Just got my handicap. What now?

imola94

These are going to sound like stupid questions but I feel I have to ask. I started playing golf in March this year and just received my handicap today(20). Question is this, do I now hand in a card everytime I play ? I tend to play 9 holes a couple of times a week and if I can I play a full round once a week or do I only hand in a card after playing in a competition??
All very confusing to me, especially not knowing what to do with a card after playing 9 holes.
Thanks in advance
btw I don't fully understand the stableford system. The points are ok but when it comes to index and handicap I'm lost. Could anyone point me towards some useful info?

PhilipMarlowe

No need to hand in a card unless it's in an organised competition. Your handicap will only really get adjusted when you play in singles 18 hole competitions during the summer season.

NoelAPM

Indexing is very straight forward! There's 18 holes and each 1 is gven an index 1 to 18!

1 means that is the hardest hole on the golf course. And index 18 would make it he easiest!

So applying that to handicaps... Well if your handicap was 18 you would get a shot on every hole! So instead of a bogey and 1 point you would get a par 2 points!

If your handicap was 36 you would get 2 shots on evey hole!

With your handicap being 20 However you would get a shot on every hole. So zero shots to wherever your tee shot lands! And you would get 2 shouts on the holes indexed 1 & 2. Because there the 2 hardest holes! So they would be -1 to wherever your tee shot lands!

I hope Thats clear enough to undrstand is it!?

SoupyNorman

The stableford system isn’t too difficult. There are two main elements to it.

First the points allocated for a score

Bogey = 1pt
Par = 2pt’s
Birdie = 3pt’s
Eagle = 4pt’s

These are constant and never change, what varies from player to player is handicap.

To keep things simple, lets say your handicap is 18, this means you have one extra shot on every hole. So you shoot a 7 on a par5, take away one shot which gives you a bogey which is 1pt. You shoot par on a par5, take away 1 shot = birdie which is 3 points.

In you case, your handicap is 20 so you will have 2 shots on two holes and 1 shot on the other 16. The hole you have 2shots on is determined by the index(difficulty rating), the index 1 is the most difficult, 18 least difficult. So if a par 5 was index1 and you shoot a 7 you take away your two shots to give you a 5 which would be 2pts.


Hopefully I have confused you even more!

Speak Now

Don't forget you write down actual score on the card whatever the index.
just play you're game, points can be added up at the end.

imola94

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Don't forget you write down actual score on the card whatever the index.
just play you're game, points can be added up at the end.

That's a good tip actually, had visions of counting fingers and toes between greens and tee boxes.
Thanks everyone who replied, it's much clearer now

GreeBo

imola94 wrote: »

That's a good tip actually, had visions of counting fingers and toes between greens and tee boxes.
Thanks everyone who replied, it's much clearer now

Its also a good idea to circle the holes where you have "different" shots, so on index 1 & 2 you have two shots, so circle those indices on the card and you will remember. Likewise when (:) ) you get below 18 its a good idea to circle the holes you have no shot on, at least until you get used to how things work.

Like was already said, worry about the points at the end of the round.