Comments on: Query the Handicap Expert

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:16:44 +0000

Roger, thank you for your comment. Just click on the Recent Scores tab and you will see all the scores that have been credited to your record since the previous revision. Thanks again – Jim Cowan, Director of Course Rating and Handicapping

By: Roger Lyons

Roger Lyons — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:41:55 +0000

Sometimes I do not remember if I entered a score. Is there some way to see ones scores entered for the period after the last handicap update?

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Tue, 07 May 2013 21:14:53 +0000

Dave, thank you for your comment. As long as no sort of undue work burden is placed upon someone within your club (i.e., a person who has to prepare scorecards or, at the last second, edit scorecards to accommodate changes in tees), I am all in favor of golfers choosing the set of tees where they feel they will enjoy the golf course from the most. At some golf courses that may mean Blue tees. At others it may not. It depends on a lot of factors including the golfer’s skill level, the length and difficulty of the course, etc. And they are not really gaining any sort of stroke advantage by moving back. The lower the Course Rating, the lower the expectation for net scores (net scores need to be compared with the Course Rating, not par, to gauge how a golfer played in relationship to his handicap that day). So as a golfer moves from White to Blue tees, the expectation is that his net scores will go up. The extra strokes he/she receives counteracts this and keeps everyone on a level playing field. Thanks again, glad to hear you let the players select their tees. Jim Cowan – Director of Course Rating and Handicapping

By: Dave F.

Dave F. — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:18:53 +0000

Our group plays weekly at various courses and we generally play from the white tees. Several members wish to play from the blue tees and we have allowed it and adjusted their handicaps accordingly. Is it okay for them to pick and choose the courses where they play from the blues based upon strokes gained or should we require them to stay at the blues regardless of strokes gained. It seems to give them an unfair advantage to only move back when they gain extra strokes.

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:35:08 +0000

Jim, thank you for your comment. First things first, you always want to adjust your Handicap Index to Course Handicaps based on the Slope Rating of the tees you are playing. All tees and all courses are not created equal. You might find that at some courses the 24.4 needs more strokes from the 16.6 than he does at others. After you have the Course Handicaps in hand, I would reduce all three by the Course Handicap of the player with the lowest handicap, who then plays at scratch. The other two play with what is left over and they get their strokes on the highest ranked holes. Thanks again – Jim Cowan, Director of Course Rating and Handicapping

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:33:02 +0000

I play a weekly game with 2 other friends and we normally play a game that gives the winner of the hole 5 pts, 2nd 3 and 3rd 1. My question is on giving strokes to the higher handicappers. We simply play off the lowest index and round the indexes up or down so 16.6 is 17 and 24.4 is 24 and gets 7 strokes. Is this the correct, and therefore fair, way to do this or should we be taking the course handicap into consideration or base the strokes on the difference between indexes ( 21.1 – 16.6 = 4.5, so 5 strokes)?

By: Ryan Gregg

Ryan Gregg — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:15:33 +0000

Chet,
Rule 24-1 permits a player to move or have moved equipment of any player while the ball is in motion.

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:18:55 +0000

Dave F, thank you for your comment. I can only speak on the subject of the USGA Handicap System. The System requires a minimum of five 18-hole scores before a Handicap Index can be issued. But remember, handicaps are only issued on the 1st and 15th of each month. Thanks again – Jim Cowan, Director of Course Rating and Handicapping

By: chet iacobitti

chet iacobitti — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:24:32 +0000

A member of our foursomes, putt missed the hole and was headed for a club that was left on the green. He asked for someone to pick up the club before the ball hit it. I told him it would be a violation. What is the ruling.

By: Dave F.

Dave F. — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:34:36 +0000

We have a new member in our club with only a few scores posted. When would he have enough scores to be eligible to compete in an NCGA tournament? After five scores? After twenty scores?