Estimated HCP

nmk · April 2, 2009

Hi guys, just a quick question.

I have been too lazy to keep track of my hcp with the Dutch Golf Association and I am not a member of any clubs.... so....

I currently shoot regularly between 82 ~ 88 with par 72 on local private courses.

What is my estimated hcp? Just an estimate without the details of the course's slope index and all that other stuff. The courses I play at are fairly .... average courses,

Thanks.

ABT · April 2, 2009

DrSchteeve · April 2, 2009

12. Fairly easy - estimate the average of your 10 best of your last 20 scores (in your case, probably 84 or so, subtract 72 from that, should be close).

steverum · April 2, 2009

If the course rating is like 67 or something then your handicap is higher than a 10-12

It does matter, its the only way to compare scores from course to course

If the course rating is like 74 and you shoot 82 then that will likely count and if the course rating is like 66 then that 82 probably wont

atlanta golfer · April 2, 2009

I figure 11. As stated above, we know the average score is 85 but what we don't know is the course rating and the course slope.

mark m · April 2, 2009

I like ABT's 10.

In the US system, most players average 3 strokes over their handicaps in their last 20 scores.

So your average of 85 - 3 = 82. 82 - 72 = 10

As others have said, the course difficulty is a key in our system.

Some are rated 66 and others 76.

What is the length of the courses you typically play?

(Please convert to yards.)

atlanta golfer · April 2, 2009

I like ABT's 10.

In the US system, most players average 3 strokes over their handicaps in their last 20 scores.
So your average of 85 - 3 = 82. 82 - 72 = 10
As others have said, the course difficulty is a key in our system.
Some are rated 66 and others 76.
What is the length of the courses you typically play?
(Please convert to yards.)

Not to get anal about it (but I will anyway) ...... a typical course rating is approx. 71 and typical slope is approx. 125. at least on the courses I play.

So if his average score is 85, just apply the usga handicap formula which is:

(score - course rating) x 113 / slope ..................then take the top ten of the last twenty and take 96% of that.

So if his top scores really did average 82, his handicap index would work out to = 9.5

I think though with the limited information furnished, means that realistically his handicap index could be anywhere from 9 up to maybe 14.

A suggestion ---- pay the $35 annual fee, get the usga official handicap index, get the magazine, the handicap card, and your are set.............

Plus, you can track your real progress during the year and from one year to the next, without getting a bunch of opinions based on assumptions. :beruo:

mark m · April 2, 2009

He lives in the Netherlands and they use a different system. We probably won't hear from him until tomorrow as it is after midnight over there.

And I do agree with you on the assumptions - it completely depends on the difficulty of the courses he typically plays. In our system, length has a lot to do with it. He could be a 6 or 14 or whatever.

He probably was wondering where he would come out in our system (?)

ABT · April 2, 2009

I use myscorecard.com. I am HC 10 and that's why I suggested 10. See below my recent rounds.

