Par 3 handicap ratings

[Blaiser]

I've got a question that maybe someone can educate me about.

 

Everytime I look at a scorecard, I'll take notice of the handicap ratings for each hole. For the most part, I'll tend to agree with the ratings. A really long par 4, a narrow fairway, well guarded green...etc.

 

But then there are the par 3's.

 

Typically the par 3's are always sitting at the "easiest" holes. Even though sometimes the par 3's, to me at least, can be the most difficult by far.

 

For instance, at my local course in the bay area, all four par 3's are dead into a 2 (sometimes 3) club wind, they are all over a hazard, no bail out, and are well guarded by bunkers.

 

From the tips, one of the par 3's can play as long as 230 (+whatever yardage you add for the wind)

 

I've literally had to put another club in the bag just so I have a chance of getting there. And I'm a pretty long hitter.

 

This hole is an absolute best, but sits as #15 on the handicap.

 

Am I missing something about how handicap are calculated?

[jackbauer]

As I recall, holes are actually handicapped to maximize the number of halved holes in a match (contrary to what most people think). Par 3s are therefore the "easiest" because, as one-shotters, there should be less variability between competitors than in the three shots they would need to hit a par 5 in regulation (smaller sample size).

[cardoustie]

Yup

 

Cap hole ratings are not based on a hole's difficulty but rather based on where a bogey golfer needs help most from a scratch golfer. I've been thru this twice at my club, analyzing the differentials etc. Have to explain it all the time to the members. The hardest hole is usually hard for ALL players

 

A one shotter usually also means less chances for an 18 cap to crap the bed, as mentioned above. A 500 yard par 5 yields lots of birdies to a scratch player but the 90 shooter needs 3 passes at the ball and could make 7 or 8 easily

[Blaiser]

Can't believe I've gone all this time without someone explaining it to me this way.

 

Makes sense now. Thanks for the responses!

[warfelg]

As I recall, holes are actually handicapped to maximize the number of halved holes in a match (contrary to what most people think). Par 3s are therefore the "easiest" because, as one-shotters, there should be less variability between competitors than in the three shots they would need to hit a par 5 in regulation (smaller sample size).

 

I always found it interesting about how holes were handicapped. My dad was a big time stroke players so he hated handicaps. But he explained about how things were based around matchplay for the way holes are handicapped and not necessarily just hardest to easiest. So I found it interesting how it's mostly based on that as opposed to just straight up difficulty.

[AceCatKY]

Nice info. I think the bigger issue is sometimes it seems the course ratings are arbitrary or don't seem to be updated even though a course may change up the looks of a hole or take out trees etc.

[Qwiklap]

Very helpful -- while I agree, I find 200 yard par-3s intimidating (and my club has one), I usually am about +1-3 over on the four par 3's in a round. But may easily be 3-7 over on the three par-5's we have. Go figure.

[cardoustie]

Our course is the same. I am lower cap and I got my hole by hole ratings from last year. The 4 par 3's are all inside my worst 6 scoring holes

 

160 ... over water right, deep bunkers left

190 .. to a narrow green, can't get up and down if miss left and deep traps right

210 .. over a lake, have to hit green .. no other options .. woods left right and long

160 .. uphill and into the wind, vicious green sloping L to R and Back to front. Cannot get up and down if long. Deep traps short left and right

 

If I make 4 three's I can go low. In fact when I shot 68 as my PB I was 1 under on these

 

Same as most courses I guess. Survive the 3 pars (+2), stay around par on the 4's (E) and take advantage of the 5's (-2)

[larrybud]

Think of it this way

 

200 yard Par 3

Ave score for scratch player: 3.6

Ave score for bogey player: 4.2

 

480 yard par 5

Ave score for scratch player: 4.8

Ave score for bogey player: 6.0

 

Ave score relative to par is lower for both players on the par 5, but the difference in average between them is greater, therefore the par 5 will have a lower handicap rating.

 

Note that there are other guidelines which tweak the hole handicaps as well. Front 9 should be odd numbered, Back 9 should be even numbered.

[Newby]

This is what the USGA says:

 

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping/handicap-manual.html#!rule-14403

 

and this is what England Golf says:

 

http://www.englandgolf.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=337