Has the Elimination of Solo Rounds Affected Your Handicap?

[JxQx]

I play a majority of my rounds alone (70%+) so for me it pretty much eliminates keeping an established handicap. Currently I just go off of GG.

[Jeremie Boop]

12 minutes ago, JxQx said:

I play a majority of my rounds alone (70%+) so for me it pretty much eliminates keeping an established handicap. Currently I just go off of GG.

I could easily do the same, the GG one is .7 higher, which is pretty close considering they calculate handicap differently if I remember correctly.

[billchao]

3 hours ago, Golfingdad said:

I played nine holes early one morning about two years ago by myself - and that was the last time I've played a solo round.  (Might also have been the only time.)

I can't think of the last time I played solo. I tend to play during busier times (although early enough that pace of play isn't an issue) so I never get out on the course alone, which is fine by me because I dislike playing by myself anyway.

[jsgolfer]

2 hours ago, GolfLug said:

Yupp, vanity cappers are very real. It is not a problem for others per say like sandbagging is since they only hurt themselves when they compete.  

Except when they are on your team.  

I voted no effect.  My handicap is lower, than this time last year, but only because I'm playing better.  

[Patch]

I don't have a need to post any rounds. I do use an internet handicap progran to get an "unofficial" idea where my game is at.

Solo, or with others, I shoot the same scores, so it wouldn't matter much. 

[WUTiger]

Since joining the Seniors group, this is not really an issue. There's always someone to play with.

[No Mulligans]

My index is a bit lower than it would be.  I've been in a slump lately and my index would have gone up a bit had I posted my solo rounds.  But that's pretty random, if I was playing better than usual the opposite would be the case.

[JonMA1]

6 hours ago, JxQx said:

I play a majority of my rounds alone (70%+) so for me it pretty much eliminates keeping an established handicap. Currently I just go off of GG.

Same here except I use another source other than GameGolf.

I voted "something else" because this is the first year I've played around with keeping track of a handicap, so I have nothing to compare it to. 

[Lazarus]

All my very best rounds are solo so it would currently be about 3 points difference (11.5 vs 14.5). With mates I find I play 12 holes really well but cough up more shots on the other holes than I would by myself. Largely its adjusting to the differences, helping mates look for balls, tending flags etc and then having to hurry your own shots a bit. It's improving though.

[paininthenuts]

So who has eliminated them ?

[Jeremie Boop]

10 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

So who has eliminated them ?

The USGA Rules changed this year to not allow posting of solo rounds for handicap purposes. Presumably this is in preparation for a more uniform world handicap system.

[drmevo]

2 hours ago, Lazarus said:

All my very best rounds are solo so it would currently be about 3 points difference (11.5 vs 14.5). With mates I find I play 12 holes really well but cough up more shots on the other holes than I would by myself. Largely its adjusting to the differences, helping mates look for balls, tending flags etc and then having to hurry your own shots a bit. It's improving though.

This is a good point and I think it rings true for me as well.  If there is some sort of delay due to a lost ball or the group just taking a lot of shots to get onto the green, I'm going to take less time than I probably would have on my next shot to help us get back on pace. Sometimes I rush it a little too much - I'll just walk up and hit the ball without doing my normal routine, or putt without reading it carefully. I need to get better about taking the time I need.

Edited October 13, 2016 by drmevo

[Groucho Valentine]

Practically none. The season here is nearly over and i ended last year at +1.3 and I'm at +.8 now. Most of my rounds are through tournaments or my usual group, anyway. I still post the 9 hole scores i play after work sometimes though. Its a silly rule to me, because its a police action with no way to police it. 

With the exception of tournament rounds (which the organizing body usually posts) the situation for me is identical. I finish my round, and i post it on my phone. Nonebody asks or checks either way.. 

Edited October 13, 2016 by Groucho Valentine

[Club Rat]

19 hours ago, CarlSpackler said:

There are always voices in my head. 

Those Damn little "Gremlins" are everywhere....

[SG11118]

I voted no change.  My solo round scores tend to be around my handicap.  My rounds in groups tend to have slightly more variability.  My low and high scores tend to occur when playing in groups.

[Pete]

Voted higher. It is slightly different as we (UK) have never been allowed to post solo rounds (or non-competition group rounds) for handicap purposes. But the result for me is, my scores are definitely better when it doesn't count towards my handicap. 

When we care about getting a lower hcp, I think we are kind of conditioned to play in one of two modes. Practice mode where nothing matters, and competition mode where everything matters.

As much as I've always thought we have a better system, I kind of think it would be much better if every round counted for your handicap. 

[paininthenuts]

1 hour ago, Jeremie Boop said:

The USGA Rules changed this year to not allow posting of solo rounds for handicap purposes. Presumably this is in preparation for a more uniform world handicap system.

Aaagghh, I didn't know that. As far as I know in the UK it has always been the case. 

7 minutes ago, Pete said:

Voted higher. It is slightly different as we (UK) have never been allowed to post solo rounds (or non-competition group rounds) for handicap purposes. But the result for me is, my scores are definitely better when it doesn't count towards my handicap. 

When we care about getting a lower hcp, I think we are kind of conditioned to play in one of two modes. Practice mode where nothing matters, and competition mode where everything matters.

As much as I've always thought we have a better system, I kind of think it would be much better if every round counted for your handicap. 

I am also from the UK. My club will accept a card from a practice round if it is signed by another member. In fact, all but one of my handicap alterations have been this way. I play so badly in comps, I would still be off of 28 if it were only those cards that counted. 

[Pete]

Using USGA calculation over last 20 rounds, I would be 4.8 for rounds that count towards handicap and 4.0 for all rounds. So yes, it definitely makes a difference for me.

6 minutes ago, paininthenuts said:

I am also from the UK. My club will accept a card from a practice round if it is signed by another member. In fact, all but one of my handicap alterations have been this way. I play so badly in comps, I would still be off of 28 if it were only those cards that counted. 

Only if you declare it before you play the round. You can't decide that the round will be used for handicap purposes retrospectively.