HC and Course Familiarity...

[Yukari]

I play many different courses, because I don't like playing one or two courses over and over....

Anyway, that got me thinking. Is your handicap "higher" because you play different courses? For example, if you play one course all the time, you'd know all the breaks and nuances, so you would score better (at least theoretically) and would have a lower handicap, that is compared to playing different courses all the time.

I think this is true--at least for me--because when I play in a tournament at my club, I tend to shoot pretty good scores for my handicap. Whereas a buddy of mine who plays only at the club but has a similar handicap typically shoots what he would normally shoot for his handicap.

Is this really the case or is my buddy just not a good tournament player?

[Fairway_CY]

I tend to agree with you. I grew up playing on three courses over and over and over while I was on the high school golf team. Back in 2004, I started playing with a group of guys who would play a different course each week. It was great to be able to play somewhere new, but I felt like my game suffered for it. It stayed that way where I would play a bunch of different courses, even after I stopped playing with the guys I mentioned above. Last year, I went back to one of the courses that I grew up playing on and I played there for the majority of the year... including the club championship. I shot the best rounds of my life (to that point) during that time period.

This year, I've joined a club that plays different courses each outing. NOT knowing the courses is tough when you're in a competition, but... it's still nice to play new courses. I absolutely feel like if I go back to the course where I played the majority of last season... I will beat my best score there by 5+ strokes because I'm playing VERY well right now and, as you pointed out... I know every bump on the course. So... yes, I believe that someone who plays the same course over and over PROBABLY has a lower handicap than someone who plays different, sometimes more difficult courses.

CY

[andef]

Playing your home course certainly helps. I played in a tournament last week that was on two different courses (Par 69, Par 72). I shot 80,80 which means I was three strokes better on my home course. What was the main difference between the two rounds? Main thing was luck as my two worst scores on the first day were triple and double while I only had a double on the second day (not counting 6 and 7 bogies on the two days). I got a bad break on those two holes on Saturday and if I was more comfortable with the greens (much faster than my home course) I would have been more confident with a couple of putts. The main difference were a couple of bad breaks on one day which turned out to be good breaks on the other day. I think course familiarity helps a little but doesn't give much of an edge.

[bshack]

It can work both ways

Sometimes you get so bored with the same trail your game flatens out. I dont think playing a course a lot will ever hurt your game though

A new course helps because it makes you strategize more and sometimes you can think more about the new layout instead of your swing, preventing you to over think and you walk away with a quality score. I have done this many times

[rhodes81]

I think the true test of any handicap is the layout of an unfamiliar course. I am not satisfied with my ability if I cannot shoot roughly the same score at the new course as I can at my home course. There is definitely some advantage to familiarity.

[saevel25]

Depends, i think its the greens. Unless you have a blind tee shot, or hidden bunkers, you can gauge from the tee were you want to hit the tee shot. But its knowing the greens that is the key. Knowing not to end up long right if everything runs away from you. Knowing were the little knolls and ridges are in the greens. Knowing a backstop were you can hit the ball and have it funnel back. Those little things, i think this adds a few strokes, i wouldn't say its a drastic change, probably 4 shots a round

[The Recreational Golfer]

The first time you play a new course you can get fooled. Sometimes the landing area off the tee is disguised or hidden. The danger zones around a green might not be that apparent from the fairway. And then there's knowing the greens, though if you're a good green reader, it's all there for you to see.

I think if you pay attention and take notes (why not?) the second time you play it you should do all right.

[zeg]

I can see the arguments for playing better on a familiar course, but I find I do as well or better when I try a new course. I usually bounce between two nine-hole courses for 95% of my golfing. The downside to familiarity is that you also remember all the bad shots you've hit, and I know I have certain holes that I miss the same way again and again. The par 3 second hole I always pull way left, and part of the reason is that I know that's what I've done a few times before.