2009-03-29 Plantation Golf Club 80 70.9 122 10 9 32 7 1 0 0 8.4 37 43

2009-03-21 Brookhaven Masters 88 72.0 130 6 5 34 5 0 0 0 13.9 42 46

2009-03-17 Firewheel Old Course 86 69.9 124 7 6 32 6 1 14.7 44 42

2009-03-15 Plantation Golf Club 84 70.9 122 13 8 35 7 1 0 1 12.1 43 41

2009-03-10 Firewheel Old Course 78 69.9 124 5 5 28 11 0 0 0 7.4 39 39

2009-03-08 Mansfield National G.C. 88 69.4 119 8 3 29 4 2 0 1 17.7 44 44

2009-02-24 Firewheel Lakes 85 70.7 125 6 4 32 6 0 0 2 12.9 43 42

2009-02-22 BrookHaven Championship 89 72.1 128 5 2 32 4 0 0 2 14.9 45 44

2009-02-20 Riverside Golf Club 89 68.4 119 5 4 32 7 1 0 2 19.6 43 46

2009-02-15 Castle Hills Gold Tees 88 72.9 140 11 2 30 7 1 0 1 12.2 44 44

2009-02-08 Mansfield National G.C. 88 69.4 119 9 6 34 6 1 0 0 17.7 40 48

2009-02-01 West Ridge GC 87 75.3 137 7 8 37 7 1 0 2 9.7 41 46

2009-01-23 Riverside Golf Club 85 68.4 119 8 4 35 6 1 0 1 15.8 43 42

2009-01-11 Oak Hollow Golf Club 79 69.2 118 7 7 33 9 0 0 0 9.4 39 40

2009-01-09 Indian Creek (Creek) 89 70.1 125 9 7 36 6 0 0 0 17.1 45 43

2009-01-02 Iron Horse Golf Club 81 69.8 122 7 6 32 9 0 0 0 10.4 39 42

2008-12-28 Plantation Golf Club 81 70.9 122 12 8 33 10 0 0 0 9.4 42 39

2008-12-20 Riverside Golf Club 83 68.4 119 6 4 33 6 0 0 1 13.9 44 39

2008-12-07 Cedar Crest - Gold Tee 84 69.3 128 5 5 30 7 1 0 1 13 43 41

2008-11-30 Lake Park 18 Golf Club 87 66.5 102 7 5 37 5 0 0 1 22.7 43 44

nmk · April 3, 2009

Thanks for the great feedbacks folks!

The two course I play most have the following ratings:

Tilburg (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 73.3, SR 132, Length 7,003 yds (corrected)

Tilburg (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 71.5, SR 123, Length 6,614 yds (corrected)

Best (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.9, SR, 136, Length 6,615 yds (corrected)

Best (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 70.9, SR 134, Length 6,442 yds (corrected)

I play the mostly the Standard Tees (Yellow) but do ocassionally throw in a few Back Tees.

Yesterday I shot a 82 on the Tilburg Back Tees. The conditions were quite good, sunny, a bit windy (can get quite blustery here...), perfect temperature and most importantly my swing, for me, was in the groove and of course, the stars must have been in alignment.... I even reached a 522 yds par 5 in 2, damn lucky... but walked off with a par.... so goes my game....

Sometimes when I play in Hamburg, Germany, the fairways are pretty wide but with heavy rough and the greens are small, my scores are usually in the mid 80's.

larrybud · April 3, 2009

Thanks for the great feedbacks folks!

The two course I play most have the following ratings:

Tilburg (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.6, SR 132, Length 7,047 yds
Tilburg (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 71.5, SR 123, Length 6,048 yds

Best (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.9, SR, 132, Length 6,615 yds
Best (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 70.9, SR 134, Length 5,891 yds

Did you make a typo for Tilburg? I don't know about the rating system in the Netherlands, but something is amiss that the course rating is only 0.1 higher but it's 1000 yards longer between tees.

nmk · April 3, 2009

Thanks for the great feedbacks folks!

The two course I play most have the following ratings:

Tilburg (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.6, SR 132, Length 7,047 yds
Tilburg (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 71.5, SR 123, Length 6,048 yds

Best (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.9, SR, 132, Length 6,615 yds
Best (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 70.9, SR 134, Length 5,891 yds
Did you make a typo for Tilburg? I don't know about the rating system in the Netherlands, but something is amiss that the course rating is only 0.1 higher but it's 1000 yards longer between tees.

Good catch LarryBud!

In fact, I made lots of mistakes...

Too early in morning for me....

Tilburg (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 73.3, SR 132, Length 7,003 yds

Tilburg (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 71.5, SR 123, Length 6,614 yds

Best (Back Tees): Par 72, CR 71.9, SR, 136, Length 6,615 yds

Best (Standard Tees): Par 72, CR 70.9, SR 134, Length 6,442 yds

What I don't understand is, for me, Tilburg play much easier than Best because it is more open and easier for recovery on a bad drive. In Best there is more wooded area, narrower fairway and taller rough and difficult to recover from a bad drive... Go figure...

Maybe it is the distance??

mark m · April 3, 2009

Yes it is the distance difference.

Example: Using your good score of 82 at Tilburg (tips):

(82 - 73.3) x 113 divided by 132 = differential of 7.4

Using the US system: If you shot a bunch of 82's from the tips at Tilburg (and those were your best differentials) your Hdcp Index = 7.1 and you would be an 8 Course Hdcp from the tips at Tilburg.

Using a 85 at Best/Standard tees: (85 - 70.9) x 113/134 = 11.9

Guessing you are probably a 10 or 11 Course hdcp.