The correct way to determine handicap?

[Dave325]

Since I have just started to get serious about golf this year, I have never kept score. Yes, I know that is weird, but I didn't want scoring to be more important than working on swing mechanics and technique. So, I think I am ready to add the scoring piece and determine my handicap (another thing I have never done). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but I want to go about doing this the right way. So, is determining the handicap anymore different than saying how many strokes you shoot over par? Should this be done with observing the PGA rules (some of the friends I play with roll the ball to improve the lie... something they call winter rules)? If I set a handicap (notice I put 20+ for myself), I want it to be "real" and not something basd on fantasy.

[collapse]

The number of shots over par is close enough especially for 20 caps not planning on entering competitions that require a true handicap.The correct formula is easily found if really wanted.As for playing partners,forget about where they play the ball, and the fact they will hate you for not cheating as well,just play YOUR game.

Edited December 7, 2015 by collapse

[davechen]

You can read up on how handicaps are calculated at the USGA web site here:

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

It's not too hard to figure out.  You can set up a spreadsheet to compute it, or there are plenty of on-line sites that will do it for you.  I use thegrint.com and diablogolf.com to compute an official handicap.

Of course if you want a real handicap, rolling your ball is right out.  No mulligans, and count all penalties properly.  You can read the rules of golf at the USGA's web site too:

http://usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-01/

[saevel25]

19 minutes ago, Dave325 said:

So, is determining the handicap anymore different than saying how many strokes you shoot over par? Should this be done with observing the PGA rules (some of the friends I play with roll the ball to improve the lie... something they call winter rules)? If I set a handicap (notice I put 20+ for myself), I want it to be "real" and not something basd on fantasy.

It is very different. You only take the best 10 out of 20 scores, adjusted by slope and rating of the course. So, yea there are some steps to take to calculate your handicap. 

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping/handicap-manual.html#!rule-14367

If you want to have a real handicap then I would just join your local golf association and sign up for GHIN. 

[collapse]

I might add that getting too fastidious at this stage won't help what is really needed....learning to hit the ball solidly,consistently.

[David in FL]

2 hours ago, saevel25 said:

It is very different. You only take the best 10 out of 20 scores, adjusted by slope and rating of the course. So, yea there are some steps to take to calculate your handicap. 

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping/handicap-manual.html#!rule-14367

If you want to have a real handicap then I would just join your local golf association and sign up for GHIN. 

^^^^ This ^^^^

 

1 hour ago, collapse said:

I might add that getting too fastidious at this stage won't help what is really needed....learning to hit the ball solidly,consistently.

The vast majority of us that maintain accurate handicaps do so even though we still need to improve our fundamental ball-striking.  Using a handicap as a baseline is a good way to measure progress in this maddeningly difficult game...

[NJpatbee]

Starting in 2016, USGA handicapping rules will not allow the entry of rounds played alone, so if you do play a fair number of rounds solo (I play almost half alone) and want to judge your progress you may want to use an unofficial handicapping system like the one offered by Golf Digest and others rather than GHIN to gauge your progress more accurately.  I used the GHIN for years but the USGA has determined that their official handicap is meant to measure your performance when playing against (or with) other golfers and not primarily a measurement tool.  

There is a thread in the "Rules of Golf" forum on this issue.

[Lihu]

4 hours ago, Dave325 said:

Since I have just started to get serious about golf this year, I have never kept score. Yes, I know that is weird, but I didn't want scoring to be more important than working on swing mechanics and technique. So, I think I am ready to add the scoring piece and determine my handicap (another thing I have never done). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but I want to go about doing this the right way. So, is determining the handicap anymore different than saying how many strokes you shoot over par? Should this be done with observing the PGA rules (some of the friends I play with roll the ball to improve the lie... something they call winter rules)? If I set a handicap (notice I put 20+ for myself), I want it to be "real" and not something basd on fantasy.

Another way is to join a club or an on line club. Then you are probably going to be compliant with the 2018/16 changes to the handicap system.

[Club Rat]

4 hours ago, Dave325 said:

Since I have just started to get serious about golf this year

Hi Dave, sounds like your making strides towards learning to play better. Keeping a record of rounds/scores played is useful in many aspects. There are many golf apps, which can be utilized to measure a standard on improvement which calculate a simulated "Index" similar to the USGA Ghin system. The Index is used to determine the course handicap for all golfers. So, if your looking for a means to measure progress in your game, maintaining scores is a good place to start.

[No Mulligans]

There is a free app that computes a USGA handicap.  Check to see if DiabloGolf.com has a club in your area (it requires a chairman).  If there isn't a club in your area the app will still calculate your differentials and you can just take an average of the top 10 of last 20 and multiply by .96.

(The USGA won't let DiabloGolf do the HI calculation if there isn't a "club" in your area).

[dkolo]

6 hours ago, Dave325 said:

Since I have just started to get serious about golf this year, I have never kept score. Yes, I know that is weird, but I didn't want scoring to be more important than working on swing mechanics and technique. So, I think I am ready to add the scoring piece and determine my handicap (another thing I have never done). I know this might sound like a stupid question, but I want to go about doing this the right way. So, is determining the handicap anymore different than saying how many strokes you shoot over par? Should this be done with observing the PGA rules (some of the friends I play with roll the ball to improve the lie... something they call winter rules)? If I set a handicap (notice I put 20+ for myself), I want it to be "real" and not something basd on fantasy.

