Handicap issues, playing very bad too very good

[YoungTad]

Hello all!

 

heres my issue, 

ok big courses, full 18 courses, the best I have ever hit is +25, and that's best by at least 8 shots. My handicap is over 28 (working an average by myself, not certified)But today we played a local, smaller course, with 2 9 holes, and I finished +18.

i counted points for curiousity, as I always do, too a handicap of 28. I hit 46 points. 

My issue is, that this small course holds competitions regularly, but if I came in with a handicap of +28, would I be known as trying too cheat? Because when I play on full 18s I would be very lucky if the handicap is even 28.

What should I do?

[The Recreational Golfer]

If your handicap is an issue when you play with other golfers, get an official USGA handicap. That handicap will take into account playing on both the longer course and the shorter course, so everything should come out all right. Also, when you play on full 18s, you might be playing from tees that are too long for you.

Edited March 31, 2018 by The Recreational Golfer

[JonMA1]

4 hours ago, YoungTad said:

What should I do?

I'm not real knowledgable about HC's, but I'll try to answer your question.

I would try to keep a legitimate HC by using the rating/slope of all the courses and tees from which you play, even if it's only a couple different courses. With enough rounds, your index should become a pretty good reflection of your capabilities. If you play the 9 hole course enough times, you will have higher rounds, and if you play the tougher 18 hole courses, you'll eventually shoot some lower ones. The course ratings should help even things out a bit.

I don't know how many rounds you've played at the 9 hole course, but one good score doesn't mean that's what you'll shoot every time.

As far as what others think, if you're playing by and keeping track of your HC index by the rules, there's nothing you need to worry about when you shoot a good round during a competition. Besides, people are going to bellyache regardless.

I see that @The Recreational Golferhas replied. I would take his advice.

[Pepsivanilla93]

From what I understand, a USGA handicap can be given after 5 rounds have been played. Eventually when you have played 20 or more rounds it will use the best 10 scores from your most recent 20 rounds. For what it's worth I have a different 9 hole handicap compared to my 18 hole handicap.

I would suggest keeping your scorecards and inputting the score, slope, and course rating into a calculator to find your handicap. There are websites that do this for free.

[Valleygolfer]

Welcome to the Sand trap. If the course has legit competitions regardless of what handicap you say you have, you will not get to compete. If the tournament is based upon the PGA handicap, you can't just walk off the street and claim a handicap. If you're just interested in what handicap you have there are plenty of free programs out there that would calculate it for you but if you want to play in competition official PGA handicap will be required. Now if you told someone that you want to play them, and they agreed to play you at the handicap you stated, it wouldn't necessarily be cheating, it would just be a decision made by the other player.

 

[DaveP043]

On 3/31/2018 at 11:09 AM, YoungTad said:

Hello all!

heres my issue, 

ok big courses, full 18 courses, the best I have ever hit is +25, and that's best by at least 8 shots. My handicap is over 28 (working an average by myself, not certified)But today we played a local, smaller course, with 2 9 holes, and I finished +18.

i counted points for curiousity, as I always do, too a handicap of 28. I hit 46 points. 

My issue is, that this small course holds competitions regularly, but if I came in with a handicap of +28, would I be known as trying too cheat? Because when I play on full 18s I would be very lucky if the handicap is even 28.

What should I do?

If you want to play in competitions, you'll need an official handicap.  I can't imagine that you'd be assigned a handicap of 28 based on your records, but I don't know exactly how initial handicaps are done around the world..  When you say you counted points, I'm guessing that you mean Stableford points, and that you're not in the USGA areas.  I suggest that you talk to the head pro wherever you play the most golf, and ask about handicaps and competitions, and get started towards having a proper handicap.  As long as you're following the rules, you shouldn't be accused of trying to cheat.  Also, don't expect that you'll shoot another excellent score on that "small course" just because you did it once.  Golf is fickle, you'll shoot plenty of high scores there too.

Edited April 2, 2018 by DaveP043