For me, as a high handicapper, I think a lot of the advantages of familiarity aren't there yet. It's no good for me to know the flat landing zone to set up a chance to reach the par 5 in 2 because I'm lucky to hit the fairway at all. Thus, other than obvious disaster areas, there's not much I need to know other than which way to the hole. So perhaps for better golfers it makes more difference. I hope to have some insight into that someday soon...

[JWL1957]

My game doesnt travel well. I have always needed a couple rounds at a given course to play comfortably. Some of my buddies always seem to score right around their hdcp. no matter were we play. We all play between a 5-11 hdp. Me?... Im always 4-5 shots higher.

[Stretch]

I'd like to try and build a solid enough game that I can take it to just about any course and do OK. Ask me again in a year.

[2bGood]

It can work both ways

Same for me, I also don't have any "ghosts" on an away course - you know those thoughts like, 'last time I did x', or 'I always bogie this'. I also over think the break at my home course.

I tend to play better away then home, or I should say I score better. My home course it very tight track, and you need to be hitting the ball very straight in order to score well. Straight is not my strong suite most days, when I get to a more open course I always score a few strokes better

[The Road Dog]

I am a high HC now, and I find that when I play a new course I play at my HC the first time. I play higher for the next two or three rounds and then can get back to HC for rounds later. Familiarity is good and helps me get a better score but to get there I will try new approaches to various holes on the second and third visits. The first round on a new course is played conservatively hence the close to or at HC score.

I am sure my HC would be lower if I had played the last 36 rounds at the same course. But I can say I think that would be boring as hell. I have played one course 10 rounds since Nov 09'. The worst round was 118 (from the tips) to the last round of 89 (mens tees). I think that having a low HC from playing the same course repeatedly would be a reflection of your level of familiarity with the course and not easily repeatable when playing a different course the first time. So do you find yourself scoring far above HC each time you play a new course?

[WUTiger]

When I play a course for the first time, I usually end up with a score that does not end up in the low 10 of my last 20. That first time is a major learning experience. About the third time I play a course, it starts to feel somewhat familiar.

In our area, we have several courses build on the edge of marshland. Problem with these: You have little pond and wetland areas that creep into the fairways here and there. Newbies don't find this out until it's too late, and the course maps don't help much on this. If you miss the fairway, you may have an unexpected lost ball in water or nature area you didn't know about.

Home courses, however, often have holes that jinx or curse us. Even though we know the course, a couple of holes always seem to mess us up.

[Yukari]

Seems to me like most people are saying that your handicap is higher if you play many different courses, which is what my initial thought was. So if you have two people with the same HC, the one who plays different courses will tend to be a better player than the one who plays only one of two courses exclusively--even though their HC is the same.

[2bGood]

I am a high HC now, and I find that when I play a new course I play at my HC the first time. I play higher for the next two or three rounds and then can get back to HC for rounds later. Familiarity is good and helps me get a better score but to get there I will try new approaches to various holes on the second and third visits. The first round on a new course is played conservatively hence the close to or at HC score.

I play 100 rounds per year with 80 of those at my home course, to be honest I like my course more and more, the more I play it. After A while you really get to understand the subtle aspects of the desgin and the better ways to play each hole. Also there is reason it called a "home' course, there is something nice about going to golf where everybody knows your name...

[Fronny]

I definitely agree. I tend to shoot better at the courses I play most. I usually have to play a course a few times to score well.

[double_j]

I agree - whenever I play a new course, I like to try and play it twice. Once to learn/see the course, and once to go for score. Even the pros need practice rounds before playing for real.

At my home course, I'm usually only happy if I shoot better than my handicap would dictate. At unfamiliar courses, I'm usually happy if I score more or less in line with my numbers.

[DavidFehertysBike]

My game does not travel particularly well either. I'll rarley break 80 on a course ive never seen before. Its more of a mental thing, i think. I dont always make confident swings at new courses because im not comfortable in my surroundings.