2014 handicap watch

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as it proved fairly popular last year...

Another geeky thread for all wannabe handicap busters to share our adjustments with tales of woe and of extreme banditry   


Starting Exact Handicap: 4.9
2013 high and low 5.5, 4.6
Target: Handicap - 3.9, Qualify for knockout stages of Club Champs, break my pb medal score at home course (73)
Approximate no. planned hcp counting comps in 2014: 20
First counting comp planned: 2/4/14

Can't wait for the season to arrive. It has been a splendid winter in Edinburgh and course looks like it is going to be in terrific shape again this year.

Board comp Saturday. Greens were in a bit better condition but still not running very true which made it difficult to be aggressive with putts. Was really hoping I might nick the handicap down to 2.4 for the first time in about 8 years but alas wasn't to be owing to a mid round collapse.

Different wind to what im used to at our course (1st is either straight into or straight down, if its into then the back 9 is easier as the par 5s are down - if its down then the front 9 is easier as the long 4s are down) Was howling off the right when I teed it up and with out of bounds left I decided to play somewhat of a cover drive off the tee into trees right. Punched out low as far up as I could and hit a good 5i to the front of the green and lipped out.
Pars @ 2&3 then decided to test the new found driver confidence on 4 by going for the green. Caught a beauty and was unlucky it didn't finish within a few feet according to the group ahead, 2 putted from 25feet for birdie then hit a lovley 8i into the par 3 5th to a couple of feet.
Regulation pars on 6/7 then a good up and down after misclubbing into the 8th.

And this is where it all went wrong!!!

I was full of confidence on the 9th tee as id been hitting well but misclubbed the layup from the tee (a 400 par 4 dogleg left with a big lake 100 short of the green) left myself too far back after a 4i off the tee and dumped a 6i into a greenside trap. Course had a bit of rain overnight and the ball was barley visable, whacked it as hard as I can only to run into the opposite bunker through the green, splashed to 20ft and 2 putted for double to go out in level.
No problem though, 10 is a very reachable par 5 which HDIDO has my stroke average at 4.2 for this year so im expecting a bounceback, drove well up the right hand side (rode it on the wind a bit) the shot looked just on the edge of the fairway but after 5 minutes searching we couldn't find it.
The walk of shame back to the tee, made 7.
Back to back doubles for the first time in a while!
Poor shot choice into 11 (ballooned a 5i instead of punching a 3) saw me come up short of the green and lack of concentration dropped another shot. 3 putt bogey on 12, then a horrible pull hook off 13 resulted in an unplayable drop and another double!
-2 on the 9th tee to +6 on the 14th.......... humbling to say the least!
I played 14 sensibly, rescue club 8i, 8i to 25feet but missed a 4 footer for par.
Had I not been on 14 (the furthest point from the club house) then I probably would have walked in such was my mood after that.
Glad I didn't though as I played the last 4 in -1, made a good par on 15, then hit 3w, rescue just short of 16 and nearly pitched in for eagle. regulation par at 17 and a good 6footer on the last left me with a fairly respectable 78 net 75.
Standard scratch was 71 so point 1 back.
Autumn Cup on sunday this week then I think there is only 2 comps and a midweek medal in Oct, so with precious little time to shave anything else off the handicap im going to try and get down the range a few times and do some putting in the bedroom (Mrs loves that ;-) to see if I cant finish the season as a 2 handicapper... its strange, I started the season at 5 and don't feel iv really changed too much about my game but playing regularly and hitting balls regularly seems to have given me the consistency to shoot in the 70s without too much trouble week in week out.
10 years ago I was playing off of scratch and I was an infinitely better golfer than I am now - straighter off the tee and deadly from 100 yards in, yet im in theroy only 3 shots a round worse than then.....

