handicap question

[horsesense]

I hae to put a number in the registation about a handicap and it got me to thinking how do I get an actual handicap.  I usually try to shoot under 100 (95-105) so would a 28 be about right? (72 par plus 28) I dont play often enough at the same course to get 10 rounds to average at this point, but anything under 100 is a good day on the course for me.  Any suggestions as to how to get a "real" number?

Keith

[max power]

You don't have to play at the same course.  10 scores from anywhere will do.  Keep track of your scores, along with the rating/slope from the tees you played from.  Search "golf handicap calculator" and pop in your scores and the info.  Really easy to do.

[ChrisSP]

The handicap system is kind of an odd concept in some ways, as it's designed to measure a golfer's potential and not what they do on average. Your handicap is actually determined by the average of your 10 best indexes (this is measured by the slope and course rating at the courses you play and not just par in relation to your score) recorded during the last 20 scores posted. So basically, a guy who shoots 75 10 times and 85 10 times in his last 20 rounds will have a handicap in the 3 range, while a guy who shoots 80 for 20 consecutive rounds will be in the 8 range, that even though both guys' average score is 80. Now, that's not likely to happen often, but it serves as a decent example of how potential is the measure. It's also why "sandbaggers" don't post the low scores they shoot, because it has immense consequences on a handicap.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by horsesense

I hae to put a number in the registation about a handicap and it got me to thinking how do I get an actual handicap.  I usually try to shoot under 100 (95-105) so would a 28 be about right? (72 par plus 28) I dont play often enough at the same course to get 10 rounds to average at this point, but anything under 100 is a good day on the course for me.  Any suggestions as to how to get a "real" number?

Keith

It's more complicated than just the average of scores on one course.  There are a number of free online sites which will give you an unofficial handicap using the USGA formula.  Keep in mind that to enter scores you will need to know the course rating and slope for the tees you played (that should be on the scorecard); you need to know how to adjust your score for Equitable Stroke Control according to the range your handicap falls into (if you average 100 you will probably not be able to return a higher score than an 8 on any hole; if your handicap is over 29, then that becomes a 9).

For a complete handicap the formula  uses a number called the differential .  The differential is score minus course rating times 113/course slope .  The average of the lowest 10 of your last 20 differentials times .96 is your handicap index .

That index is then applied to a chart which converts it to a course handicap for the course and tees you will be playing in the current round.  The formula for figuring course handicap is: Handicap index times course slope / 113 = course handicap .

[zeg]

A 28 is a plausible guess if you shoot around 100 on a fairly typical course.