Playing a Round of Golf Solo

[kpaulhus]

 

  On 5/18/2016 at 5:58 PM, Lihu said:

What were the ratings from the back tees?

I ask only because you might have some people in your club wanting the exact details of how your scored a 90?

Expand  

74.4/142, so that would be a 12.4 differential. Its not that far off.

 

Date	Course	Score	Differential	ESC	Slope	Rating
5/18/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	90	12.4	90	142	74.4
5/15/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	89	15.2	89	133	71.1
5/14/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	82	7.6	82	136	72.9
5/13/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	83	8.4	83	136	72.9
5/10/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	9.2	86	142	74.4
5/8/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	77	3.4	77	136	72.9
5/7/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	78	5.9	78	133	71.1
5/4/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	81	6.7	81	136	72.9
5/3/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	10.9	86	136	72.9
5/2/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	84	9.2	84	136	72.9
4/30/2016	Cog Hill Golf Club (Course 4)	89	12.4	89	138	73.9
4/30/2016	Cog Hill Golf Club (Course #1)	85	14.7	85	118	69.7
4/24/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	12.7	86	133	71.1
4/23/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	82	9.3	82	133	71.1
4/23/2016	The Creeks Public Links	83	15.2	83	113	67.8
4/21/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	10.9	86	136	72.9
4/17/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	79	6.7	79	133	71.1
4/16/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	87	13.5	87	133	71.1
4/10/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	87	13.5	87	133	71.1
4/7/2016	Ritz-Carlton Golf Club (Orlando)	89	11.6	86	134	72.2

[boil3rmak3r]

  On 5/18/2016 at 5:59 PM, kpaulhus said:

 

74.4/142, so that would be a 12.4 differential. Its not that far off.

 

Date	Course	Score	Differential	ESC	Slope	Rating
5/18/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	90	12.4	90	142	74.4
5/15/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	89	15.2	89	133	71.1
5/14/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	82	7.6	82	136	72.9
5/13/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	83	8.4	83	136	72.9
5/10/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	9.2	86	142	74.4
5/8/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	77	3.4	77	136	72.9
5/7/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	78	5.9	78	133	71.1
5/4/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	81	6.7	81	136	72.9
5/3/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	10.9	86	136	72.9
5/2/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	84	9.2	84	136	72.9
4/30/2016	Cog Hill Golf Club (Course 4)	89	12.4	89	138	73.9
4/30/2016	Cog Hill Golf Club (Course #1)	85	14.7	85	118	69.7
4/24/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	12.7	86	133	71.1
4/23/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	82	9.3	82	133	71.1
4/23/2016	The Creeks Public Links	83	15.2	83	113	67.8
4/21/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	86	10.9	86	136	72.9
4/17/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	79	6.7	79	133	71.1
4/16/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	87	13.5	87	133	71.1
4/10/2016	Pinnacle Country Club	87	13.5	87	133	71.1
4/7/2016	Ritz-Carlton Golf Club (Orlando)	89	11.6	86	134	72.2

Expand  

I appreciate your response, Paul.  My intent was not to call out sandbaggers or vanity cappers (and I agree, your score today is not an outlier).  I truly struggle to not "illegally" practice during a round as a single.  Based on responses to this thread, there seems to be some that are like me, and many others that have no problem with playing strictly by the ROG as a single...

[DrvFrShow]

  On 5/18/2016 at 5:51 PM, Jeremie Boop said:

Still easy to post that round if you follow the rule associated with how to score a hole not played by the rules:

Section 4

Holes Not Played/Not Played Under The Rules of Golf

Q.  How do I post a score if a hole is not played or not played under the Rules of Golf?"

A.  For handicap purposes, the player must record a score of par plus any handicap strokes normally received for the holes not played or holes not played in accordance with the Rules of Golf. These scores should have an “X” preceding the number. For example, player A is not able to play holes 16, 17, and 18 due to darkness. Player A has a Course Handicap™ of 12 and holes 16, 17, 18 are a par 5, 3, 4, and are allocated as the number 4, 16, 10 handicap holes, respectively. Therefore, player A will record an x-6, x-3, x-5 on holes 16, 17, and 18, respectively. Please visit Section 4-2 of the USGA Handicap System manual for further reference.

 

I've done this on occasion when I wasn't able to go back and rehit a ball that came up missing.