Its been a solid season though, i haven't broke 70 which is a disappointment but I have been very steady in scoring - despite my golf not being too steady. Last season i think a lot of my 77s/78s/79s would have been 83s or something like that so whilst im annoyed that I tend to chuck shots away easily, im pleased that im now able to salvage a respectable number from dodgy rounds.

scores this season now...
33points = 5.5
74 net 68 = 5.0
79 net 74 = 5.0
78 net 73 = 5.0
77 net 72 = 5.0
72 net 67 = 4.4
35points = 4.4
71 net 67 = 3.9
78 net 74 = 3.9
77 net 73 = 3.6 - 0.3 cut because of a 9 on a par 4
71 net 67 = 3.1
74 net 71 = 3.0
78 net 75 = 3.1
NR net NR = 3.2
78 net 75 = 3.2
74 net 71 = 3.0
77 net 74 = 3.0
74 net 71 = 2.7
78 net 75 = 2.8

I am still recovering from having my legs, knees and hips cut off

A month before our club championship was on 23.6. Hit an 18 over and won the monthly medal - and was looking forward to be cut a few. However the next best round was a net 73 - so looked forward to getting cut a bit more :-)

The normal calculation took me down to 20 - the committee decided to cut me an extra two to 18

Did not play for 3 weeks after that due to work - and a week before the club championship - another letter to cut me to 16

Really struggling now, as only ever hit 18 once in my life and never anything better than that

Slowly going back up, but many rounds to go to get anywhere near where my handicap should be :-)

Think you should stick to rugger matey
This is like when someone comes over in the pub and really wants to be friends but doesn't know what to say and gets it all wrong. Bless

Well I've probably played my last qualifier of the year, and the whole season has been an unmitigated disaster. Not hit buffer once, not even close. Up to 8.9 from 7.8.

Matchplay wise it's been a really good year, getting to 2 finals and very close to a third, albeit that that and one of the finals were pairs games. Put a card in my hand and I've been utter tripe since a really nice win this time last year. I'm probably kidding myself but I feel like my swing's getting better, my new driver is longer and straighter and yet I'm getting higher and higher on the handicap front. Crazy and very disappointing.

My handicap has gone from 0 to 0. Although that may be a little disingenuous.

Mac - you missed the "28." off the front :P

MustPuttBetter wrote:Think you should stick to rugger matey
This is like when someone comes over in the pub and really wants to be friends but doesn't know what to say and gets it all wrong. Bless

Really - what is wrong with my discussion on my handicap on a handicap thread?

Comp sunday morning. Delayed start due to fog. then an additional 30min stoppage on the 7th as the fog came in again. (these are my excuses for what followed)

31 points.

Started fine - steady pars on first 6, then came to 7 with only 130 to the green from the middle of the fairway.... couldn't see the flag stick from there as the fog had rolled in thick and fast, waited around for 20minutes or so until it lifted enough to see properly. Thinned a wedge through the back, lost ball blob. Bogeyed 8 after finding the greenside trap but made par up 9 to go out in 17points.

Then came a run of 7 consecutive bogeys - plugged in greenside bunker in 2 on ten and couldn't get it out, bogey. 3putt on 11 from 40ish feet. mis clubbed approach shots into 12,13,14 and by theis point had really lost interest.
Nothing to speak of about my game from sunday. hopefully playing in the midweek medal tomorrow so will get up the range tonight and try to find some rhythm.

The fog delay + a pretty tasty hangover will get the blame for my result on sunday.

scores this season now...
33points = 5.5
74 net 68 = 5.0
79 net 74 = 5.0
78 net 73 = 5.0
77 net 72 = 5.0
72 net 67 = 4.4
35points = 4.4
71 net 67 = 3.9
78 net 74 = 3.9
77 net 73 = 3.6 - 0.3 cut because of a 9 on a par 4
71 net 67 = 3.1
74 net 71 = 3.0
78 net 75 = 3.1
NR net NR = 3.2
78 net 75 = 3.2
74 net 71 = 3.0
77 net 74 = 3.0
74 net 71 = 2.7
78 net 75 = 2.8
31points = 2.9

Midweek medal weds 1st Oct.
74 net 71
A score that didn't reflect how I played really.

