Comments on: An Explanation of Slope http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/ Northern California Golf Association Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:03:19 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1431 Jim Cowan Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:14:47 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1431 John, thank you for your comment. I am going to direct you to a previous column we ran on this very subject entitled "Competing From Different Sets of Tees." This column appears on the same list of Handicap Resources that you found the Slope article. In order to level the playing field between golfers competing from different tees, you need to take into account the difference in the Course Ratings between the two tees. Basically you round the difference and award the additional strokes to the golfer playing the tee with the higher Course Rating. So if the Blue tees are rated 2.7 strokes higher than White, the Blue tee golfer is awarded three strokes above and beyond what he would normally receive from those tees. I hope this answers your question. Again, the column I referenced offers more details. Thanks again - Jim Cowan John, thank you for your comment. I am going to direct you to a previous column we ran on this very subject entitled “Competing From Different Sets of Tees.” This column appears on the same list of Handicap Resources that you found the Slope article. In order to level the playing field between golfers competing from different tees, you need to take into account the difference in the Course Ratings between the two tees. Basically you round the difference and award the additional strokes to the golfer playing the tee with the higher Course Rating. So if the Blue tees are rated 2.7 strokes higher than White, the Blue tee golfer is awarded three strokes above and beyond what he would normally receive from those tees. I hope this answers your question. Again, the column I referenced offers more details. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

]]> By: John Pedicini http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1415 John Pedicini Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:23:16 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1415 Jim Very good, succinct explanation of rated par and slope. I have noticed that it is difficult to equate handicaps between various tees on the same course. This leads to problems when a player using the blue tees plays another using the white tees. How do you come up with a fair bet? Jim
Very good, succinct explanation of rated par and slope. I have noticed that it is difficult to equate handicaps between various tees on the same course. This leads to problems when a player using the blue tees plays another using the white tees. How do you come up with a fair bet?

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1074 Jim Cowan Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:57:39 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1074 Peter Stern, thank you for your comment. This gets a little technical, but on a golf course of perfect proportionate difficulty, we would expect the 20-handicapper to score 21 strokes higher than the scratch golfer. Why, because handicaps are based on 96% of the difference between, basically, our scores and the Course Rating. 21 times 5.381 equals 113, the Slope Rating for a course of perfect proportionate difficulty. Thanks again - Jim Cowan Peter Stern, thank you for your comment. This gets a little technical, but on a golf course of perfect proportionate difficulty, we would expect the 20-handicapper to score 21 strokes higher than the scratch golfer. Why, because handicaps are based on 96% of the difference between, basically, our scores and the Course Rating. 21 times 5.381 equals 113, the Slope Rating for a course of perfect proportionate difficulty. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1073 Jim Cowan Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:54:12 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1073 John Justice, thank you for your comment. Comparing Slope Ratings from one course to another is not a good proposition, so we do not have any sort of hot-line that someone can contact regarding our ratings. Nor are we prepared to respond to 170,000 different opinions on a course's numbers. Besides, just because a course plays more or less difficult for one particular golfer than another, it is not an indication that one or both ratings are off. It is probably more an indication that one course leant itself to a golfer's game better than the other. Thanks again - Jim Cowan. John Justice, thank you for your comment. Comparing Slope Ratings from one course to another is not a good proposition, so we do not have any sort of hot-line that someone can contact regarding our ratings. Nor are we prepared to respond to 170,000 different opinions on a course’s numbers. Besides, just because a course plays more or less difficult for one particular golfer than another, it is not an indication that one or both ratings are off. It is probably more an indication that one course leant itself to a golfer’s game better than the other. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.

]]> By: Peter Stern http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 Peter Stern Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:11:52 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1064 Jim, There are two constants that you have mentioned used in the overall slope/course handicap calculations. 113 and 5.381 How were these derived? Thanks. Jim,
There are two constants that you have mentioned used in the overall
slope/course handicap calculations. 113 and 5.381 How were these
derived? Thanks.

]]> By: john justice http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-1050 john justice Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:45:26 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-1050 Jim thanks for the Q&A section. I have had a problem with the slope ratings, now I have a better idea of what the ratings mean. If I play a course that I feel is rated wrong is there a place to write to and bring it to someone's attention? thanks Jim thanks for the Q&A section. I have had a problem with the slope ratings, now I have a better idea of what the ratings mean. If I play a course that I feel is rated wrong is there a place to write to and bring it to someone’s attention? thanks

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-851 Jim Cowan Wed, 28 May 2008 22:10:06 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-851 Dave, thank you for your comment. The math is Handicap Index multiplied by the Slope Rating of the tees you are playing, divided by 113 (15.5 X 125 Slope = 19,375 / 113 = 17.146 = 17. Fortunately Course Handicap Tables (Slope Tables) perform this math for you and are available both within this section of our website and at the golf courses. Thanks again - Jim Cowan. Dave, thank you for your comment. The math is Handicap Index multiplied by the Slope Rating of the tees you are playing, divided by 113 (15.5 X 125 Slope = 19,375 / 113 = 17.146 = 17. Fortunately Course Handicap Tables (Slope Tables) perform this math for you and are available both within this section of our website and at the golf courses. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Jim Cowan Wed, 28 May 2008 22:06:32 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-850 Doug, thank you for your comment. The simple fact is that a handicap is based on your 10 best of your 20 most recent rounds, so the lower half (worse half) of your rounds are thrown out entirely. And since handicaps are based on 96% of the difference between, essentially, your scores and the Course Ratings (as opposed to 100%), handicaps are slightly better than the average of your ten best rounds. This means that your handicap is typically better than the upper half of the upper half of your scores which places it around the 1 in 5 category. Try this test. Look at your current Handicap Index and count the number of differentials among the 20 scores that were lower. You will typically find 4 of 20 lower which indeed works out to 20%. Thanks again - Jim Cowan. Doug, thank you for your comment. The simple fact is that a handicap is based on your 10 best of your 20 most recent rounds, so the lower half (worse half) of your rounds are thrown out entirely. And since handicaps are based on 96% of the difference between, essentially, your scores and the Course Ratings (as opposed to 100%), handicaps are slightly better than the average of your ten best rounds. This means that your handicap is typically better than the upper half of the upper half of your scores which places it around the 1 in 5 category. Try this test. Look at your current Handicap Index and count the number of differentials among the 20 scores that were lower. You will typically find 4 of 20 lower which indeed works out to 20%. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.

]]> By: Dave http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-844 Dave Sun, 25 May 2008 10:04:45 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-844 I need some help determining handicap at a given course given the slope. is there a formula? I need some help determining handicap at a given course given the slope. is there a formula?

]]> By: Doug Mumme http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/comment-page-1/#comment-837 Doug Mumme Tue, 20 May 2008 22:42:11 +0000 http://thebacknine.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-837 Jim, I have read that a person plays to their handicap only 20 percent of the time. Why is this? Jim,

I have read that a person plays to their handicap only 20 percent of the time. Why is this?

]]>