The one big nuance you'll have to keep in mind when you start submitting your scores for handicap is the Equitable Score Control. Depending on what your handicap is, it limits how big of a score you can submit on any given hole. For a 20 handicapper, that limit is 8. I just dropped below 20 so my limit will now be a 7, and since the occasional snowman pops up on a par 5, I'll have to pay attention to that now. ESC doesn't impact your actual score, just what you submit for handicap. So if you had a 15 on one disaster hole, it won't inordinately affect your handicap. If you were calculating your score for handicap purposes, you would enter whatever your ESC max is for your handicap range.

[Dave325]

thanks everyone for the great info. This is really helpful!

[JBailey]

As mentioned before, Golf Digest Magazine offers a free sight that calculates your handicap according to USGA rules.  I use it and it's very convenient.  However, understand that it is not an official handicap.

You need to read up on the rules also.  Playing by the rules increases your score considerably over what you will score using "winter rules," hitting mulligans, etc.

Later,

John

 

[No Mulligans]

35 minutes ago, JBailey said:

As mentioned before, Golf Digest Magazine offers a free sight that calculates your handicap according to USGA rules.  I use it and it's very convenient.  However, understand that it is not an official handicap.

You need to read up on the rules also.  Playing by the rules increases your score considerably over what you will score using "winter rules," hitting mulligans, etc.

Later,

John

 

I just tested the site.  I entered three scores;

Balboa Executive, scored 81, slope/rating 60.2/94, differential should be a 25.0, Golf Digest calculated it as a 18.2

Torrey Pines North, scored a 96, slope/rating 70.8/125, differential should be a 22.8. Golf Digest calculated it as a 21.8

Tecolote, scored a 68, slope/rating 55.2/99, differential should be a 14.6, Golf Digest calculated it as a 13.2

 

I'm not trusting the Golf Digest calculation.  Strange as the calculation is so easy.  Maybe they have the wrong slope and ratings in their data base?

Also, the Golf Digest site states that you can't take more than a double bogey, in that you have to adjust to the ESC for posting scores.  This is only partially true in that applies to those with HI between 0-10 only.  10 - 20 HI you can't take more than a 7, 20 - 30 you can't take more than an 8 etc.

[dkolo]

1 minute ago, No Mulligans said:

I just tested the site.  I entered three scores;

Balboa Executive, scored 81, slope/rating 60.2/94, differential should be a 25.0, Golf Digest calculated it as a 18.2

Torrey Pines North, scored a 96, slope/rating 70.8/125, differential should be a 22.8. Golf Digest calculated it as a 21.8

Tecolote, scored a 68, slope/rating 55.2/99, differential should be a 14.6, Golf Digest calculated it as a 13.2

 

I'm not trusting the Golf Digest calculation.  Strange as the calculation is so easy.  Maybe they have the wrong slope and ratings in their data base?

Also, the Golf Digest site states that you can't take more than a double bogey, in that you have to adjust to the ESC for posting scores.  This is only partially true in that applies to those with HI between 0-10 only.  10 - 20 HI you can't take more than a 7, 20 - 30 you can't take more than an 8 etc.

I use it and I've had nothing but good experiences, save for when the site went dark randomly for a week this summer before being relaunched. Maybe you need a minimum number of scores entered? I think I remember reading they needed 5 before giving you a proper handicap.

I remember them having a correct explanation of ESC in the past; it's how I learned about it. They might have lost it after the relaunch, I dunno. 

[JBailey]

39 minutes ago, No Mulligans said:

I just tested the site.  I entered three scores;

Balboa Executive, scored 81, slope/rating 60.2/94, differential should be a 25.0, Golf Digest calculated it as a 18.2

Torrey Pines North, scored a 96, slope/rating 70.8/125, differential should be a 22.8. Golf Digest calculated it as a 21.8

Tecolote, scored a 68, slope/rating 55.2/99, differential should be a 14.6, Golf Digest calculated it as a 13.2

 

I'm not trusting the Golf Digest calculation.  Strange as the calculation is so easy.  Maybe they have the wrong slope and ratings in their data base?

Also, the Golf Digest site states that you can't take more than a double bogey, in that you have to adjust to the ESC for posting scores.  This is only partially true in that applies to those with HI between 0-10 only.  10 - 20 HI you can't take more than a 7, 20 - 30 you can't take more than an 8 etc.

 

36 minutes ago, dkolo said:

I use it and I've had nothing but good experiences, save for when the site went dark randomly for a week this summer before being relaunched. Maybe you need a minimum number of scores entered? I think I remember reading they needed 5 before giving you a proper handicap.

I remember them having a correct explanation of ESC in the past; it's how I learned about it. They might have lost it after the relaunch, I dunno. 

When I first started using the golf digest site, I had similar reservations.  The handicap seemed a bit strange to me.  After a few rounds it seemed to correct itself.  I suspect it didn't do too well with less than five scores.  I believe 5 scores is the minimum for a USGA handicap.

As far as the Net Double Bogey Score -- it's explained as you have stated it in the "Tips For Posting" page. 

Later,

John