Handicap vs. Average Score

[den748]

So I am, at this very moment, a 9.6 handicap but the average of my last 20 rounds is 87.8.   Now, I get that the handicap is more a measure of your potential and not your average.  I also get that average score is a flawed stat since you need to take difficulty int consideration. So although I'm a 9.6, I usually play closer to a 12.  I'm just curious what others see in their scoring trends?  Does anyone think there is a better way to do it?  <- doubt that but should be an interesting conversation. 

[fixyurdivot]

Good question/topic.  I no longer maintain a formal handicap, so I really cannot offer comparison.  It will be interesting to hear from the forum members who do keep handicaps.  You might find this article interesting.

https://www.usga.org/handicapping-articles/how-well-should-you-play-25502.html

[MaxEntropy]

Arccos currently lists my overall handicap as 12.1, but my scoring average says I am a bogey golfer. I have no idea if Arccos uses the correct calculation or if they have the right rating/slope for the tees I typically play, but 12.1 seems a little low to me.

I don't officially track through GHIN. I only track wherever I can to see my trends, which makes Arccos good for me.

[Pandaman]

Well at 9.6 hcp scoring at around a12 over I would say that's not bad.  You are only technically 2 over your playing hcp at that.  

That's an unlucky bounce, and just missing a long putt territory.

I play off 28, and am currently scoring around 7 over that, with a few 2 or 3 under.

[RickyBobby_PR]

27 minutes ago, den748 said:

So I am, at this very moment, a 9.6 handicap but the average of my last 20 rounds is 87.8.   Now, I get that the handicap is more a measure of your potential and not your average.  I also get that average score is a flawed stat since you need to take difficulty int consideration. So although I'm a 9.6, I usually play closer to a 12.  I'm just curious what others see in their scoring trends?  Does anyone think there is a better way to do it?  <- doubt that but should be an interesting conversation. 

9.6 is your index. Your course handicap will vary based on tees played and the rating/slope. 
 

If you are playing to a 12 then you are playing to your cap. If you were playing at your handicap every round your handicap would be dropping. 

[Fieldrj]

I have that condition of bad shot amnesia, I only remember the good ones. My carry distances are always my potential if i rip a good one and not my actual, so i feel i should be a playing at a 15 handicap instead of a 19. Im the guy who thinks hes a better player than his score shows. I may be taking this golf thing too seriously....

[den748]

22 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Good question/topic.  I no longer maintain a formal handicap, so I really cannot offer comparison.  It will be interesting to hear from the forum members who do keep handicaps.  You might find this article interesting.

https://www.usga.org/handicapping-articles/how-well-should-you-play-25502.html

Thank you for this article!   This quote explained it all to me and I'm actually embarrassed I didn't do more research on my own (or my own critical thinking).  "The USGA's Handicap Research Team tells us that the average player is expected to play to his Course Handicap or better only about 25 percent of the time"

So my next question then is...what is everyone's range?  Mine is a 78 to 98 in my past 20 rounds.   So 20 strokes.  I've seen worse for sure.

[Fieldrj]

4 minutes ago, den748 said:

Thank you for this article!   This quote explained it all to me and I'm actually embarrassed I didn't do more research on my own (or my own critical thinking).  "The USGA's Handicap Research Team tells us that the average player is expected to play to his Course Handicap or better only about 25 percent of the time"

So my next question then is...what is everyone's range?  Mine is a 78 to 98 in my past 20 rounds.   So 20 strokes.  I've seen worse for sure.

91-102. However, I pickup after a triple, due to frustration, pace of play and ego

[gavinski91]

Over my last 10 rounds I vary from +13 to +46  (range from net is -3 to +29)

Now I wish I hadn't looked...

Edited June 30, 2020 by gavinski91

[GregGarner]

1 hour ago, MaxEntropy said:

Arccos currently lists my overall handicap as 12.1, but my scoring average says I am a bogey golfer. I have no idea if Arccos uses the correct calculation or if they have the right rating/slope for the tees I typically play, but 12.1 seems a little low to me.

I don't officially track through GHIN. I only track wherever I can to see my trends, which makes Arccos good for me.

This is an interesting point. My GHIN is 2.2 but Arccos thinks I'm 0.3. One potential reason for the discrepancy would be that if I don't play the ball down, I don't post to GHIN (obviously) but I'm always running Arccos. So at least as far as it's concerned, I never hit rope-hook 5-irons into the trash, chunk 20-yd pitches, or skull a bunker shot 50 yards over the green...

Edited June 30, 2020 by greggarner
grammatical correction

[DaveP043]

Index is 4.8, average is 7.6.  Scores range from 75 to a hideous 88.  

 

[The 19th Hole]

My NCGA Handicap is currently @ 4.4. In the last year all my scores have been between 74 and 86, playing a wide variety of courses, course ratings, Slope ratings, and lengths. 

[heavygolffeels]

most recent scores:

 

 

[The 19th Hole]

3 minutes ago, scooterhd2 said:

most recent scores:

 

 

Looks to me like your handicap should be dropping pretty soon! 

 

[heavygolffeels]

11 minutes ago, The 19th Hole said:

Looks to me like your handicap should be dropping pretty soon! 

 

Hope so. Average score over last 10 rounds looks like 80.5. Quite a few recent posts though. 

[cnosil]

3 hours ago, den748 said:

So my next question then is...what is everyone's range?  Mine is a 78 to 98 in my past 20 rounds.   So 20 strokes.  I've seen worse for sure.

77-88 is my typical range;   most scores are low 80s.  My league plays 9 and I can range 36-50 (had a couple of bad weeks).

[tchat07]

Range is basically 79-99. Though both 99s I have had were on a course used for LPGA events. So basically small fast greens haha.

Sent from my SM-G950U using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[fixyurdivot]

4 hours ago, Fieldrj said:

91-102. However, I pickup after a triple, due to frustration, pace of play and ego

The group I play with in Yuma uses the "double par" rule.  

[RickyBobby_PR]

9 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

The group I play with in Yuma uses the "double par" rule.  

Under the new handicap net double bogey you can pick up for pace of play

[GaDawg]

5 hours ago, scooterhd2 said:

most recent scores:

 

 

I think your 7.9 H/C is very close. The scores of 84 and 85 are probably not being used in the calculation.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

GHIN Handicap Index is 2.4

# of scores 20

High of 76,   Low of 68,   Avg 72.5

 

[fixyurdivot]

1 minute ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Under the new handicap net double bogey you can pick up for pace of play

Did not know that.  They don't use the double par rule so much for pace of play, but more for sanity/ego.