Started well, Pars on the first 6 before a 3 putt bogey on 7 from about 50feet.
Bounced back on 8 by hitting an 8iron to a couple of feet. then made a good up and down from a greenside trap on 9.
2 putt birdie 10 to get to 1 under par.
misclubbed 11 and couldn't get up and down from the back rough. then steady pars to the 16th tee.
Hit a driver to try and get up in 2, striped it down the left side of the fairway but had an unfortunate bounce right behind a tree, chipped out backwards and was faced with 225 to the green 3rd shot, misjudged the wind and went in the front bunker short, missed a 6 footer for par.
Nailed a 3 iron down 17, had 155 2nd shot with the pin at the back, misjudged the wind again and flew the green with an 8iron. Lost ball, went back played it again with a 9iron and finished 10 feet away, rolled it in for a 5. Regulation par on the last for 74.

Really disappointed with the score, misclubbing on 11 & 17 cost me 2 or 3 shots, and a real kick in the nuts of a bounce on 16 cost me another 1 or 2.
Gave myself chances on a lot of holes but didn't really convert - greens are still in pretty poor nick.
Another Comp on sunday - my 2nd last comp of the season, i might go to a local golf club where they have the distance measuring technology thingy (that's how tech savvy i am!) on Saturday and see if i can get my yardages done as iv cost myself a lot of shots this season by misclubbing... either that or i cant read the wind!

scores this season now...
33points = 5.5
74 net 68 = 5.0
79 net 74 = 5.0
78 net 73 = 5.0
77 net 72 = 5.0
72 net 67 = 4.4
35points = 4.4
71 net 67 = 3.9
78 net 74 = 3.9
77 net 73 = 3.6 - 0.3 cut because of a 9 on a par 4
71 net 67 = 3.1
74 net 71 = 3.0
78 net 75 = 3.1
NR net NR = 3.2
78 net 75 = 3.2
74 net 71 = 3.0
77 net 74 = 3.0
74 net 71 = 2.7
78 net 75 = 2.8
31points = 2.9
74 net 71 = 2.8

Mr Long Game, you are clearly very good, i would daresay the best on this board. You play a lot of golf, I guess you are not married?

I think there's a few scratch players around and a few other 1 and 2's Ben

Not seen that sort of form since the days of Maverick ...

I wouldn't describe a stroke average of 76.05 as great form (im sad enough to keep details)
I was playing off +1 in 2006 but didn't touch a golf club between 2007-2012, Last June I rejoined a golf club and this year decided to really try and play regular (and practice occasionally)
I would like to get back down to scratch but its unlikely given the limited practice time I can devote. Im now very consistent but unable to go low.

I am married Beninho, im sorry if that disappoints you
The wife is good about the golf though, and trust me she makes me pay for it (literally)

Davie wrote:Not seen that sort of form since the days of Maverick ...

Yeah, wonder if his daughter plays golf.......

I play off 2 & coincidentally I'm not married; not in great form though, started the season at 2.1 and after roughly 40 counting rounds I'm now at 2.3; would almost have been as well not playing this season!

barragan wrote:Bizarre round on Saturday. Not golfed much of late and it showed. Played one of my worst rounds of the year - totally out of control, driver low left (miss is normally alway right) and rest of the game in tatters. With one exception. Pitching was 1st class. 105 yard pitch on 4th landed on the edge of the cup and cracked off the stick to 10 feet. Landed another 100 yarder 2 feet short on 5, kick in bogey   Another great pitch on 8 and another gimmie on 9. Somehow made the turn at +3 despite a catalogue of errors elsewhere. Knocked in a 40 footer to save bogey on 7 also. Back nine started well with a straighforward par 3. Some sloppy play, reached the 17th tee needing to finish birdie birdie to make buffer. Great birdie on 17, good drive, unlucky 3 wood found greenside bunker, nearly holed it (30 yarder) and tapped in. Massive block of 18, in trouble, in more trouble, made double. CSS went up 1, so a par would have been enough - silly boy, should have played safe off the tee rather than trying to smash it. Still, clinging onto 4-5 shots which would have fitted onto my season highlight reel - trying to forget about the rest!



