Hole Handicapping

[Digs]

Why is it that 99% of courses have their respective nines handicapped by either odd or even numbers. For those that are not following me, what I basically mean is that holes 1-9 would be handicapped 2-18 (evens) and holes 10-18 would be handicapped 1-17(odds). I swear, on nearly every course I play the scorecard always has this form of hole handicapping, what gives.

Is this some RCGA rule or something.

Does the courses' hardest hole determine what nine will be odds ?

Does this truly make sense considering that you often hear of a three hole stretch possesing the hardest three holes on the course. ?

Or is this just semantics, meaning that in actuallity the 3rd handicapped hole could be the second toughest or the 17th handicap is probably the easiest.

With this form of handicapping, no nine could ever share the hardest and easiest hole on the course.

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: Sorry to hurt anyone's brain with this giberish, but its always been a pet peeve of mine.

Hey Mok, this site is great for a question like this. Most people probably wouldn't know the answer to an eclectic quiery like this, but by posting it I know there will be at least one GOLFNUT with more than the right answer.

[Focker Singh]

Wow, hey, I never noticed that at all. Now that you point that out, I'm going to observe this too.

[focal]

good observation

curious how do you play match play with a female who has different hole handicap ratings?

[el tigre]

Why is it that 99% of courses have their respective nines handicapped by either odd or even numbers. For those that are not following me, what I basically mean is that holes 1-9 would be handicapped 2-18 (evens) and holes 10-18 would be handicapped 1-17(odds). I swear, on nearly every course I play the scorecard always has this form of hole handicapping, what gives.

Is this some RCGA rule or something.

Does the courses' hardest hole determine what nine will be odds ? Yes, it is an RCGA (and USGA) rule. I believe it is done that way for 9-hole scores, which are acceptable for handicapping purposes.

[tjhayko]

Yes, it is an RCGA (and USGA) rule. I believe it is done that way for 9-hole scores, which are acceptable for handicapping purposes.

El tigre, do you know what the rationale is behind the rule? Just wondering, and no, I haven't googled for anything yet.

[el tigre]

El tigre, do you know what the rationale is behind the rule? Just wondering, and no, I haven't googled for anything yet. Found some more information on it from the Handicap Manual on the USGA site (turns out 9-hole scores have nothing to do with it):

17-1. Discretion of Committee
The following procedure is recommended for allocating handicap strokes. The procedure is not mandatory because it has minimal effect on handicaps. Good judgment is of prime importance because no formula can cover conditions on every golf course. The Handicap Committee should review the course hole by hole, bearing in mind that the basic principle is to equalize the abilities of golfers at different handicap levels. Men’s and women’s stroke allocations will usually be different because their needs to equalize holes will come on different holes. Common sense will dictate how closely the recommendations should be followed. A handicap stroke should be an equalizer and should be available on a hole where it most likely will be needed by the higher-handicapped player to obtain a half in singles or four-ball match play. Difficulty in making par on a hole is not an effective indicator of the need for a stroke.

In allocating the order of handicap strokes to the 18 holes of a golf course, consideration should be given to the likelihood of the strokes being equalizers rather than winning strokes. To accomplish this objective, the following guidelines are recommended:

a. Basis of Allocation

Allocate strokes based on play of the course from the tee-markers used most often by the majority of club members.

Allocate the first stroke to the hole on the first nine on which the higher-handicapped player most needs a stroke as an equalizer and the second stroke to the hole on the second nine on which the higher-handicapped player most needs a stroke as an equalizer. Alternate in this manner for the full 18 holes.

Generally the longer the hole, the greater the need for the higher-handicapped player to receive a stroke.

b. Distribution of Strokes

Odd Strokes/Even Strokes
The USGA recommends that the odd-numbered strokes be assigned to the holes on the first nine, and the even-numbered strokes to the holes on the second nine.

This format equalizes, as nearly as possible, the distribution of handicap strokes over the entire 18 holes, and makes matches more equitable. In a case where the second nine is decidedly more difficult than the first nine, consideration should be given to allocating odd-numbered strokes to the second nine.

[Shadow]

Generally the longer the hole, the greater the need for the higher-handicapped player to receive a stroke. Most people erroneously believe that the hardest holes have the lowest handicap rating. For example, a 175 yard par three is much more difficult than a 530 yard par 5 in that the approach to the par three would be taken say with a 5 iron, for the good player and a pitching wedge on the par 5. However, the higher handicapped player, a bogey golfer, is MORE LIKELY to screw up a shot or two, the longer the hole, hence, his need for a stroke to equalize this possibility.

The weakness in this system, IMO, occurs when you have two low handicap players playing a match where one has to give the other, say, two strokes. These equalizing strokes would be given on holes both players find very easy, negating the real need for a stroke. Instead, I would have separate ratings for the different tee blocks. From the back tees, rate the holes on their actual difficulty, but from the middle or front tees, rate them on the higher handicappers need for an equalizing strokes, that is, the longest holes.

Another thing golf clubs could do is play handicap matches by handicap class. Have A's play A's, B's play B's, instead of A's playing C's.