Comments on: Club Officers Discussion – Handicapping

By: Dick Nunke

Dick Nunke — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:03:02 +0000

We had a member post a T-score that had a net differential of -6. Reviewing his records on http://WWW.GHINCLUB.NET shows that he has nine tournament scores for the last year. It also shows the lowest six T-scores, five of which are below his current index. This may be unusual and I would like to calculate the net differential for each of these scores. The problem is since switching to semi-monthly revision periods, http://WWW.GHIN.COM has less than a year’s worth of historical handicap index data. So how can a net differential be calculated for a t-score more than six months old?

By: Paul Yohanan

Paul Yohanan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:41:36 +0000

I tried to qualify in the masters division stroke play at stevinson on 06/19/2010. I did not post my score.I checked the next day and an TI was posted for me (83).A week later I went back online and another T score was posted for a round on the 21st(82).My index is a 3.2 and I did have a triple bogey,So the 82 was a correct adjustment.My question is why there are two scores posted ?

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:31:55 +0000

Thomas, thank you for your comment. The NCGA presently has two Robert Tuckers, one Robert D and one Robert E. All four have different addresses, different e-mail addresses, etc., so they certainly appear to be different people. One of the Roberts joined your club earlier this year (April) and is still listed as “active” on your roster and posted scores from French Camp as recenting as a couple of weeks ago. I will send you his existing number via e-mail. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.

By: Thomas L. Dyer

Thomas L. Dyer — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:04:03 +0000

I’m the VP of the French Camp Golf Club. We had a new member sign up to join us this week. I don’t have his ghin yet, but I do know he joined four clubs on 9/01/09. He changed his name slightly on each. How can I get his ghin, and how can I tell if he has more than one ghin? Our game is based on trust and honesty. I personally take this as a insult. Thanks tomdyer10@comcast.net.

He is listed as Robert Tucker, Robert D. Tucker & Robert E. Tucker.
Thanks again.

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:29:08 +0000

Ray, thank you for your comment. Just the addition of two low scores to the golfer’s record will more than likely lower his handicap fairly significantly by next month. Whether a reduction will kick in is difficult to tell. One, it depends on how many tournament rounds have been credited to him in the past twelve months. Two, it depends on whether he has any other exceptional T-scores in his record (the 64 would likely qualify, the 68 would not). Three, it all comes down to the gap between his future best 10 of 20 number each month and the two lowest T-scores. Chances are his best 10 of 20 number will remain fairly low until the two T-scores work their way out of his 20 most recent rounds. At that point if the best 10 of 20 number shoots way up, a reduction could kick in (since the gap would get wider again). That is what often happens. The reduction doesn’t kick in immediately. Generally speaking the 137 score sounds like a good and reasonable winning score. It would indicate that the golfer played three strokes under his handicap over the two days. Thanks again and thanks for attending our recent seminar – Jim Cowan

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:37:11 +0000

Jim,

I just played in a 2 day tournament on a course that is a 70.0/119

The winner was a 10 index who shot net 68 and net 64 for a net 132. According to what you said at the seminar last week it seems highly unlikely that this should happen. The next closes scores were net 137 and net 142. Since the winner will have to post T scores will his index go down? It’s pretty discouraging to say the least.

What do you think a winning score should be on a course like this?

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:25:34 +0000

Curtis – Thank you for your comment. The NCGA Net Score Database program has absolutely nothing to do with the R handicap that you have been issued. As the column indicated, the NCGA does not/cannot impact your “official” Handicap Index. The R handicap is an automatic part of the USGA Handicap System. Every single handicap issued in the country is computed in this manner. In short, the goal of the USGA Handicap System is to issue an Index which best describes a golfer’s “potential” ability. “Potential,” for these purposes, is measured by a review of a golfer’s 10 best of 20 most recent rounds AND by a review of the golfer’s two best T-scores of the past twelve months. Basically the System is examining the size of the gap between the best 10 of 20 number and these two T-scores. If the System feels the gap is too wide, an automatic reduction kicks in. In April, your best 10 of 20 number worked out to a 13.5. Your two best T-scores averaged 6.1. Based upon this 7.4 stroke gap, an 8.8R was issued. Had it not be issued, your tournament score from last Saturday (8.3) would have been more than five strokes lower than your handicap. I’m sorry if your game does not travel well to longer courses, but what about those you are competing against in tournaments at Deep Cliff? After all, you played 10.5 and 6.1 strokes under your handicap in the two tournaments causing the reduction. You have to look at the situation from all angles which is what the System did by finding some middle-ground between your best 10 of 20 number and your low T-scores. Thanks again – Jim Cowan.

By: Curtis Larraux

Curtis Larraux — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:23:14 +0000

Hello, I am responding to Jim Cowan’s article NCGA Net Score Database, just last month my index was 14.8, now 8.8R. I would love to be this low but since my home course is Deep Cliff par 60 and I play every week at this course I have great rounds sometimes and in this case two tournement rounds 5/25/08 64, and 2/28/09 66. I feel that going too Poppy Hills and Blackhorse and playing the 4 man tourney 5/26/09 5/27/09 with a 8.8R is not right,in the last 5 years you will notice that I have never posted below 86 on any par 72. I believe this two tournement held low score for 1 year is not fair to someone who post’s every round at a home course in which you know so well, average of 20 rounds period is the only way to a true handicap,I can shoot a low score at home, but away on a longer course I am sorry to say about a bogey golfer, I really think and know it for a fact that I’m a 14.8 index if you left out this 1 year rule. Please explain this ” R ” next to my index, some say reduced, some say restricted, is this the gentlemans way of saying sandbag? Please check my scores and the places I have played, this will show that I am not a 8.8R. My # is 7311117, thank you CL

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:54:14 +0000

Thanks Jim!

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:25:53 +0000

Ray – thank you for your comment. We will have the schedule finalized within the next two weeks. All clubs will be notified of the schedule. Thanks again – Jim Cowan