Jacking up my handicap

[MrSandman]

So I have usually played between as 5-10 handicap since the mid/late 1990's.  Last summer I hurt my back, couldn't get around on my swing, had trouble getting the driver in play.  As a result I didn't play many rounds, and when I did play rounds they were usually on pretty decent courses (tough scoring courses), I was rusty on short game, my drives never put me in play, and I found myself scraping around for scores in the 90's.  So I posted all those scores in my ghin and it is now littered with 90+ rounds.

My 10 best have a differential average of 19'ish.  Hoping that my handicap will follow that trend.  Will it take a few handicap cycles before it goes up that high (currently around a 10)?  Or will it jump up to a 19'ish for the next cycle.

My back is healed now and I have been back at the range and am very pleased with how I'm hitting the ball.  Also working the putting green and short game area as well and bringing my game up to a solid form.

I'm not sandbagging, so I don't feel bad about it.  I made those double and triple bogeys fair and square over the last year.  I am looking forward to the strokes in competition though.

[David in FL]

It is what it is.... Those lower differentials will knock the higher ones out of the low 10 pretty quickly....

[MrSandman]

But does the handicap gradually raise?  Like it can only go up 50% in one issuing cycle?  Or will I hop up the full amount upon the next GHIN release?

When does GHIN release the handicaps these days?  I remember it used to be something like an every other tuesday or thursday cycle.  is it a uniform date for all handicaps or is it club specific?

[ApocG10]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

But does the handicap gradually raise?  Like it can only go up 50% in one issuing cycle?  Or will I hop up the full amount upon the next GHIN release?

When does GHIN release the handicaps these days?  I remember it used to be something like an every other tuesday or thursday cycle.  is it a uniform date for all handicaps or is it club specific?

How much it can change depends on how much you play. If you played 10-12 rounds between every release of HC's, it can change quite a bit. Its every second Thursday here in canada.

[Beachcomber]

If I'm not mistaken - your GHIN / handicap is generated using your most recent 20 rounds posted... Then it takes the lowest 10 scores from that mix of 20 rounds to create your actual USGA handicap index.  Therefore as ApocG10 stated, it really depends on how many rounds you post between the times of the GHIN being released - and how much those rounds will impact negatively/positively your handicap.

I'm part of the SCGA, and they issue the GHIN bi-monthly.  So if you play a lot of golf over the course of those two weeks - and you are either scoring really well - or really bad - your index will reflect that accordingly.  Unfortunately for me... I've been traveling quite a bit and haven't posted many rounds over the last several weeks.  So my index which will be issued in a few days is going to be pretty flat since the last release back on the 15th.

[MrSandman]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

If I'm not mistaken - your GHIN / handicap is generated using your most recent 20 rounds posted... Then it takes the lowest 10 scores from that mix of 20 rounds to create your actual USGA handicap index.  .

That is correct.  But can I go from a 10 to a 19 hdcp in one reporting cycle?  Or do they have safe guards to prevent this type of rapid climb?

In realilty I should have just posted the rounds as they happened, but I was playing so infrequently last year that I didn't keep up with my handicap.

Does anyone know when the next GHIN release is?

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

That is correct.  But can I go from a 10 to a 19 hdcp in one reporting cycle?  Or do they have safe guards to prevent this type of rapid climb?

In realilty I should have just posted the rounds as they happened, but I was playing so infrequently last year that I didn't keep up with my handicap.

Does anyone know when the next GHIN release is?

There is no limit to how much it can change - it just uses your most recent 20 rounds - and takes the lowest 10 scores from that grouping and generates your GHIN.  So again, it really depends on how drastic your rounds increased or decreased from your current GHIN.  I believe the next GHIN will be released on Saturday/Sunday as it is the end of the month (~ every 15 days).

[meenman]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

That is correct.  But can I go from a 10 to a 19 hdcp in one reporting cycle?  Or do they have safe guards to prevent this type of rapid climb?

In realilty I should have just posted the rounds as they happened, but I was playing so infrequently last year that I didn't keep up with my handicap.