19. 20 SEP__81n76___CSS/73___(5)+3_____t45/148____+0.1= 5.2
18. 23 AUG__77n72___CSS/72___(5)+0_____t13/134_____0.0= 5.1
17. 02 AUG__77n70*__CSS/73___(6)-3_____t8/106____-0.4= 5.1
16. 01 AUG__78n73___CSS/70___(5)+3_____t9/30____+0.1= 5.5 (away score)
15. 30 JUL___NRn81*__CSS/70___(5)+11___t30/47____+0.1= 5.4 (away score)
14. 26 JUL___75n68*__CSS/70___(6)-2_____t7/55____-0.3= 5.3 (away score)
13. 23 JUL___79n73___CSS/72___(6)+1___t21/136____0.0= 5.6
12. 19 JUL___81n75___CSS/72___(6)+3___t43/129___+0.1= 5.6
11. 22 JUN___82n77___CSS/72___(5)+5___t19/33___+0.1= 5.5
10. 21 JUN___79n74___CSS/73___(5)+1___t30/118___0.0 = 5.4
9. 07 JUN____78n73___CSS/72___(5)+1___t18/131___0.0 = 5.4
8. 31 MAY___84n79___CSS/72___(5)+7___t79/147__+0.1 = 5.4 (away score)
7. 28 MAY___79n74___CSS/73___(5)+1___t12/89____0.0 = 5.3
6. 17 MAY___79n74___CSS/73___(5)+1___t20/110___0.0 = 5.3
5. 14 MAY___84n79___CSS/72___(5)+7___t88/142__+0.1 = 5.3
4. 30 APR___81n76___CSS/73___(5)+3___t25/87___+0.1 = 5.2
3. 26 APR___82n77___CSS/70___(5)+7___t38/67___+0.1 = 5.1 (away score)
2. 02 APR___83n78___CSS/73___(5)+5___t36/93___+0.1 = 5.0
1. 29 MAR___78n73___SSS/72___(5)+1___t21/130___0.0 = 4.9 (NQ)
Starting 4.9

Well that's that for the year. Can't make either of the last two qualifiers remaining this month so my season has ended on a low. It's amazing how off the course things can have such a bearing on performance on the course. Currently working toward professional exams, and finding the process pretty stressful. I've never been particularly good at the process of writing. I've found it difficult on the course to 'let go' and enjoy a bit of distance from it all. On a more serious note the big 'C' has raised its ugly head in my parents household, two doses of surgery and around 6 months recovery to follow has left us all feeling shellshocked and uncertain what is round the corner. Thankfully, there is good news on the horizon as no.2 is due next spring  the handicap is only going one way next year!

2nd last qualifier of the year on Saturday and an (unlucky .1 back)

78 net 75

Started with a double bogey after losing my first shot of the day - Shotgun start and unfortunately drew the 7th tee. Hit a solid drive down the left side of the fairway but the ball vanished into thin air - lost ball 3 off the tee = 6.
Played the next 12 holes in +1 thanks to some decent putting and solid driving (just didn't flag any irons)
Pulled my 3i off the tee on 2 and had to hack out almost sideways, wedge on 2 putts for bogey. 3 more steady pars left me +4 on the 6th (my last)
Misjudged the wind off the tee and hit a driver into the fairway bunker which is usually well out of reach. got greedy and went for the green, dumped it into a dell short left of the green. Pitched to 20feet from a dodgy lie and 3 putted out of lack of concentration for a 78 net 75 and another .1 back.
positives - drove well and putted well for the most part, just didn't give myself many opportunites with iron shorts not getting close to the pins.
2 putt birdie on the 10th and a 30footer on 15 were my only birdies. another "what could have been" but did well to post a decent number after an unlucky double to start.
1 qualifier left at the end of this month - hopefully I can put 18 solid holes together (something iv struggled to do this year) and finish the season nicely

scores this season now...
33points = 5.5
74 net 68 = 5.0
79 net 74 = 5.0
78 net 73 = 5.0
77 net 72 = 5.0
72 net 67 = 4.4
35points = 4.4
71 net 67 = 3.9
78 net 74 = 3.9
77 net 73 = 3.6 - 0.3 cut because of a 9 on a par 4
71 net 67 = 3.1
74 net 71 = 3.0
78 net 75 = 3.1
NR net NR = 3.2
78 net 75 = 3.2
74 net 71 = 3.0
77 net 74 = 3.0
74 net 71 = 2.7
78 net 75 = 2.8
31points = 2.9
74 net 71 = 2.8
78 net 74 = 2.9

Well that's the last medal round this year, although we have a couple of Stableford comps prior to the winter league starting.

