Handicap adjustment of -4.1?

Hi there,

I hope someone out there can help as I've admitted defeat!

 I've searched around the site, including the handicap FAQ in the help section, and read another thread on handicap adjustments for over an hour now but I just can't work out why my handicap has been cut by -4.1.

I had the round of my life today and shot 75 at Stanmore, SSS 67 off Yellow, playing off my pre-round handicap of 21.0. Golfshake is now stating my new handicap as 16.9.

I'm not experienced with the handicap system but is it even possible to get an adjustment of -4.1 given that the adjustments are multiples of 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1 etc depending what category golfer you are?

Beating your handicap by thirteen shots tells me that they haven't punished you enough. No way are you a 21 handicapper, they just don't do that.

Darren,

Congratulations on the great round. 

You've shot -13 your handicap so I would assume that you have been docked two 0.4s which takes your handicap under 20.5 and then the other 11 deductions are 0.3.  So the change over from 0.4 deductions to 0.3 deductions must occur when your playing handicap is 20 or less which equates to 20.4.

This is only a guess and I am sure that there are others on the site who will put me right if my assumptions are wrong. 

I'm not sure if you are aware of the fact that any really high scores are adjusted down to two shots over your net score. 

So if you get a shot on a par 4 hole and you shoot 11 the score would be 7 (par 4 + 1 shot + 2 shots = 7 shots)

The CONGU states that a golfer who has a handicap of 20.5 or above is a catergory 4 golfer.  12.5 to 20.4 makes you a category three golfer.

Each deduction to your handicap it done one step at a time. 

You are 13 shots under the SSS for the course.

So you decuct 0.4 from your handicap and then see if you have moved down to the next category, if not deduct another 0.4, etc.  Once you move down to the lower catergory you would only deduct 0.3.

You started your round with a handicap of 21 (21.0 - making you a category 4 golfer)

So we do the following calculatios (you are 13 shots below the SSS)

1)  21.0 - 0.4 = 20.6 (you are still a category 4 golfer)

2)  20.6 - 0.4 = 20.2 (you've now moved down to a category 3 golfer)

3)  20.2 - 0.3 = 19.9

4)  19.9 - 0.3 = 19.6

5)  19.6 - 0.3 = 19.3

6)  19.3 - 0.3 = 19.0

7)  19.0 - 0.3 = 18.7

8)  18.7 - 0.3 = 18.4

9)  18.4 - 0.3 = 18.1

10)  18.1 - 0.3 = 17.8

11)  17.8 - 0.3 = 17.5

12)  17.5 - 0.3 = 17.2

13)  17.2 - 0.3 = 16.9

You new handicap is 17 (16.9 - Category 3 golfer)

This means that you had 2 x 0.4 = 0.8 and 11 x 0.3 = 3.3, for a total of 4.1

As a category three golfer you buffer zone is now only three shots and all deductions are 0.3.

I hope this helps.

Russ

 Anyone who is off 17 and shoots in the mid 70's on a 18 hole course, regardless of par,  SSS, should not complain  about losing 4 shots. I wonder what your stableford score was and I'm glad I wasn't in competition with you. That said, well done. 

Thirteen under par is the princely total of 49 points stableford. I might add that I have played this lovely, well established golf course and it is pretty tight in places.

Thank you all for your posts!!!

 I wasn't expecting such a quick and informed response but it seems you've answered my question Russ, cheers.

I played in a 3 ball and one of the other guys uses Golfshake so the round will be authenticated. I just had a day where pretty much every part of my game was at least good by my standard, driving particularly great, but approaches, pitches, chips, bunkers and the putting were all unusually reliable!

But that's just golf isn't it, only 1 week ago I played twilight at Wyke Green, shot 25pts and my game was all over the place.

To finish, I'd just like to mention that I was in no way complaining that I was cut by 4.1 after my stellar round, I just couldn't fathom the maths of how it got there.

Good weekend to you all and play well

Darren, congratulations on a fine score (you bandit!!!      )

Twice in the last six or seven weeks I've played in a competition and played out of my skin.

People just don't believe you when you say that you are having a good game!

At least your handicap has come down so you'll have trouble doing this again.

You can have a look at the CONGU website as they have a very good explanation of how to work out your handicap.

Russ