Does anyone know when the next GHIN release is?

It is updated the 1st and 15th of every month.

There is no limit to how much your HC can change - as previously said, if you play 20 rounds in between updates, the sky is the limit - even playing once every 2 weeks, if a +30 is knocking off a +1, you could see a 3 stroke difference in HC

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

That is correct.  But can I go from a 10 to a 19 hdcp in one reporting cycle?  Or do they have safe guards to prevent this type of rapid climb?

In realilty I should have just posted the rounds as they happened, but I was playing so infrequently last year that I didn't keep up with my handicap.

Does anyone know when the next GHIN release is?

Yes.....what meeman said.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by ApocG10

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSandman

But does the handicap gradually raise?  Like it can only go up 50% in one issuing cycle?  Or will I hop up the full amount upon the next GHIN release?

When does GHIN release the handicaps these days?  I remember it used to be something like an every other tuesday or thursday cycle.  is it a uniform date for all handicaps or is it club specific?

How much it can change depends on how much you play. If you played 10-12 rounds between every release of HC's, it can change quite a bit. Its every second Thursday here in canada.

At your course you mean? RCGA (or Golf Canada as they like to be called now) changes as soon as the round is entered.

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

At your course you mean? RCGA (or Golf Canada as they like to be called now) changes as soon as the round is entered.

C'mon Sean...Canada doesn't count.......LOL

Just kidding

[mdl]

Better get in some prize money tourneys before your healthy scores take out your bad back scores from your top 10!

[Ernest Jones]

Sounds like you're smoking too much dope

[ApocG10]

At your course you mean? RCGA (or Golf Canada as they like to be called now) changes as soon as the round is entered.

I did not know this

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by MrSandman

So I have usually played between as 5-10 handicap since the mid/late 1990's.  Last summer I hurt my back, couldn't get around on my swing, had trouble getting the driver in play.  As a result I didn't play many rounds, and when I did play rounds they were usually on pretty decent courses (tough scoring courses), I was rusty on short game, my drives never put me in play, and I found myself scraping around for scores in the 90's.  So I posted all those scores in my ghin and it is now littered with 90+ rounds.

My 10 best have a differential average of 19'ish.  Hoping that my handicap will follow that trend.  Will it take a few handicap cycles before it goes up that high (currently around a 10)?  Or will it jump up to a 19'ish for the next cycle.

My back is healed now and I have been back at the range and am very pleased with how I'm hitting the ball.  Also working the putting green and short game area as well and bringing my game up to a solid form.

I'm not sandbagging, so I don't feel bad about it.  I made those double and triple bogeys fair and square over the last year.  I am looking forward to the strokes in competition though.

You could have (should have?) gone to your handicap committee when you were injured and requested a handicap adjustment under 8.4-3)iii. of the USGA Handicap Manual which reads:

(iii) Temporary Disability

An increase in a Handicap Index must not be granted because a player's game is temporarily off or the player has discontinued play. However, an increased handicap may be given for a temporary disability. The increased handicap is not a Handicap Index, and it must be identified by the letter "L" to indicate that it is for local use. For example, a player having had recent surgery may be given a higher handicap while recovering. (See Decisions 8-4c/1, 8-4c/2, and local handicap.)

As you recover, your handicap may be decreased faster than expected if the handicap committee makes an adjustment under 8.4-3)i which reads:

(i) Improving Faster Than The System Can React

A player recently taking up the game may improve too rapidly for a Handicap Index calculated by the standard procedure to reflect potential ability. For example, a player who is working on their game by practicing aspects of their game and/or taking playing lessons (see Decision 5-1d/1) may not have a scoring record that exhibits potential ability and may need a Handicap Index adjustment. Also, if the player's Handicap Index is only updated once a month, for example, then the Handicap Committee may consider adjusting the player's Handicap Index to account for the player's improvement within the next month.

You can find a lot of interesting stuff in the USGA Handicap Manual, which is available online;

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Handicap-Manual/