Started the year off 8.9 and finished off 7.0 having been as low as 6.1 due to an exceptional scoring reduction. So, on balance, it's been a good year given that I'm not getting any younger.

I'm thinking of changing my irons over winter (currently using AP1) to get lighter shafts to generate a bit more speed & hence distance. Any recommendations will be gratefully received.

Final comp of the season for me on Sunday morning.
(yellow tees in play for Nov - Jan and the CSS is 68 on a par 72 so unless im -5/6, which is pretty unlikely I wont be getting cut until white tees are back in play)

Nice way to end the season... Level Par 72. We Started on the 10th tee as the greenkeepers were still doing some work on the 2nd green early in the morning. Hit a bit of a scabby heely drive up the right handside, rescue club to the apron and chipped to a foot for a nice opening birdie.
Regulation pars to 15th tee, hit lovley 7i all over the flag but pitched 15ft short and the spin caught the slope leaving me with a 45footer up the hill. Smashed it 10feet past and missed coming back.
Another few pars on 16,17,18 sent me out in level.
1st was downwind (very unusual) so hit a driver over the corner to try and get on in 2, left myself 240ish, ripped a 3wood which finished about 10 yards short of the green (no roll due to the course being wet) fatted a pitch to 15feet but holed a nice putt to get back into the red.
couple of solid pars then a very good up and down on 5 after a horrible pull hook off the tee.
Unlucky on the 6th, tee shot finished in divot just over 150 from the green, had to get steep and punch through the ball to make sure I cleared the lake, cleared the lake with ease but ball ran through the green into some nasty rough - bogey.
Another pull hook off the 7th tee left me a blind shot from 180ish to the green, airmailed it and again didn't get up and down. Parred 8 then finished in style with a birdie from the fairway bunker on 9, I was far enough back to get a 9i up over the lip from 140ish and the ball spun back a few feet to about a foot behind the hole.

This Seasons results then were as follows....
33points = 5.5
74 net 68 = 5.0
79 net 74 = 5.0
78 net 73 = 5.0
77 net 72 = 5.0
72 net 67 = 4.4
35points = 4.4
71 net 67 = 3.9
78 net 74 = 3.9
77 net 73 = 3.6 - 0.3 cut because of a 9 on a par 4
71 net 67 = 3.1
74 net 71 = 3.0
78 net 75 = 3.1
NR net NR = 3.2
78 net 75 = 3.2
74 net 71 = 3.0
77 net 74 = 3.0
74 net 71 = 2.7
78 net 75 = 2.8
31points = 2.9
74 net 71 = 2.8
78 net 74 = 2.9
72 net 69 = 2.6

Pleased with the ending handicap (as 2. something was my goal) and that I led the club champs but disappointed that I didn't break 70 and that I threw away a few good chances at doing so.
On the plus side - while I threw away a few decent rounds, I turned in a few 77s78s when I could easily have shot 83/84.

Things to work on over the winter.... Short game has to be a priority, I think of myself as a good putter but this is mainly because I rarely miss inside 6feet, when thinking about my putting iv come to realize that whilst I am a very good short range putter, I rarely hole much over 10feet.
Im going to try and spend a couple of hours a week on the putting green at my local driving range (all weather 1 so I can go up in the evening hopefully)

Swing has been a lot more consistent, bad shot is almost always a pull hook where I get quick with the body at the top of the downswing, il take that though because at the beginning of the season I could miss the fairway 40 yards left on 1 hole and then 40 yards right on the next. At least I have a rough idea where my miss will be nowadays!

Goals for next year............
1 handicap,
break 70,
Win the club champs,
top3 finish in any of the scratch opens I enter.

hopefully 2.6 is low enough to get me in the County Champs qualifiers but realistically I cant have too high hopes for that as there are 10-20 plus figure players in the county - if I qualify for the KO stages then anything else is a bonus.

few weeks off golf now I think!

Probably final qualifier of the year yielded a +1 gross (-4) and a 0.2 cut to 5.2.

