I slightly misinterpreted Equitable Stroke Control

[$2 Nassau]

I was always under the impression that it was based on your INDEX. But after a little reading it is in fact based on your course handicap.

I remember when my index got just below 20 I started using the max of 7 for any hole when entering scores. But I'm sure when I was in the 18 or 19's my course handicap was still over 20 on some of the courses I played, so I still should have been using 8 as my max. Ooops, so maybe that was more than a "slight" misinterpretation. Probably cost myself some strokes back then, but oh well.

At 9.8 I thought I'd have to start using double bogey as my max score when posting, but my course handicap will still be over 10 on all the courses I play - so looks like 7 is still the max for now.

4-3. Equitable Stroke Control
All scores for handicap purposes, including tournament scores, are subject to the application of Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). This mandatory procedure reduces high hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability.
A handicap determined from scores to which ESChas not been applied may not be termed a Handicap Index.
ESC is used when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds a maximum number, based on the table below, for the player's Course Handicap from the tees played. (For nine-hole Equitable Stroke Control table, See Section 10-5c.)

[LaPuzza]

I guess I'm screwing up the other direction. I'd never thought to calculate my course handicap, so at a 28.6, I've been capping at an 8, when course handicap should have me capping at a 9.

I'll need to pay more attention to that in the future. Not the same issue as you, but thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[David in FL]

Don't feel bad, you're not alone.

For those who don't know their course handicap, the course you play will likely have a chart posted in the pro shop.

Failing that, you can easily calculate it for each course with the following calculator.

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...calculator.asp

[$2 Nassau]

Don't feel bad, you're not alone.

Thanks. I always calculated my course handicap, but I still didn't realize that I should be ESC'ing based on that instead of my index. Ooops. But at least I screwed up in a way that hurt me, instead in a way that gave me extra strokes that I shouldn't have received- that would have bothered me knowing all those Nassau wins were a sham! LOL

[$2 Nassau]

and FYI for anyone that's curious - the course handicap calculation is simple. (index) x (course slope) / 113. (113 is the "theoretical" average slope). Then you round up or down to the nearest whole number. Sometimes if I play a new course I have to whip out the cell phone calculator on the first tee.

For example. I'm playing a course with a 132 slope this weekend. 9.8 x 132 / 113 = 11.4. So my course handicap is 11 on that course.

[Thaddy]

Thanks. I always calculated my course handicap, but I still didn't realize that I should be ESC'ing based on that instead of my index. Ooops. But at least I screwed up in a way that hurt me, instead in a way that gave me extra strokes that I shouldn't have received- that would have bothered me knowing all those Nassau wins were a sham! LOL

Crap I've been doing the same thing

[alf174]

I've been playing the holes out and letting the handicap service figure in the ESC and didn't notice it was dependent on course handicap. Thanks, too, for bringing that to my attention.

[$2 Nassau]

I've been playing the holes out and letting the handicap service figure in the ESC and didn't notice it was dependent on course handicap. Thanks, too, for bringing that to my attention.

I always play them out as well, I like to see what I actually shot on any given day.

For anyone that uses GHIN, I'm pretty sure that if you choose the "hole-by-hole" option it does ESC for you as well. By then you have already identified the course and slope so I assume it has calculated your course handicap and does ESC accordingly. Not 100% positive though.

[alf174]

For anyone that uses GHIN, I'm pretty sure that if you choose the "hole-by-hole" option it does ESC for you as well. By then you have already identified the course and slope so I assume it has calculated your course handicap and does ESC accordingly. Not 100% positive though.

you are exactly right, I just never noticed when it did chop down the hole score that it was by course handicap and not handicap index

[mapa94]

Good post...I've been using 7 as the max number on all holes without considering course handicap. Next month I will be a 9.XX handicap and assumed I'd post a max double bogey. I'll keep this in mind and make sure to calculate my course handicap before posting. Thanks!

[microcrayfish]

Hmm seems like we have a different system here than the one posted in that table. I've always known that it was based on course handicap, specifically on your handicap for the particular hole you're playing, it's always 2 over your handicap for the hole. So if you get 2 strokes on a par 5 your ESC is a 7 but if you get 2 strokes on a par 4 then your ESC is 6. Fortunately everybody is in the same national handicap system so courses just have a scorecard printer that puts all the personalised needed info on your scorecard for you.

[alf174]

I've always known that it was based on course handicap, specifically on your handicap for the particular hole you're playing, it's always 2 over your handicap for the hole. So if you get 2 strokes on a par 5 your ESC is a 7 but if you get 2 strokes on a par 4 then your ESC is 6. Fortunately everybody is in the same national handicap system so courses just have a scorecard printer that puts all the personalised needed info on your scorecard for you.

Check your sources, I think you mean when adding 2 strokes to your hole handicap your example should be: if your handicap is 2 on a par 4 the ESC is 8 (not 6 as you pointed out). I found this via google:

http://www.titahigolf.com/Portals/1/...C%20system.pdf

[microcrayfish]

Check your sources, I think you mean when adding 2 strokes to your hole handicap your example should be: if your handicap is 2 on a par 4 the ESC is 8 (not 6 as you pointed out). I found this via google:

My bad, yeah I wrote that out wrong for some reason. It's 2 above your hole handicap. Oh well, at least I get it right when it happens on the course .

[Thaddy]

This post seems to contradict the graph in the first post.

You're saying the maximum score on any hole you can card using ESC is +2 (or whatever your ESC is) above the hole handicap? Using myself as an example, the first post indicates that the maximum score an 8.1 handicap player could card is a double bogey on any hole, irrelevant of what the hole handicap is.

[alf174]

This post seems to contradict the graph in the first post.

see the link I referenced in my earlier post and it only applies if you live in New Zealand (or Tahiti or there abouts)

link: http://www.titahigolf.com/Portals/1/...C%20system.pdf

[tjy355]

I've been playing the holes out and letting the handicap service figure in the ESC and didn't notice it was dependent on course handicap. Thanks, too, for bringing that to my attention.

You ALWAYS PLAY OUT the hole and record your ACTUAL score.

ESC is only applied when time to POST the score to the handicap system.

[alf174]

You ALWAYS PLAY OUT the hole and record your ACTUAL score.

no argument there, were you implying that I wasn't? if so, you read incorrectly: I haven't been applying the ESC, the service I posted scores to has.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Sometimes when im playing alone, (usually when im working on something) and i have a complete disaster of a hole, ill often just pick up and move to the next hole if im not putting for double bogey. I dont know if that is in the spirit of the rule or not. When im in a group and i blow one up, ill play out the hole and just subtract later.