Handicap Index

[i-Guy]

Well handicap is based of the best you can perform, not an overall average.

Correct. The USGA has attempted to design a system that relates to a golfers potential. Which brings up another question related to Handicaps. How many of you follow the

"Equitable Stroke Method" when calculating your handicap. This relates to cauclating your course handicap prior to posting your score for handicap purposes. NOTE: An online system (GHIN, etc...) will not adjust for the equitable stroke method. You have to apply it to your round prior to entering your scores. This method is again designed to have your handicap match your potential.

[iacas]

How many of you follow the

I do.

An online system (GHIN, etc...) will not adjust for the equitable stroke method. You have to apply it to your round prior to entering your scores. This method is again designed to have your handicap match your potential.

I enter the adjusted score (though I rarely make triple bogey, so I don't know when the last time I had to adjust anything was...) in the GHIN system (either online or at my club). After all, without hole-by-hole scores it can't adjust anything.

In my software, Scorecard , (soon available for Windows), I enter the raw scores. ESC is automatically applied.

[niblick]

Correct. The USGA has attempted to design a system that relates to a golfers potential. Which brings up another question related to Handicaps. How many of you follow the

I belong to a local club that registers USGA handicaps through the

National Golf Network . I post my scores online, and can print my handicap card and scoring record from the website. And yes, I use ESC religiously. I know what my course handicap is before I play, so I keep my gross score, and then review my card prior to posting and make any adjustments.

[Thrdroc]

The ESC you are talking about is what the USGA enacted in 1990 where certain handicaps can only take X amount of strokes on a hole correct? What about I am trying to get an offical handicap this year and i want to use the ESC to get it, what should i cut my stroke limit too? I shoot in the Low 90's high 80's.

[WhiteSoxFan]

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...s/esctest.html

[i-Guy]

After all, without hole-by-hole scores it can't adjust anything.

Good point and yes I would think once you have an established handicap (so a course handicap can be calculated) then a program should be able to employ ESC as long as you enter your score for each hole. And of course the pertinent course information "Slope and Rating"...

[Fourputt]

The ESC you are talking about is what the USGA enacted in 1990 where certain handicaps can only take X amount of strokes on a hole correct? What about I am trying to get an offical handicap this year and i want to use the ESC to get it, what should i cut my stroke limit too? I shoot in the Low 90's high 80's.

Up to an 18 cap you can submit 7 as the highest hole score, above 18 I believe that you can start submitting 8's.

[lamebums]

I threw out the low rounds at a real easy goat farm (63/100, 2500-something yards), re-calculated throwing out my blowup holes (a few 12's and the like), and did the math myself this time. I think I got it right.

[ezmoney5150]

I don't see how you can't have a USGA/GHIN handicap. Almost every course has a computer for it around here. If you play a certain course alot pay them the $10 and start posting.

[green6767]

A USGA/GHIN handicap is ultimately the way to go if you are serious about your golf game in my opinion. I mean, I just got my official one last year and started posting scores and it has honestly helped my game. First of all, if you are serious, you make every shot count because who wants a high score (unless you're sand-bagging..haha). Second of all, it gives you something to stride for and then when somebody asks you, "Whats your handicap"...you can have the best answer available. No guessing (cheating).

[i-Guy]

A USGA/GHIN handicap is ultimately the way to go if you are serious about your golf game in my opinion. I mean, I just got my official one last year and started posting scores and it has honestly helped my game. First of all, if you are serious, you make every shot count because who wants a high score (unless you're sand-bagging..haha). Second of all, it gives you something to stride for and then when somebody asks you, "Whats your handicap"...you can have the best answer available. No guessing (cheating).

Great points...I agree completely...

[NEOHMark]

A USGA/GHIN handicap is ultimately the way to go if you are serious about your golf game in my opinion. I mean, I just got my official one last year and started posting scores and it has honestly helped my game. First of all, if you are serious, you make every shot count because who wants a high score (unless you're sand-bagging..haha). Second of all, it gives you something to stride for and then when somebody asks you, "Whats your handicap"...you can have the best answer available. No guessing (cheating).

Get them to recognize a round of fewer than 13 holes, and I'd agree completely. 40% of all rounds played in the U.S. are 9-hole rounds. That's a huge pool of rounds to ignore. And their database is woeful on 9-hole ratings - at least around here.

[Thrdroc]

Get them to recognize a round of fewer than 13 holes, and I'd agree completely. 40% of all rounds played in the U.S. are 9-hole rounds. That's a huge pool of rounds to ignore. And their database is woeful on 9-hole ratings - at least around here.

I agree. I play a full round maybe once every 2 weeks typically. I do have like 3-4 9 hole rounds a week though.

[Fourputt]

Get them to recognize a round of fewer than 13 holes, and I'd agree completely. 40% of all rounds played in the U.S. are 9-hole rounds. That's a huge pool of rounds to ignore. And their database is woeful on 9-hole ratings - at least around here.

It isn't the USGA's fault if your course isn't rated, and it isn't the 9 hole factor either. My home courses are an 18 hole par 72 and a 9 hole executive par 32. On the 18 hole course, both the front and back 9's are rated for 9 hole play, and the Execuive course is also fully rated and sloped by the Colorado Golf Association (a USGA Member orgnaization). I don't know if there is a charge for getting a course rated for handicap purposes, but if so it can't be much. My home course is a municipal facility that doesn't have unlimited funds to throw around. As far as I know, all the course has to do apply for a rating team to come out and do the evaluation.

[conceptDawg]

I use Erik's Scorecard software. I was using an online tracking system for a while, but I was lured by the incredible fame of being a beta tester for Scorecard and have stuck with it.

I do wish it had some graphing capabilities, but that is the only drawback I see with it. The stats it keeps are really nice and have helped me improve my game quite a bit (just broke 80 for the first time this past week, though I hover right over 80 most days). Knowing where I'm dropping strokes is the key.

If you have a Mac, you should download it and try it out.

[iacas]

If you have a Mac, you should download it and try it out.

The Windows version is in private beta testing now and will be available for public beta testing soon.

[Jeepthrills]

The Windows version is in private beta testing now and will be available for public beta testing soon.

Erik,

If you are looking for testers, I'd love to try it out.

[iacas]

Erik,

We will be. I'll let y'all know. It's been a long time coming, but knock on wood, we should be there soon.