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Course Handicap/hole handicaps

• toripyne 195 Posts

  Wed, Jun 29 2011 11:18 PM

  I am curious if WGT or any players have attempted to compile some kind of handicap/slope for our virtual golf courses.

   

  From what I recall, in real life, Kiawah is ranked the #1 toughest course in the US, however, on here, I'd say Oakmont or Bethpage are far more difficult.  I would be curious to know what the course averages are, or some such statistic.

   

  Also, wondering about each hole's handicap on this game vs real life.

  For example, at St Andrew's, the scorecard lists both par 5s as the #1 and #2 handicaps, but I find, and I'm sure a lot of folks would agree, that hole #2 and #13 are much more difficult.  I don't know how many tournaments I've lost due to #13 in particular.  that hole is a bear.

• TarheelsRule 5,563 Posts

  Thu, Jun 30 2011 8:41 AM

  The slope index for the US courses is available online and at their websites.  I'm not sure how the R&A does handicap indexes and slope ratings.

  Regarding the par 5's being the #1 handicap holes.  I talked to a guy from the USGA a few years ago, they were rating a course I was playing at and posed that exact question.  How can a relatively easy 500 yard par 5 be rated as the top handicap hole when a difficult par 3 is rated as 15.  His response was that the hole handicaps were based on an 18 handicapper playing that hole and they were much more likely to hit one good shot, on the par 3, than 3 good shots to the par 5.  After thinking about it and the 18 handicappers that I have played with I tended to agree.

  There are some exceptions but generally if you have four par 3's on a course they will be the 15 - 18 handicap holes.  Par 3's with water and a lot of carry over it might sneak past an easy par four from time to time.

• toripyne 195 Posts

  Thu, Jun 30 2011 10:27 AM

  TarheelsRule:

  The slope index for the US courses is available online and at their websites.  I'm not sure how the R&A does handicap indexes and slope ratings.

   

   

  should have been more clear.  I was wondering what the WGT slope/index might be for the courses.

   

  thanks for the info on how they handicap the holes.  that makes a lot of sense.

   

• TarheelsRule 5,563 Posts

  Thu, Jun 30 2011 4:36 PM

  I don't think WGT does any slope or index on the existing courses.