Comments on: An Explanation of Slope http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/ Northern California Golf Association Sat, 5 Jul 2008 01:22:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-851 Jim Cowan Wed, 28 May 2008 22:10:06 +0000 http://www.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-850 Jim Cowan Wed, 28 May 2008 22:06:32 +0000 http://www.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-844 Dave Sun, 25 May 2008 10:04:45 +0000 http://www.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-837 Doug Mumme Tue, 20 May 2008 22:42:11 +0000 http://www.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?

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-547 Jim Cowan Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:25:19 +0000 http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-547 Dick, Thank you for your comments. If indeed the course has no Slope Rating, the scores cannot be posted, period. There is no such thing as estimating a Slope Rating. Two courses of the exact same 2,981 yard length could be world's apart in Slope Ratings based on size and speed of greens, length of rough, presence of water, OB, Bunkers, etc., and guessing or estimating the proper value just doesn't cut it. If your friend reveals the name of the course, send me an e-mail. I have a number of means of verifying whether it has a Slope Rating. Thanks again. Jim Cowan Dick, Thank you for your comments. If indeed the course has no Slope Rating, the scores cannot be posted, period. There is no such thing as estimating a Slope Rating. Two courses of the exact same 2,981 yard length could be world’s apart in Slope Ratings based on size and speed of greens, length of rough, presence of water, OB, Bunkers, etc., and guessing or estimating the proper value just doesn’t cut it. If your friend reveals the name of the course, send me an e-mail. I have a number of means of verifying whether it has a Slope Rating. Thanks again. Jim Cowan

]]> By: Dick Hanney http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-546 Dick Hanney Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:02:29 +0000 http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-546 Jim, this is a very nice feature. I have a friend playing in Hawaii. He's mostly playing a 9-hole course, 2981 yds, course rating 70, par 36. There's no slope rating for the course. He also didn't give me its name. He's asked me what to do about posting. I'm certainly going to tell to keep a record and that we might not solve this right away. I'd like to suggest to him that he assign a slope rating of his own choosing - he's very trustworthy (a former Chairman of our local City Golf Commission) and smart. If he thinks he can reach most greens in regulation, assign a 117, if not, or if he must lay up often due to hazards, then assign 122. If it's really horrendous, assign a 128. Arbitrary, perhaps capricious, but in line with your explanation of slope, yes? Any idea on what I should tell him? Jim, this is a very nice feature. I have a friend playing in Hawaii. He’s mostly playing a 9-hole course, 2981 yds, course rating 70, par 36. There’s no slope rating for the course. He also didn’t give me its name. He’s asked me what to do about posting.
I’m certainly going to tell to keep a record and that we might not solve this right away.
I’d like to suggest to him that he assign a slope rating of his own choosing - he’s very trustworthy (a former Chairman of our local City Golf Commission) and smart.
If he thinks he can reach most greens in regulation, assign a 117, if not, or if he must lay up often due to hazards, then assign 122. If it’s really horrendous, assign a 128.
Arbitrary, perhaps capricious, but in line with your explanation of slope, yes? Any idea on what I should tell him?

]]> By: Jim Cowan http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-154 Jim Cowan Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:03:34 +0000 http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-154 Rick Scanlon, I apologize for the delay in responding but I was only recently made aware of this new feature within our website. The Course Handicap is basically telling you how many strokes above the Course Rating (not par) that you would be expected to play if you played to your handicap that day. If the Course Rating is 68 and you have a Course Handicap of 20, a posting of 88 would indicate you played just about spot on to your handicap. If the Course Rating is 74, a score of 94 would do the same trick. So there is a connection between the Course Rating, your Course Handicap for that round, and your expected score. Thanks Jim Cowan Rick Scanlon,
I apologize for the delay in responding but I was only recently made aware of this new feature within our website. The Course Handicap is basically telling you how many strokes above the Course Rating (not par) that you would be expected to play if you played to your handicap that day. If the Course Rating is 68 and you have a Course Handicap of 20, a posting of 88 would indicate you played just about spot on to your handicap. If the Course Rating is 74, a score of 94 would do the same trick. So there is a connection between the Course Rating, your Course Handicap for that round, and your expected score. Thanks Jim Cowan

]]> By: Rick Scanlon http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-73 Rick Scanlon Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:13:40 +0000 http://www.ncga.org/2007/06/18/an-explanation-of-slope/#comment-73 Hi Jim, This is a well-written, thorough explanation of the slope ratings. I'm curious now, though, since the course rating is the more dominate factor, why is a player's course handicap calculated using only the slope rating? Thanks, Rick Hi Jim,

This is a well-written, thorough explanation of the slope ratings. I’m curious now, though, since the course rating is the more dominate factor, why is a player’s course handicap calculated using only the slope rating?

Thanks,

Rick

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