What % of time do you use the handicap system? [Poll + Discussion]

[turtleback]

You sensed correctly hehe.  Okay I am going to read your generous response here.  Thank-you.

And if you have any questions, ask away.

If you ever want to dig deeper into the subject this link has everything you ever wanted to know about the handicap system:

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping.aspx?id=7792

[Lastpick]

Yep, you've picked up on a common misperception.  It's not based on your average score (which means you should score your handicap or better about 50% of the time).  In the USGA, it "reflects a player's potential" since it's based on the 10 best scores from the last 20 rounds.  You should expect to play to your course handicap about 20 to 25% of the time.

Which begs the question, why in tournaments are the net scores always well below par.

[MS256]

Which begs the question, why in tournaments are the net scores always well below par.

Two reasons.

1. Sand.

2. Bagging. LOL

Outside of that with a whole field of players it's almost inevitable that at least a few will have one of those better than usual rounds.

[iacas]

Outside of that with a whole field of players it's almost inevitable that at least a few will have one of those better than usual rounds.

Roughly 20%, yeah.

[ryanson]

Hey guys, been awhile here but I have been reading on the handicap system.  I have a question:

When you begin and you do not have a handicap index you can not use the handicap system until one is eventually accrued, correct?

[turtleback]

Hey guys, been awhile here but I have been reading on the handicap system.  I have a question:

When you begin and you do not have a handicap index you can not use the handicap system until one is eventually accrued, correct?

Although in the long term your handicap is based on your lowest 10 out of your most recent 20 submitted scores, when you are starting you actually get your handicap index after 5 rounds.  The USGA has a table for players who have not submitted 20 scores indication how many, of any given number of rounds less than 20, rounds get used in the computation.

[NJpatbee]

I post every round I play according to the USGA Rules of Golf into the handicap system, which is about 80% of my rounds.