Sand-bagging for accuracy -- or, do you trust your course rating/slope?

[Roblar]

Help me!

I want an accurate handicap, and I feel like for me to get one, I would need to start sandbagging since my course seems to be easier than its rating.

Seriously! *

Long story short:

My course is easy, and whenever I go somewhere else, my scores suck. My course is making me look better than I am, and my handicap is not representative of my skill. I feel that my handicap would be more accurate if I were to enter scores as if I am playing more forward tees.

Short story long:

I signed up for a GHIN handicap back in June, and I just made it to my 20th round this month (in time for the end of October revision).  My handicap should end up being a 9-something.  But... there is no way I am a single digit -- not even a high one.

I suck way worse than a 9, and I should probably be closer to a 13-14 (maybe even higher).  I can't hit fairways (30%), my distances are inconsistent (drives average 240, but range from low 200s to mid 260s -- irons are also pretty inconsistent), I almost never get birdies, and I can't sink a putt from outside 5 feet (maybe once in a round).

I am convinced that my home course (Westwood in Norman OK) is WAY easier than its rating (70.4/123 from the tips).  Here is why:

1) there is almost no penalty for missing a fairway: the course is super open, there is basically no rough, almost always a second shot - at least, for a slicer,

2) the course is short -  6,162 from the tips (and usually playing at least 50-80 yards shorter based on tee placements),

3) the greens are relatively big and flat, and

4) whenever I go to nearby courses (and most of them are rated as easier than Westwood), my score goes way up.

...I'm thinking that, even though I almost always play from the tips, I should enter my scores as if I'm playing from the Men's tees (one set up: 68.5/122). Those numbers, at least, indicate that the course plays easier than par.  I just don't buy the 70.4 rating (or the 123 slope).

I guess at the end of the day, I don't believe: a) the course rating, or b) that I'm actually a '9'.

Do you trust the rating/slope for your course?

Should I trust the rating/slope for mine?

Or do I just happily claim my handicap even though it seems like I'm a likely suspect for someone carrying a vanity cap?

* Okay. I'm not really serious about doing this, but I do think about it every time I play my home course. It's just way easier than other courses that have easier ratings.

[Hardballs]

I hear ya! I sometimes feel this way, but I have a friend who is a member at the harder course I play and he also has the same problem when playing my course! But ya must take into consideration 2 things! 1, when you play a course regularly you develop familiarity, and therefore the course DOES become easier to YOU, 2, a handicap is to represent what your CAPABLE of scoring, NOT what you should score all the time, if you play to your handicap then you have had a good round! But you shouldn't expect to play to your handicap week in/out. If you did it would invevatably keep dropping! If you've submitted genuine scores appropriately then you are what you are! Single digits! Congrats! I hope to join you in a couple of years!

[boogielicious]

I do well on some courses with higher rating than I do with my league course, which has a lower rating.  My league course is short, but has lots of dog legs.  It is also usually windy there, which increases the challenge.

[Valleygolfer]

I have the same scenario here. I decided this year to play more narrow courses to challenge my game this year. The scores have increased but it has taught me to take less risks. Throw in a few rounds at the tighter courses and you won't have to sand bag at all. Your cap will go up on its own.

[David in FL]

It might be worth asking the course when was the last time they were rated.  On an established course, it should happen in no more than 10 year intervals.  If the tees have moved up, the rough has been cut down/back, maybe trees lost or trimmed, greens softened, etc..... it's entirely possible that the course is now playing a bit easier than it did 10 years ago.

As others have said, playing the same course a lot will drive your handicap down too.  Beware the guy who plays a different course every week.....he'll tend to be a better overall player than those who play the same track day in and day out......and his handicap will certainly "travel" better.

Other than that, while your course may be easier than its rating, it's also possible that you're a bit better than you previously thought!  And one other thing, you're also learning a secret that a lot of golfers don't realize, that you don't have to be a particularly good player to get into single digits......

......but shhhhhh.  We don't like that to get around!

[18rounds]

I do not keep a handicap but I know what you mean. I think it is mostly the familiarity with the course. On the front 9 at my home course I know the best line for every shot. I know the green that if you get too deep on will roll your ball off the back. I know that one crappy sand trap that you must stay out of at all cost. I know the dog leg that is actually very easy and safe to cut the corner. Just this familiarity is worth a stroke or two per round for a decent golfer and 4-8 strokes for me.

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by Hardballs

1, when you play a course regularly you develop familiarity, and therefore the course DOES become easier to YOU,

I think @Hardballs makes a good point here. On your home course you know where to miss and what works/doesn't work. On the more foreign course you learn as you go and make little strategic mistakes that will add up.

EDIT*

I do not keep a handicap but I know what you mean. I think it is mostly the familiarity with the course. On the front 9 at my home course I know the best line for every shot.

I know the green that if you get too deep on will roll your ball off the back.

I know that one crappy sand trap that you must stay out of at all cost.

I know the dog leg that is actually very easy and safe to cut the corner.

Just this familiarity is worth a stroke or two per round for a decent golfer and 4-8 strokes for me.

What he ^^^^^^ said.

