How far over your handicap do you typically play?!?

[luckyluke699]

Hello All,

For a bit of background info, I play in the UK, have been playing under 2 years (from when I first picked up a club) and do not yet have an actual handicap. I am looking to get my first handicap this year... (I'll let you know how it goes )

As a bit of a golf noob coming into the game, the CONGU (English system) for handicaps seems really inferior to the USGA system. Here it seems like a 10 handicap on a hard course has a massive advantage over a 10 handicap on a much easier course with the SSS system.

So I was wondering... what is your handicap and how closely do you think you actually play to it?

[DaSportsGuy]

21.9. I usually play somewhere around it. Latley I've been playing around 16 or 17

[Dub]

My handicap is mid fifteens and my last three scores have been:

• 41
• 88
• 96

The blow up score was attributed to some very unusual conditions and distractions. I should have excused myself from the round, but chose to grind it out. I was on my cell phone every other hole dealing with a hot issue with a family member. Never been more distracted on a round!!!

[Lefty-Golfer]

Assuming the course ratings are correct and up to date the HC should play pretty much spot on. My home course is 72/131 and i play it roughly 50 times a year. I find that I am very close there...i am still trending down but I have only been playing golf regularly for 2 years.

When I go as a guest or or to a course I am not familiar with my scores seem to be higher. Actualy I know they are higher. I assume this is to due to comfort level and local knowledge.

bottom line in my opinion is if you are honest and fair with your posting and play the system works quite well.

[Dub]

Assuming the course ratings are correct and up to date the HC should play pretty much spot on. My home course is 72/131 and i play it roughly 50 times a year. I find that I am very close there...i am still trending down but I have only been playing golf regularly for 2 years.

Dude, I love your sig line comments about the putter. Hilarious.

[Lefty-Golfer]

Dude, I love your sig line comments about the putter. Hilarious.

LOL, one day I had approx. 5-3 putts and a 4 putt at a course called Tidewater. to say i was unhappy would be fair. We ended up in one MB's many gentleman clubs at about 4PM....drank mass quantities of many drinks till about 7 or 8 and ended up in a golf shop on way to dinner. By the time I walked out i had a long putter and a 1 iron. I don't think I hit the 1 iron 15 times but the putter...money well spent.

[Leftygolfer]

10.5

I would say an average round is right at 84. From the tees I typically play it ends up being right around my handicap after adjusted by ghin for slope and course rating.

A horrid day is 90. A great day is 77.

[flopdarock]

im around an 8 but my scores are pretty much all over... i can be a few strokes under my hcp one day and 10 over the next

[kpaulhus]

I am a 15.5 right now, but my last 3 scores have been, 84, 91, 85

[DavidFehertysBike]

Im around a 3 handicap. I'd say my average round is 6 to 7 strokes over par.

[uttexas]

No handicap system is perfect. 15 HI seems to be particularly dangerous in tournaments. (see the previous post) HI 15.5 and last three rounds 84, 91, 85. A fifteen HI should average around 90, but has the potential to shoot low 80s and rarely shoot a high 70.

Recently, I've been scoring three or four strokes above my index (swing change)

[Ovalevader]

The only flaw I see in the handicap system as far as my game goes is distance. For example, I can play a course in my area (74/135 average) from the tees my handicap dictates, and be a 11-12 handicap. Now, since I consider myself a longer hitter than most, and very proficcient with all the clubs in my bag, I can play the tips, and shoot the same number, making my handicap a 7-8. Also, don't feel bad about blow up rounds, they happen. I shot 95,95,92 all in a row on a trip to Florida (OB everywhere!).

[kpaulhus]

The only flaw I see in the handicap system as far as my game goes is distance. For example, I can play a course in my area (74/135 average) from the tees my handicap dictates, and be a 11-12 handicap. Now, since I consider myself a longer hitter than most, and very proficcient with all the clubs in my bag, I can play the tips, and shoot the same number, making my handicap a 7-8. Also, don't feel bad about blow up rounds, they happen. I shot 95,95,92 all in a row on a trip to Florida (OB everywhere!).

Yeah with the handicap system, if you have over 20 rounds then the blow up rounds will never affect you anyways.

[kpaulhus]

No handicap system is perfect. 15 HI seems to be particularly dangerous in tournaments. (see the previous post) HI 15.5 and last three rounds 84, 91, 85. A fifteen HI should average around 90, but has the potential to shoot low 80s and rarely shoot a high 70.

This is true, but I have been on a hot streak. My last 10 rounds range from 84-94. I guess a better gauge would be your aver strokes per round where I sit at 19. So my average round is a 90-91

[Fourputt]

My ending index this season is 11.5, but that is unfortunately a bit off from what I am likely to shoot because of 3 exceptional rounds in the 70's in the last 2 months of the season. I'm more likely to shoot in the 85-89 range on my home course (3 to 6 strokes above my course handicap of 12).

I have just one round out of the last 20 over 90, and that was played at an unfamiliar and much more challenging course, so I expect to shoot higher in those circumstances. The highest score of the 10 used to figure my index is an 86, the lowest score is 76. (straight from the GHIN site)

[RandomRaiderTTU]

I'm listed at an 11.0.

My home course is 71.7/128 @ 6600 yards.

I've been on a bad streak here lately.

Last 5 rounds have been:

97, 92, 91, 92, 86.

The problem with me is that I will play great for a stretch of about 4-5 weeks and my handicap will drop down to where it is now...then after my hot streak, I will inevitably lose the swing or just have an equally bad streak and the handicap will creep up a little.

I can be really dangerous in a tournament or I can be a no-show as well. I went in to a tournament last year at a 14 and proceeded to shoot 82 and 79.

Smoked the competition. Just depends on where you catch me really.

I'm hoping that this recent 86 is a sign of things starting to even back out. Shooting 84-89 is about where I expect to be with a few 90-93's and a few 78-83's in there.

[tjy355]

With the USGA system, you should only shoot your handicap one out of every five rounds.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Horrible round- 78
Great round- 72

I've been shooting closer to par though which is why my handicap is coming way down. I don't normally track my handicap I just put in a generalization, and then a decimal number after it to look like I'm legit....