WooHoo! I got my 1st handicap rating!

[SiberianDVM]

I joined the Georgia State Golf Association at the end of last year, after taking up golf in July. Yesterday, I finally got my first official handicap rating. Are you ready for it? I am a 23.1.

Pretty bad, huh? From the stats I have read, that makes me decidedly average. Story of my life.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

I don't think that's bad, considering that you started in July. I'd probably be pretty close to that myself, and when I was entering rounds at golfq, mine was coming up at around 21 strokes.

Also, remember that's average for those who are motivated to get handicaps, who are probably above the average of the average golfer.

[Maverick]

not bad at all..I got my 1st USGA index too..15.2..but I had a disasterous round last weekend and shot a 101..there's goes that.

[What'saScore]

How do you get a handicap rating? I was checking into some of the local leagues, and they all require a handicap rating or you are considered scratch. I scratch plenty, but it only causes my wife to roll her eyes and tell me "Don't do that in public!"

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by What'saScore

How do you get a handicap rating? I was checking into some of the local leagues, and they all require a handicap rating or you are considered scratch. I scratch plenty, but it only causes my wife to roll her eyes and tell me "Don't do that in public!"

http://www.golf.com/gdc/homepages/home_v2.asp?

Several members directed me to this site. They haven't updated the scores yet but supposidly I will have a 13.2 with my scores I put in from last year. Seems decent so far. It was $30 for the year but comes with a subscription to golf magazine.

[SiberianDVM]

I got mine by joining the Georgia State Golf Association at my local course.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

I joined the Georgia State Golf Association at the end of last year, after taking up golf in July. Yesterday, I finally got my first official handicap rating. Are you ready for it? I am a 23.1.

Pretty bad, huh? From the stats I have read, that makes me decidedly average. Story of my life.

First of all, you are a DVM. That means that you are decidely un-average. Secondly, that number means that you break 100 more than half the time, which is outstanding (stroke, stroke) for someone who has just picked up the game. Keep taking lessons, keep playing, and that number will go down. I went from a 21 (after 15 years of playing not enough golf) to a 15 last year. I played more. I practiced more. Have faith. Being a 23 is not a bad thing.

[SiberianDVM]

Thanks Eracer & guys. My reserve FTX ended early and I just got home, a whole day early, so I might get to play tomorrow! If not, I'll at least get to go to the range.

P.S. South Georgia is bug central. Besides the skeeters that tried to tote me away today, the front of my SUV is brown from dead bugs. And I just had it washed and waxed 2 days ago.

Mt trip to Kiawah is only 4 weeks away. I have GOT to drop 10 strokes by then. Time to start teeing off from the red tees.

[What'saScore]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Several members directed me to this site. They haven't updated the scores yet but supposidly I will have a 13.2 with my scores I put in from last year. Seems decent so far. It was $30 for the year but comes with a subscription to golf magazine.

You mean they just put you on the honor system? I wish I could have had that when I was racing, where the credo is "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin' "

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by What'saScore

How do you get a handicap rating?

I used the USGA system until they kept entering my scores wrong, and had a 2 week delay. I now use this. It allows you to print cards, update whenever you want, and runs off excel. It is $19, has a 30 day trial and runs off Excel.

Anytime I have played competitively they usually do their own, so this works for me. If you can find one where you enter your own scores, it is probably a better option, but less convenient.
http://www.djicomputer.com/HandicapManager.htm

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by What'saScore

You mean they just put you on the honor system? I wish I could have had that when I was racing, where the credo is "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin' "

Yea but it only hurts you in golf if you lie on the low side. For instance, my 13.2 is a big part of 2 excellent rounds I had last summer. The fairways were dry and my drives got a lot of roll. I was hitting wedge into just about every par 4 and getting up and down when I missed. Now I go and play a tougher course, like on Fri., and shoot a 95. I am supposed to be able to shoot 10 strokes lower than that according to the handicap. It would kind of be like if instead of racing all at once everyone took turns seeing who could make it around fastest. A guy with a slower car would be given a second or whatever the calculated difference was between his car and yours. If I took out those 2 scores I would be at a more realistic 17 or 18.

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by ezra76

Yea but it only hurts you in golf if you lie on the low side. For instance, my 13.2 is a big part of 2 excellent rounds I had last summer. The fairways were dry and my drives got a lot of roll. I was hitting wedge into just about every par 4 and getting up and down when I missed. Now I go and play a tougher course, like on Fri., and shoot a 95. I am supposed to be able to shoot 10 strokes lower than that according to the handicap. It would kind of be like if instead of racing all at once everyone took turns seeing who could make it around fastest. A guy with a slower car would be given a second or whatever the calculated difference was between his car and yours. If I took out those 2 scores I would be at a more realistic 17 or 18.

There is also a handicap committee for every local that have to approve your scores. If it looks like your fibbing, they can reject the score and/or have you play with another member in the local to validate your score.

Why lie anyway? The game is supposed to be about honestly and good sportsmanship.

[Maverick]

I joined GolfServ Advantage for $29.99/year. It'll put you in with a locally based USGA affiliated club and it has a handicap chairman. All scores get reviewed and validated by your local handicap chairman/commitee then it gets sent in..and yes, it's about honesty..it ain't fun the other way. PS: I get a year of GOLF magazine..not bad huh

[What'saScore]

Maybe I'm too new at this, but, what's to keep a guy from sandbagging, getting a higher handicap, then kicking but when it really matters? Way back when I bowled leagues, we all bowled scratch the first two weeks. Then our handicap was figured from our actual league scores, and adjusted weekly. Somehow, that makes a whole lot more sense to me than establishing your own handicap during non-league play, and using it for league events.
Who knows, could be that I'm just too jaded from my past competitive environment.

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by What'saScore

Maybe I'm too new at this, but, what's to keep a guy from sandbagging, getting a higher handicap, then kicking but when it really matters? Way back when I bowled leagues, we all bowled scratch the first two weeks. Then our handicap was figured from our actual league scores, and adjusted weekly. Somehow, that makes a whole lot more sense to me than establishing your own handicap during non-league play, and using it for league events.
Who knows, could be that I'm just too jaded from my past competitive environment.

Tournement Scores are treated differently. They carry more weight. If you shoot a good round in a tournement your handicap will be greatly affected.