[newtogolf]

My handicap went up this year because the course I'm playing at is much tougher than my previous home course and an injury earlier in the season.  I agree with others that have said familiarity leads to lower scores.  I was struggling early this season trying to figure out how to best play the course.  At this point I know it well enough to have an idea where I need to put shots, it's just a matter of getting the ball to cooperate.

[MS256]

I figure there are also "horses for courses".

With little trouble around and room to miss I can play fairly well most of the time, almost regardless of distance.

With a lot of trouble around and no room to miss I can suck most of the time, almost regardless of distance.

The course rating doesn't always reflect what I consider "easy" or "hard".

My boss is extremely accurate and can hit the ball in a tea cup with any club in the bag. Being able to find his ball and hit it again is a non-factor. "Easy" or "hard" to him is all about the distance of the hole and /or the course.

[newtogolf]

I figure there are also "horses for courses".

With little trouble around and room to miss I can play fairly well most of the time, almost regardless of distance.

With a lot of trouble around and no room to miss I can suck most of the time, almost regardless of distance.

The course rating doesn't always reflect what I consider "easy" or "hard".

My boss is extremely accurate and can hit the ball in a tea cup with any club in the bag. Being able to find his ball and hit it again is a non-factor. "Easy" or "hard" to him is all about the distance of the hole and /or the course.

This is a good point, a long course might be tougher for a golfer who struggles with distance where as a course with a lot of dog legs and tight fairways might play tougher for a golfer who struggles with accuracy.

My buddy who's a 12 handicap tells me he struggles more at my home course than at Bethpage Black because he has the distance to play Black and it's not as penal as my home course for shots off the fairway.

[Patch]

Home courses will always become easier for the "home" player. The more a player plays a course the easier it gets for them. When you play a course long enough you will learn all the little nuances that relate to that course. Your course management is much better. You know how the greens react. You are basically on auto pilot.

When the player plays a course they are not familiar with, they are not in there home course comfort zone. The normal home course lower scores are not as easy to obtain.

I suspect it is the same with the pro players. They basically play the same tournament courses over and over. They have those courses dialed into their own games. Now if they had to play on a totally unknown course, they would still shoot some great scores, but they would not be as comfortable shooting those great scores. They are professional, and can go any where and still play great  golf. This,  I believe is what separates the professional from the very low handicap amateur golfer.

What I do when I play a new course (to me) is I associate the individual holes with others I have played before, and are more familiar with. I play a lot courses for the first time. I play others I have not played in years, which are some what in that "new to me" area. Since I play enough rounds a way from my comfortable home course my handicap evens itself out over time. .

[18rounds]

Thinking more about this... Should there be a factor in the handicap algorithm that gives less weight to rounds if more than 50% are played at the sane course? Would it discount the course rateing for the course that is played more than 50% of the rounds.

[GolfLug]

Hi,

Your situation is not unique. Lot of golfers who are members at a certain course face this quite a bit. So this might be an obvious statement, but unless you are a member at the home course try to sprinkle your rounds as much as possible on other courses. I believe this 'game calibration' is extremely important for anybody who maintains a handicap. You want your handicap to carry anywhere so you should build it to carry.

I play about 7-8 different courses a year in circulation. Throw in there a buddy's trip (4 courses) and one or two general out of state rounds. There are couple of courses that I play twice as many compared to other in the circulation but no more than 4-5 rounds for either one of them. For most part I score similar on the courses in time waves. I go through a couple of months where can't shake off the high 80s or low 90s no matter where and then around fall I start shooting 5-6 shots lower also no matter where I play.

Just out of curiosity where do you loose most strokes when you 'suck' at other courses? From course to course my biggest variant is putting. I think it is true for my game (independent of any which which) as well.

V

[Golfingdad]

Course ratings and slopes are highly dependent on length.  A lot less dependent on whats off the fairway.  There are two courses near me that I play often and always, always, play much better at than the rest.  For the same reasons as you too.  They are the courses that have parallel holes and few trees so when I slice one to Bolivian I just go get it and hit it again.  Such is just the nature of that course.

I could not stress enough how much I think you'd be wrong to sandbag at your course.  You have three choices, as far as I can tell:

1. Like others mentioned, inquire about the latest rating.
2. Find a new home course.
3. Deal with it.

[scorpion12]

OP, I'll chime in here and parrot what has already been said. Your scores at your home course are lower because you know the course. Given the same opportunity and playing time at an unfamiliar course to you, you'll probably see lower scores there once you got to know the layout and what to expect.

Case in point: I've played a course near me 3 times now. I haven't done anything to change my game between the first and second times I played and my score was 120 initially and 117 the second time. The third time I had taken a chipping/pitching seminar and then played the course again. My score was 113. Was it because I tried to implement the pitching and chipping lessons I learned? Partially but I think my score went down because I was more aware of where I ran into trouble the previous two times and tried to avoid it with better results.

I wouldn't suggest you sandbag your handicap. Play it for what it is, take the single digit, and know that you can play to it at your home course while you still go out and enjoy other courses.

[Roblar]

Long day -- just getting back to this now.  Thanks for the replies all -- lots of good food for thought.

Long story short, I think it's time to start playing more courses (it's just so easy to stay close to home)! ...And to learn how to hit a drive reasonably straight!