I play a course that is par 70 and rated a 65 with a 106 slope *if I remember correctly* and I feel like if I play really well I can shoot about 83 which puts me at an even higher handicap.

I still think it would be hard to shoot a say 79 there and if you did it consistently you would be a 14 handicap? The course also has the wierdest pin placements to make up for its lack of distance. I was with a few guys the other day and if a putt was missed from anywhere on the green it rolled off back on to the fareway. Although it was the funniest thing I have ever witnessed it reinforced my thought that a scratch golfer would still have a tough time shooting 5 under consistently on the course...

Thoughts?

[microcrayfish]

As far as I'm aware the stroke rating is calculated from the best half of scratch golfers' scores so they probably would struggle to consistently shoot five under. I think course ratings and slopes are a pretty fair indicator of the difficulty. I remember when I first got my handicap, when the 1 top score out of 5 was counted, my friend had shot a 92 at an easier rated course and I had shot a 95 at a harder one and my index came out 3 strokes lower than his.

I guess it really depends on how the course is set up, a tough course with easy pin placements or a easier one with nasty pin placements could produce the same result.

This question is probably better suited to those who can actually shoot decent and awesome scores though!

[goblue107501]

Is it harder to score a decent score on a hard course or a awesome score on a really easy course?

For me, I find I can usually put up decent scores on hard courses much easier than putting up an awesome score on easy courses. In my experience, the hard courses are usually better maintained. They have great grass on the tees and fairways, the green areas are bigger and better, and they roll true. The easier courses have spotty fairways, smaller, slower greens.

I typically play better on the well maintained courses because the conditions are better so it makes it easier to do things that you might not be able to do on a bad course. When you get the small, slow greens it is harder to hit greens and putt well so the awesome score won't come. I know people that can shoot lights out on the 'easy' course, but when you get them on a 'hard' course they can't do anything. I am more likely to a shoot a great score on a hard, well maintained course, than I am on an easy, crappy course.

[David in FL]

Even on easy courses, you still have to chip and putt, and eventually get the ball in the hole......

.....and that cup is still only 4 1/4" round.

[saltman]

Put me in the harder to go really low on an easy course category.

I feel as though course length has a lot to do with ratings, though I could be wrong. If I play a wide-open 7500 yard course my score will be 10+ strokes better than a 5500 yard tight course. Even if I hit 9-irons off the tee all day, I will find trouble if I see it. If I can't see, piped down the middle 300+ all day. Mental midget.

[TN94z]

I agree with descent scores on a harder course because of the maintenance differences. There is a small course where some of my friends play and it is really short but really tough because the greens are so small, have huge undulations, and they are very quick. Depending on pin placement, you could have a miserable putting day and that can ruin a score quickly!

[JCDot33]

put me in the "harder to score on easier courses" bracket ... simpley because I tend to let my guard down on easier courses, I stop thinking and I stop playing "my game" ... on the harder courses I am always more focused. It's more mentally exhausting but usually worth the extra effort.

[Big_M]

Even on easy courses, you still have to chip and putt, and eventually get the ball in the hole......

very, VERY true.

I second what many have said about conditions. There is a course in my area where if I don't break 80 (maybe 77 or so now) my handicap goes up... and I generally don't play it any better than other more difficult courses.