Assuming that is the last qualifier I play this year (pretty likely to be honest) it's a net rise over the whole season of 0.1.

Why bother eh?

Roller I made zero movement at all. Same start as finish.

I suppose I had an eponymous season though 5.1 - 5.2 via 4.8 and 6.5. Some terrible laps in there and some good ones. Still, I guess it shows I'm at about the right level for the course.

eponymous? Am I missing something here?

I think he means a roller coaster season ray

Must have been an awful lot of qualifying rounds though to get up to 6.5 at one point - 14 x 0.1?

Davie

Thats what I was thinking. And even more if he got below 5.1 before going up to 6.5.

Davie wrote:I think he means a roller coaster season ray

Very good. That one went over my head, word play has always been my nemesis.

Just 2 qualifiers left for me this year, can't believe the low number of qualifiers I've actually played, I'm normally 30-36 qualifiers per year so I'm about 1/3 down which I'd put down to the Captaincy and being a bit more picky.
To be fair though less seems to have worked well as I've finally gatecrashed Cat 1 after 2-3 years knocking on the door. Think it's also fair to say my game must be more suited to links golf.
Date            Event                                                   Gross HCP  Net +/- CSS Adj  Exact
19 Oct 2014 Monthly Medal                                        84 - 04 = 80      +8    +0.1     4.4
21 Sep 2014 MTC Cup                                                  36 pts (04)      0        0        4.3
9 Sep 2014 Away Score at Carnoustie Championship    84 - 04 = 80      +6    +0.1     4.3
8 Sep 2014 Away Score at Carnoustie Burnside            69 - 05 = 64       -5     -0.5     4.2
30 Aug 2014 Barry Sandry Event                                71 - 05 = 66       -5     -0.5     4.7
24 Aug 2014 Dennis GrayTrophy Medal                        84 - 05 = 79      +8    +0.1    5.2
9 Aug 2014 Remembrance Cup                                   76 - 05 = 71        0     0         5.1
3 Aug 2014 Away Score at Saunton                             81 - 06 = 75      -4    -0.6      5.1
3 Aug 2014 Away Score at Saunton                             89 - 06 = 83     +7   +0.1      5.7
10 Jul 2014 SEnior Captains Day                                30 pts (06)        +8   +0.1      5.6
28 Jun 2014 Club Championships RO 2                        79 - 05 = 74     +3   +0.1      5.5
28 Jun 2014 Club Championships RO 1                        80 - 05 = 75     +3   +0.1      5.4
21 Jun 2014 BRG Cup 1st Round Medal - 2 Division        76 - 06 = 70    -2    -0.3      5.3
14 Jun 2014 Mens Help the Heroes                                34 pts (06)     +2     0         5.6
25 May 2014 Away Score at WCU Highpost                  28 pts (06)        +6  +0.1      5.6
18 May 2014 Away Score at WCU Bowood                    95 - 05 = 90   +14   +0.1     5.5
18 May 2014 Away Score at WCU Bowood                    85 - 05 = 80     +3   +0.1     5.4
3 May 2014 David Howell Classic                                 85 - 05 = 80     +6   +0.1     5.3
21 Apr 2014 Away Score at Saunton East                     80 - 06 = 74      -3    -0.5     5.2
21 Apr 2014 Away Score at Saunton West                    77 - 06 = 71      -3    -0.6     5.7
12 Apr 2014 KC's Members Club Trophy                       81 - 06 = 75     +3   +0.1     6.3
22 Mar 2014 Captains Farewell Cup - Men                    88 - 06 = 82     +7   +0.1     6.2

Looks like I'll be over-wintering at 4.5.

Shocker last week (31 points) so up 0.1 to 4.5. Decent round today (74), unfortunately off the yellows and CSS was projecting at 69 when I left. Reaffirming why I don't play many if any qualifiers of yellows (SSS 69 as opposed to 71 off whites). If CSS does tick up to 70 then it'll be 4.4 but not holding my breath, too many good scores in.

Still given that I started my Captaincy Year at 6.2, if someone had offered me 4.5 back in March I'd have bit their hand off!!