Preference - Good Score or Tough Score?

[bkuehn1952]

You are a "10" handicapper. (or imagine a similar scenario with higher/lower scores but the differential is the same)

Let's say you play two rounds,  The courses are similar in conditioning, scenery, pace.  Course A has a rating of 69.3/125 from the "Blue" tees.  Course B is rated 73.9/130.

On course A you shoot "77" with three birdies.  On course B you shoot 82 with no birdies.  You struck the ball similarly in both cases and the differential for each is about "7.0" so you beat your handicap.

Do you prefer one result over the other?

I would probably take the lower score on the less challenging course.  I understand that each score is about the same level of achievement.  From a pure ego-driven viewpoint, I like scores in the 70's and birdies more than battling the course for 82.

[No Mulligans]

I voted "something else"...  I want a low differential.

I play on an executive par 58 most of the time. As such, breaking 80 or 70 doesn't have the same meaning.  So, I'm looking at the differential to determine how good the round was.

Because of this the difficulty of the course is not a factor of how I feel about my score.

Aside from that, I prefer easier courses.

[RandallT]

I've shot 80 on a local muni in my town, twice. (69.7/126)

I shot an 83 on a tougher track, longer and more narrow. (70.4/134)

In my mind, those ratings don't do justice to the differences between the two, because the 83 was FAR more satisfying. When shooting 83, I had more chances for longer approaches, so it felt like I was hitting better. It was trickier to keep the ball in play too. The first course was more open and I had shorter irons/wedges into greens. I think a solidly struck mid-iron and long-iron is great, and gives you more satisfaction than driver/wedge.

Both scores are outliers for me (better than average!), but the 83 gave me a bigger sense of accomplishment.

[NJpatbee]

I am a 17 HCP and do not play from the tips, regardless of the course.  However, I do enjoy a course that is 130 slope from the whites (middle) because of the challenge.  It is much more satisfying for me to break 90 on a 130 slope set of tees  than to shoot an 85 on a 110 slope.

[Papa Steve 55]

I said lower score. In the 19th, everybody asks "what you shoot"?

Difficulty is relative anyway. I hit a 3 or 5 wood off the deck much better than a 6 iron, so would rather be 180 to 190 yards out vs 160.

[Jeremie Boop]

As far as I'm concerned, if I play to or better than what my course handicap is that's all that matters to me. 

[mcanadiens]

It's a course by course basis for me. 

My rotation is about four different courses and each one carries a different set of expectations. One course is a 65 from the whites and I'm fuming if I don't shoot at least mid-80s there. One course is a 72.8 and I'm pleased as punch to hit double digits. The others fall in between.

 

[Golfingdad]

In the exact scenario in the OP, I agree 100% with OP.  When there is a threshold involved, like breaking 80, it's hard not to be more pleased with the lower one.

In other situations, to be honest, I'm happy with a low diff., but it doesn't always match with my level of satisfaction.  Because course ratings don't always seem to line up with my perceived difficulty of that course, each round is judged on its own often times.

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

 Because course ratings don't always seem to line up with my perceived difficulty of that course, each round is judged on its own often times.

Same here, I would say as long as the handicap differential is good then I did well. I would like to break 80 all the time. I've shot an 81 and had a 5-6 differential before. Its not like that was a horrible round. Usually in those rounds I know I could have done a few strokes better. 

[Dave2512]

My scores are pretty consistent but my ball striking is not. How difficult the course is rarely has an effect the latter. My expectation is through experience I know what holes should be pars or better and which holes will not. Every course has a mix of both and ratings rarely vary more than a couple strokes. I assume rmost play from similarly rated tees anyway. My last 20 has significantly more variance than a couple strokes in course ratings and all of played in just two courses. 

 

[rkim291968]

No preference.   At the end of the day, I look at the differential score.  

[Patch]

I went with no preference. When I go out, I have the number 80 in mind. That's my scoring goal. If I break it, that's a good thing. If I don't, that's not of a bad thing either, as long as I not over an 85.

The toughness of the course is nothing I think about. It's still just me hitting the ball on what the course has to offer. I might take some extra time when on the green, if they are really fast, but that's about it. 

[Gunther]

I've been in the 70s scores of times on 10 or 12 different courses.  But I consider the best round I ever played an 89 I shot at Carnoustie's Championship course.  It was in the 30s with 30-40 mph winds, literally sleeted on us the 1st 5 holes, then poured rain the next 5, then the sun came out but the wind was crazy.  Played with a group of 8, most single-digit cappers and the nearest guy to me shot 97, and 5 of them shot over 100.  Helluva day.

So, I voted the higher score with tougher conditions.

[Natural Patrick]

I just want to beat the people that I'm playing with. Regardless of how difficult the course plays.

[Dave2512]

OP didn't mention weather but as @Gunther pointed out some of the best golf I've ever played was in really bad weather. I play different when there's more to it than trust my shot and whale away. Often wonder why I don't think my way around the course more often, and I am very selective as it is. 

[DrvFrShow]

I just want a lower score. Who cares if the course is "easier". At my level they're not that much easier.

[Hardspoon]

I voted for the lower score.

I've never played a course (and set of tees) difficult enough that I wouldn't take the lower score on my "typical" course. Maybe that would change if I ever played TPC Sawgrass or Pebble or something.

One caveat: I have shot some low scores on a par-62 course, but don't count those, obviously. I assume the spirit of the question involves courses of similar par.

[Jakester23]

I'd rather have a good score on a tougher course. Typically harder courses are longer and force me to hit all of my clubs or at least more of them. Don't get me wrong I like shooting low scores as well. It's just more rewarding on a difficult track.