Expand  

Handicap rules only work for people who carry official USGA handicaps. Many people do not. The player I mentioned does not, and this was the only hole he deviated from the rules that I noticed. He still played well enough to shoot only one over par on the course. He and his father play for fun and relaxation and don't play in tournaments. So for them there is no remedy.

[Jeremie Boop]

  On 5/18/2016 at 6:07 PM, DrvFrShow said:

Handicap rules only work for people who carry official USGA handicaps. Many people do not. The player I mentioned does not, and this was the only hole he deviated from the rules that I noticed. He still played well enough to shoot only one over par on the course. He and his father play for fun and relaxation and don't play in tournaments. So for them there is no remedy.

Expand  

... Then I don't understand why you bring up that instance. If he doesn't post his scores this discussion has absolutely nothing to do with him. However, if he were to post scores, I was simply showing that he would still be able to post the score by applying this rule in a situation that did not allow him to go back and re-hit from the previous position.

[DrvFrShow]

I don't carry an official HC either because I don't play competitive golf. The question was not "Do you play a round of golf by the rules if you carry an official HC?" The question was can you play a round of golf solo by the rules? The topic evolved. 

[Jeremie Boop]

  On 5/18/2016 at 6:22 PM, DrvFrShow said:

I don't carry an official HC either because I don't play competitive golf. The question was not "Do you play a round of golf by the rules if you carry an official HC?" The question was can you play a round of golf solo by the rules? The topic evolved. 

Expand  

Fair point, being that it was brought up due to the change in score posting rules I did get stuck on that facet of the discussion. Though, my point still stands, that even on the occasion where someone is unable to complete a hole under the rules that it doesn't automatically invalidate the entire round for posting purposes. It is hard for me to separate the two discussions being that they are so closely related.

[DaveP043]

  On 5/18/2016 at 5:42 PM, DrvFrShow said:

You can pretty much enter what you want in the system unless your club requires that you turn in your scorecards for review.

Expand  

Interestingly enough, your club is not allowed to require you to turn in your scorecard in most situations.

  Quote

5-2a/3. Requiring the Return of Scorecards for Handicap Purposes

Q: May a Handicap Committee require the returning of scorecards from players in order for a score to be posted?

A: No. However, scorecards may be requested periodically if the Handicap Committee wishes to sample the accuracy with which players are adjusting scores. The club must not take punitive action regarding the scoring record or the Handicap Index if a score is returned sans scorecard.

Expand  

 

  On 5/18/2016 at 5:53 PM, kpaulhus said:

I just played 18 on an "extended" lunch break (hour and a half) and shot 90 from the back tees. 

I play by the rules. I posted the score. If the USGA has a problem with that then they better find a better way to govern it. I make the decision right before I tee it up whether this is a practice round or a real round. Once I say its real, its getting posted whether its good or not. 

Expand  

Kyle, your Handicap Committee should have a problem with it, you're breaking a rule just as much as if you dropped for  a lost ball where you think it should have been.  I know at my club the staff specifically marks "solo" rounds on the tee sheet for the Handicap Committee's use in reviewing scores.  There are lots of rules that each of us may not like, but we're stuck with them.

[kpaulhus]

  On 5/18/2016 at 6:32 PM, DaveP043 said:

Interestingly enough, your club is not allowed to require you to turn in your scorecard in most situations.

 

Kyle, your Handicap Committee should have a problem with it, you're breaking a rule just as much as if you dropped for  a lost ball where you think it should have been.  I know at my club the staff specifically marks "solo" rounds on the tee sheet for the Handicap Committee's use in reviewing scores.  There are lots of rules that each of us may not like, but we're stuck with them.

Expand  

I understand that, but with the new rule just starting this year I would expect the committee to review any large swings in indexes. They have already moved guys up a flight due to some off season rounds not getting posted.

I'm gladly playing in a lower flight this year as well.

Ill be back at the club at 4;30 for another round with a buddy, so Ill ask my pro what they are doing about single rounds being posted.

[DaveP043]

  On 5/18/2016 at 6:36 PM, kpaulhus said:

I understand that, but with the new rule just starting this year I would expect the committee to review any large swings in indexes. They have already moved guys up a flight due to some off season rounds not getting posted.

I'm gladly playing in a lower flight this year as well.

Ill be back at the club at 4;30 for another round with a buddy, so Ill ask my pro what they are doing about single rounds being posted.

