HANDICAPS

[jim]

I have asked Jay to spearhead the issue of handicaps in a hope of establishing some valid idea of where people stand, who comprises the Upper pool and Lower pool of players at leagues.



Jay needs everyone to throw 3 rounds of 18 holes at Bevier and send me their scores. From that we will form the inital handicaps that will serve as the starting point for the league.



Throw 18 holes from EACH set of teepads (1-9 / 10-18 / 19-27) so that all info is based on the same data.  Post here or email Jay or myself.  Specific questions should be directed to Jay "I'm so proud to be a new Dad" Nierodzik.

[jim]

On the list of proposed scheduled events, I added a 15-week singles league from May 14-August 20.

We can also add a shorter, earlier one during the week if y'all want.

[jim]

Yeah, that puts me (and Mirth and Brett and maybe Craig) as Recreational Amateur players, according to the new PDGA divisional structure. RECREATIONAL??!!  C'mon, I know I'm not that great, but geez!  However, I think each of us only played 1 or 2 PDGA events this year.

I agree that we should either go by our PDGA rating or play 3 rounds and figure out player ratings/handicaps  If Darkside is rated - or if we can decifer the ratings of Darkside and Bevier ourselves, we could redo them, giving folks a chance to get a more accurate rating.



On a side note, although many will guffaw, I'm seriously thinking about registering as Pro for 2 reasons: (1) avoid all the Am reclassifications, ad (2) forcing myself to play at a higher level. I do best under pressure.

Stop laughing Shawn.

[jim]

I turn 40 in less than 3 years. I figure that my skills will probably diminish as I age, so why not spend 3 years having fun in the pro division? Shawn, I think you and I should have a side bet for our ratings this coming year.....

[shawn]

This is the reason I had suggested running a singles league in the past.  I think this is something that should be done,  in order to get a fair handicap.  Maybe we can get off the best shot bandwagon for 1 night a week and play some singles.  No payout, give out trophies for the top 3 in each division and give plastic to the ams all the way to last place.  Let the pros donate to the Ams.

[shawn]

UW-Parkside will host one of the tournament dates on the 2003 Wisconsin Summer Tour (tentatively set for May 31-June 1, 2003).  This will be the first PDGA event at Parkside.  I'm not sure how the format will be at this time.  I know that Ams will play Saturday and Pro/Advanced will play Sunday.  The course will be set up much harder for Pro's.  So how would this affect the handicap rating, it would be easier to figure a handicap if the course was the same for all the players the whole weekend.  I don't want to scare the ams with a long course and I don't want to give the Pros a easy course either.



We could use PDGA ratings to compare others based on their play against anyone who is rated.  Anyone who cannot make singles will just have to play a few rounds and get a starter rating for them.  If any player wins a few weeks in a row he should get a new handicap to even it out a little bit.



My rating is 930, Jims is 861, Kuffels is 925, mirth 839, Brent 796,Shaub 893 and Jon Brakel 905.  Did I miss anyone else that has a rating?



I find it funny that the new PDGA reclassification states that your rating should be over 925 to play in advance.  At what point do they want you to turn Pro?  I know Pro's that don't cash ever that have ratings in the 920-30's, should they now play advance?  If anyone is wondering every 10 points is a stroke in 18 holes.  Top pros are playing at a 1025 or better rating.

[shawn]

How soon before you turn 40?  I have 6 years before I'm a master.  You could do what I'm planning on doing next year.  Keeping my Advanced card and playing in the Pro division for all tournaments except supertours, then I'll play Advanced.  It should be good practice as my last year before I take the plunge to full-on Pro.  I really want to play in KC next year, maybe I'll make nationals next year as well.

[shawn]

cool, I think we are both capable of jumping to the 965 range next year.  I know that my rating should go up a little when the final scores are rated for the year.  I believe that they only have up to May done at the moment, not quite sure...

[Jon Brakel]

Couldn't we use the information from the Blast?

[Jon Brakel]

If you base anything on a league during the week, I will never get handicapped. There's no way I could ever make it up there during the week since I don't usually get out of work until 6pm. I do, however, have a PDGA rating. How many other people who play leagues have ratings? It makes more sense to me to use PDGA ratings rather than redo something that some else is already doing. Does Parkside have WCP? If it does, everyone who doesn't have a rating could play a couple of rounds there and then figure a rating based on the PDGA ratings. Then we could do handicaps off the ratings. Just my thoughts on it.