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Explain scoring and handicap system

  • 09-08-2014 11:37pm
    #1
    Cona
    Closed Accounts Posts: 591 ✭✭✭


    Sorry for such a beginner question but I am trying to understand the scoring system used in golf. Like for example, when someone says he scored 35 points off 16, what exactly does it mean?

    Also, what should one use as a guide for a handicap to start off with? I have been advised to start off on 24 but have no idea why :)

    thanks in advance...


Comments

  • #2
    Shamrock841
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 110 ✭✭Shamrock841


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stableford


    That should give you a clear picture


  • #3
    PARlance
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,511 ✭✭✭✭PARlance


    Cona wrote: »
    Sorry for such a beginner question but I am trying to understand the scoring system used in golf. Like for example, when someone says he scored 35 points off 16, what exactly does it mean?

    Also, what should one use as a guide for a handicap to start off with? I have been advised to start off on 24 but have no idea why :)

    thanks in advance...

    Each hole is indexed 1-18 on the scorecard.
    1 being the hardest, 18 the easiest (in theory)
    So for eg you might see a 6 marked beside the first hole. This means it's the sixth hardest hole on the course.

    If you were playing off 18, it would mean that you have an "allowance" of 1 shot on every hole.
    Off 24, you are getting another 6 shots. So you would be allowed 2 shots on indexes 1-6 and 1 shot on 7-18. (24 shots in total).

    You get 2 points each time you score par plus your allowance.
    So if you have a 6 on the index 1 (2 shots) par 4. That is 2 points.
    If you have a 5 on the index 18 (1 shot) par 4. That's also 2 points.
    You would add/subtract a point depending if you better/do worse than your allowance.

    Ie
    If you have a 4 on that index 1 par 4. That would give you 4 points.
    A 5 on that hole would give you 3 points.
    A 6 (as above) is 2 points.
    A 7 is 1 point.
    An 8 or worse is 0 points (or a scratch as it's called. You should pick your ball up after 8 shots in the interest of time).

    36 points would be deemed a very good score. Your handicap should be something you play to on a good day... Not an average day.

    Without going into (even more :)) detail, as a general rule of thumb in club golf.
    Anything higher than 36 points and you're getting a cut (handicap reduction).
    Anything between 32-36 points is the "buffer". No change to your handicap.
    Anything below 32 and your handicap is increasing.


  • #4
    Cona
    Closed Accounts Posts: 591 ✭✭✭Cona


    Great explanation PARLance...i've got it now..thanks!!!


  • #5
    phil
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 568 ✭✭✭phil


    Worth noting that 24 would be a difficult handicap to play to if you're only picking up the game for the first time (haven't swung a club before). Few of my friends and I played off 36 for a few months and then cut ourselves to 28 after a few months once we felt like we were playing to that comfortably.

    Once you get an official handicap you won't have control of that however :)


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