Golf leagues

[Golfweasel]

Wanting to get inputs and comments from the Spy community as there will be many of you on each side of the fence. 

With golf leagues starting up soon, a big debate occurs each year during our “preseason meeting” about how handicaps will be calculated and applied.  Do you think/believe the official GHIN hdcp should be utilized for your 9 hole match or the ever questionable “league” hdcp? 

In our league we can commit to different tee boxes prior to the first half and second half sessions. We are currently using a league calculated hdcp system (not a fan).  Some players have the same 9 hole league hdcp as their 18 hole GHIN hdcp. 

Let us know your thoughts on this. Don’t hold back on your opinions!!  Thanks!

[Kitsu]

I'm officially joining my first league this season. They used a league calculated hdcp system. From my understanding it creates a handicap based on your lowest 5 rounds out of 20. My buddy said that it's supposed to emulate the GHIN hdcp system, but scaled to account for 9 hole rounds. I subbed a few times last year, so I'm entering this season as an 11 or 12 hdcp. According to Arccos, I'm a 12 hdcp. So my league 9 hole hdcp is basically my actual 18 hole hdcp. I generally shoot 43-48 is my general range/9 holes. My partner is coming in new to the league as well with an 18 hdcp. So we have a huge advantage entering this season.

[Middler]

I play some tournaments that use GHIN handicaps, but I play in three leagues/regular groups that each use their own running averages - last 4 rounds to be specific. While GHIN is more accurate, and league targets will fluctuate more, it all comes out in the wash in the long run. You have a couple good rounds and you probably won’t win, and you have a couple bad rounds and you  will probably win with your next good round. At the of last year, the admin of a group of 16-20 players, summarized winnings for 2022 - and we all pretty much came out with similar $. Everyone had multiple wins, no one was shut out.

And no matter what method you choose to handicap, there will never be 100% agreement on what’s fair. You tell everyone how targets are calculated and leave it at that. I keep the targets for one league, and whenever someone complains I tell them “you can take over responsibility for targets then” - and they shut up immediately…

[cnosil]

34 minutes ago, Kitsu said:

I'm officially joining my first league this season. They used a league calculated hdcp system. From my understanding it creates a handicap based on your lowest 5 rounds out of 20. My buddy said that it's supposed to emulate the GHIN hdcp system, but scaled to account for 9 hole rounds. I subbed a few times last year, so I'm entering this season as an 11 or 12 hdcp. According to Arccos, I'm a 12 hdcp. So my league 9 hole hdcp is basically my actual 18 hole hdcp. I generally shoot 43-48 is my general range/9 holes. My partner is coming in new to the league as well with an 18 hdcp. So we have a huge advantage entering this season.

have fun in you league.  My only advice is to read the league rules about handicaps,  my league has a stipulation that if a new player significantly overestimates their handicap the league can make a retroactive adjustments and recompute results based on the more accurate handicap. 

[thechrisgibbs]

I've played in different leagues that utilize GHIN and Course/League specific handicaps. I've found that I personally have a slightly higher league handicap than I do GHIN handicap. The reason for this is likely because the course that utilizes league handicap is a VERY tough course. So I play a 5.5, but on 9 holes at Stonebridge I average +4 from the Blues. I like both to be honest. I've won money at both, and I've had dry spells at both.

The ONLY reason I actually prefer league handicaps is that we had a player who was a 26 Handicap in GHIN, won money basically every week, and shot 18 over to win the entire club championship. He had terrible rounds on his handicap, but always played well at our league course.

[fixyurdivot]

On 2/26/2023 at 8:05 PM, Golfweasel said:

Wanting to get inputs and comments from the Spy community as there will be many of you on each side of the fence. 

With golf leagues starting up soon, a big debate occurs each year during our “preseason meeting” about how handicaps will be calculated and applied.  Do you think/believe the official GHIN hdcp should be utilized for your 9 hole match or the ever questionable “league” hdcp? 

In our league we can commit to different tee boxes prior to the first half and second half sessions. We are currently using a league calculated hdcp system (not a fan).  Some players have the same 9 hole league hdcp as their 18 hole GHIN hdcp. 

Let us know your thoughts on this. Don’t hold back on your opinions!!  Thanks!

I just joined my communities men's league back in October and they do a really good job at running the events (which run almost year round) and with the handicap system.  I honestly don't know if they use/allow 9 hole scores.  Personally, I choose not to get knee deep in the discussions over handicaps - the opinions of which that I've heard run the full spectrum of good to bad. 

I do my best to play to rules, enter my scores into GHIN correctly, and hope that all other members do the same.  I have little doubt some "work the system" so to speak but, frankly, I don't care.  I just enjoy playing the game and the new folks I've met thus far.  The more formal competition, while fun, is secondary for me.  

[MaxEntropy]

Our league uses a variation of the old USGA calculation except it is based on 8 of last 16 so it does not potentially take a new person more than 1 season to fully establish. With some of our other rules, especially lost balls (you and opponent agree on drop location, 1 stroke penalty and keep it moving), I would guess a GHIN-compliant hdcp would probably be a couple strokes higher for me.

[Rosey31]

Our Friday night Quota game is based on a rolling 3 week average. You can go down only 1 point at a time but can go up 2. Tees are based on your quota. 0-7 Forward, 8-16 Middle and 17+ is back. Most of the players are in the Middle tee range.