Handicapping

[Myk]

I'm still new to all of this, and have a real lot to learn.  I'm curious how the handicaps work.  I noticed that some AM's get a 2 point handicap, and others get a 1 point.  Can someone explain this works to me, cuz I'm really confused. ???

[mirth]

So in a Best Shot scenario, would the 1st place team get 6 points, second get 4 points, 3rd 2 points, and everyone else gets 1?

[mirth]

Not a bad concept... as before I assume the one point for showing up is in addition to the 9,7,5,3,1 & 0?



And I agree that the current system is unfair to those who show up on a day with less people versus a day with a whole bunch o'golfers...



Regarding handicaps, I don't have any problems with the current way they're handled. Of course, if you're going to give me an extra deuce on 18 holes I'm not going to argue! ;)

[jim]

Sure! Handicaps are based on experience, level of play, and end-of-league stats. This is a touchy subject for many people and it is easy to sandbag (play in a division beneath your ability to win easily), even in PDGA events. I always ask the person who doesn't know his/her division how long they've played and what their scores range from.

If they are brand new and have never played or playe less than 10 times, I consider them Novice, which would get 3 strokes removed from their score each round.

Amateurs have played more and get 2 strokes.

Advanced players are supposedly better still, play often, and make longer drives/putts consistently, and get 1 stroke.

Pros are better still, are more likely to play in other events, and get 0 strokes.

In our leagues, we try to match up an upper pool player (Pros/Advanced) with a lower pool player (Am/Novice) to make it fair. That team will use the higher-ranking player's handicap:

Pro+Adv or Am or Novice = 0 strokes

Pro + Junior = 1 stroke

Pro solo (Midwest-style) = 0 strokes

Advanced+Am = 1 stroke

Advanced+Advanced = 1 stroke (rarely happens)

Advanced+Novice = 1 stroke

Advanced+Junior = 2 strokes

Advanced Midwest = 1 stroke

Am+Am = 2 strokes

Am+Novice = 2 strokes

Am+Junior = 3 strokes

Am Midwest = 2 strokes

Nov+Nov = 3 strokes

Nov+Junior = 4 strokes



This may not be perfect, but we can change it before Summer League if necessary. I hope that was helpful. :-)

[jim]

Is it fair that a pro and an am get 1 point

at the same time

an advanced and an am get 1 point?

Also, I think fixed scoring can really limit some players, mainly ams. If you don't get a good partner a few weeks in a row, you can suddenly be down 15 points.

Just a thought . . . .

[jim]

Bite me, weenie.  OK, what happens if an Am and an Am get teamed up?  What if an Adv and an Adv get paired?

[jim]

No politics here; it is up to the operations committee to decide these things.  If I really strongly think there can be major problems, I will say so.  Other than that, I like to offer my opinion simply because I've been playing for nearly 10 years now and have a little experience seeing how things are handled in other places. Similarly, if you feel strongly enough about something, I hope you wouldn't keep it to yourself.

As for handicaps, I just want it to be fair for everyone. WHat do Brett and Al think? Anyone else?

[CEValkyrie]

I do like the current handicap system. I do not like the current points system though. Each week should count the same amount of points no matter how many show up. I don't think it is fair for someone to miss a league day & end up not having an equal opportunity to score the same amount of points as the group had the week before. Here were my thoughts.

1 Point for showing up.

1st-9

2nd-7

3rd-5

4th-3

5th-1

6 or lower- 0

[vanmaster_b]

Since the summer league starts next week, perhaps this is a good time to review handicaps and league scoring. Here are some suggestions for committe approval, and for club approval as well.



Handicaps:

pro-0

adv-1

am-2

novice-3

junior-4



handicaps for Best Shot (average the two and truncate the decimal):

pro-adv 0

pro-am 1

pro-novice 1

pro-junior 2

adv-am 1

adv-novice 2

adv-junior 2

am-novice 2

am-junior 3

novice-junior 3





scoring:

A fixed scoring for 1st 2nd and 3rd, plus one point for showing up. Perhaps a point spread similar to the following could be used.



1st - 5pts

2nd - 3pts

3rd - 1pt

(plus 1pt for showing)



The committe should decide on this before next Thursday. Input and suggestions are greatly encouraged....and no I don't have something up my butt. This is how I normally am at work! Thank you for asking.

[vanmaster_b]

Yeah. Do you think that's too much?

[vanmaster_b]

.............or too little?

[vanmaster_b]

If an Am doesn't get a good partner a few weeks in a row, they could be down a lot more than 15 points under the old scoring system (assuming decent turnouts). Besides, lower level players should be teamed up with upper level players anyway, unless your talking about an Am. being teamed with you Jim, then you have a point. :)

[vanmaster_b]

OK, what happens if an Am and an Am get teamed up?  What if an Adv and an Adv get paired?

They keep their respective handicaps. Am & Am - 2, Adv. & Adv - 1, Junior & Junoir - 4, etc. That's what happens when you average the two handicaps and truncate the decimal math boy. :0

One reason that I am not too worried about a Pro & Am matchup having the same handicap as an Adv. & Am, is because, at least with the players that noramally play the league, therre isn't a very big difference between the Pros and Adv. There is a difference, mainly consistancy, but on a good day and Adv player can beat everyone, and an Am player can beat an Adv. player, and so on. The reason I suggested these handicaps is so that there would be more of an advantage to having a junior or novice on your team. Granted, Matt and Angela have some good approach shots, but Catie is still learning the game (along with other juniors) and can really put a lot of extra pressure on their partner to make the drive. That was the philosophy behind the suggestion, and it was only a suggestion. I do think that the scoring and/or handicap thing should be modifed a little. But that's just my opinion.



(I hate politics!).