Expand  

Its a good thing to ask, to understand the job that the Committee is supposed to do.  It's tough enough without having to deal with otherwise honest players who are in rebellion over the change in the rules.  I'd suggest making their job as easy as you can.

[Lihu]

  On 5/18/2016 at 6:07 PM, boil3rmak3r said:

I appreciate your response, Paul.  My intent was not to call out sandbaggers or vanity cappers (and I agree, your score today is not an outlier).  I truly struggle to not "illegally" practice during a round as a single.  Based on responses to this thread, there seems to be some that are like me, and many others that have no problem with playing strictly by the ROG as a single...

Expand  

I'd like to clarify that most people attempt this, but not always 100% successful.

The way I look at it is you need to get used to playing by the rules when playing in tournaments or the like, so why not just play by the rules all the time? It's not that hard to try to play by them all the time.

The exception would be if you are actually trying to practice strategies on the course or whatever, then those are practice rounds. For instance, I'd love to have been able to practice the pin placement on the 6th hole yesterday. I landed the ball a few feet from the pin, but it was on a downhill bumpy part of the green that knocked my approach off the backside. My partner thought it was a perfect shot, but it wasn't. So, if I were to play a practice round I would try different approaches to hitting a pin in that location. However, I would be declaring that as a practice round with the sole intent to try out all the difficult pin placement approaches.

[Dave2512]

IMO people being loose with rules during casual rounds is what creates slow play in our men's league. When the score "counts" they crawl around the course because they aren't accustomed to it.

[Lihu]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:17 PM, Dave2512 said:

IMO people being loose with rules during casual rounds is what creates slow play in our men's league. When the score "counts" they crawl around the course because they aren't accustomed to it.

Expand  

Right, just play by all the rules you know. That includes specifically non practice solo rounds. Of course you can't post, but that's also following the rules. . .

Not sure I agree with the slow play part, but we likely just have different experiences.

[Jeremie Boop]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:24 PM, Lihu said:

Right, just play by all the rules you know. That includes specifically non practice solo rounds. Of course you can't post, but that's also following the rules. . .

Not sure I agree with the slow play part, but we likely just have different experiences.

Expand  

Exactly, people play slower because they want to win, not so much because they are following the rules.

[Fourputt]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:24 PM, Lihu said:

Right, just play by all the rules you know. That includes specifically non practice solo rounds. Of course you can't post, but that's also following the rules. . .

Not sure I agree with the slow play part, but we likely just have different experiences.

Expand  

It definitely slows them down, because they have to think about what to do, often discuss it with someone else before proceeding.  When you play that way normally, following relief procedures just comes naturally because that's how you always play.  Adding the competition element changes nothing.

[Dave2512]

Yes they are slow in our league because they aren't accustomed to putting in gimmies and things like that. They don't know how to be efficient because being quick during for fun rounds means taking liberties. The guys that never sniff low gross in their flight aren't trying to win they know they won't ever get there unless it's their best day of the season. Biggest time waste in league is not playing provisional balls when there is a chance it's lost and lining up short putts. 

[Jeremie Boop]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:33 PM, Fourputt said:

It definitely slows them down, because they have to think about what to do, often discuss it with someone else before proceeding.  When you play that way normally, following relief procedures just comes naturally because that's how you always play.  Adding the competition element changes nothing.

Expand  

Really, you are going to say that people don't naturally play slower when they are in a competition and are trying to win? They guys in my league don't even really play by the rules and still play slow because they are trying to win. Play with them outside of league and they play much faster.

[Lihu]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:37 PM, Jeremie Boop said:

Really, you are going to say that people don't naturally play slower when they are in a competition and are trying to win? They guys in my league don't even really play by the rules and still play slow because they are trying to win. Play with them outside of league and they play much faster.

Expand  

By what rules? Hopefully, at least by some agreed upon common rules they came up with by themselves?

[Jeremie Boop]

  On 5/18/2016 at 7:46 PM, Lihu said:

By what rules? Hopefully, at least by some agreed upon common rules they came up with by themselves?

Expand  

They play "winter rules" which is an amalgamation of preferred lies in addition to other miscellaneous "league rules" like treating OB as water hazard with a drop plus one stroke, club length free drop from under trees, etc. They get angry at me for playing by the actual rules all the time.