Handicapping

I am trying to figure out how to do the handicap system here at our course.
I am starting a new league here this year similar to tag numbers I guess some call them.
We have pop bouys on top of all of our baskets on the course indicating what number basket it is. (were in Maine so it fits)
So I am inducting a Bouy Number League, but having trouble figuring out the whole handicap thing.
Can anyone help me????
Thanks
Kim :)

[DISConcepts]

Kim,
I started a DGU (Disc Golf United) league 9 weeks ago here in Greenville, South Carolina. The DGU system is really smooth and requires little time to manage. Check out www.discgolfunited.com (http://www.discgolfunited.com) I run a regular cash league and handicap side by side each Sunday. Everyone gets a handicap, but those playing handicap league use the handicap to determine their score and those playing for cash don't. I allow people to play both if they wish.

This information is good, but how would I do it if I wanted to figure it on my own. Does anyone know?

[slo]

Here's the page you want to go to on that site:
Director Info (http://www.discgolfunited.com//index.cfm?DGUaction=Membership_Info.LeagueDirector Info)
It costs $49.95 for an annual subscription. I'm certain that will be of great value to some, but I'd rather do it myself, etc. How about something like bowling leagues do it? As a rough example, something like 70% of the difference between bowler "A" and "scratch" is said bowlers handicap, if memory serves.

But is 70% the best figure? and what about 'scratch', would that be a K-rating, or the top in that league? How many weeks 'til the #'s are valid? I earmarked this thread; I hope to hear of some viable examples.

Thanks in advance! :cool:

[johnrock]

We've been using a handicap system that works fairly well if you don't have a lot of players. We'll usually get 10 - 20 regular players for the Sat. handicap round, and keep records for several years back ( for the out-of-towners or other casual handicappers). The system works like this:
Using your last 20 rounds, average the best 10. From your average, subtract 50 (this is the base # we use, each course or group should determine their own base #, which is ideally set at a # that no one will average on a regular basis). From your adjusted average, you get 80% of that. For example: If your raw average is 60, your handicap is 8 throws ( 60 - 50 x 0.8 = 8 throw handicap). It can take up a lot of paperwork if you do it manually, but it can be done on a computer. One of our club members made a program so we have it done electronically.

[slo]

Much thanks Johnrock...is ones handicap in essence "zero" up until 20 rounds?

Does somebody bring a computer to your course, or is there a new printout each event?

How did you arrive at the figure of "50"; does it closely resemble your course's SSA?

What happens to decimals; do you round a 54.5 to 55?

....I'm certain Mr. Kennedy will appreciate your use of "throws" rather than "strokes". :D;)

[ck34]

You can use a fixed number that's ideally lower than the typical scores rather than SSA when it's the same course each week. What concerns me is the combination of using 10 of 20 AND 80%. The USGA ball golf handicaps are also based on 10 of 20. That process means a player will beat their handicap only 1 in 4 rounds. By then mutiplying it by 80%, it really reduces the chances the handicap adjustment will help lower skill players. I would recommend either using the 10 of 20 or the 80%, but not both.

[johnrock]

Until a player gets 10 rounds on their sheet, we average all of their rounds and determine their handicap. After 10 rounds, only the best rounds get used. We don't bring a computer to the course (nobody here is that much into computers), just a new list every week or so. It takes me 15 - 30 minutes to enter the names into the program and get the new handicaps printed (I'm sure it can be done faster and easier, but that's not my field of expertise). I'm not sure what the SSA is at our course (Thompson Park, Amarillo, TX), we use 50 as a base number because it's a low enough number that nobody will stay at that average long, thus ensuring that everyone will have a handicap (but some of us still try to get that sub-fifty average for the pride of being able to say "I'm a scratch golfer".) Years ago, we tried to give plus-throws for those who went under Zero, but that caused a lot of bad feelings. So now if you go under Zero, your handicap stays at Zero. And, don't round off any numbers, that helps break ties!

This system is what we have come up with through trial and error. We have tried other systems of handicapping, only to have players figure ways to cheat the system. This system may not work for everyone, especially those with the desire to put everything under a microscope and look for shortcommings. It's worked well for us for several years now, so maybe you can mold it to work for your area.

[johnrock]

Another idea to keep in mind: If you plan on a handicap round every week, keep the entry fee low. One thing I have noticed, when the mid-pack handicappers (usually these players are in the Advanced or upper Am divisions) turn in a good round (relative to their average), they get really bummed by a Jr or Woman player bumping them out of first place by one or two tenths of a stroke. So if the entry fee is small, it's easier to accept. I know I regularly turn in the low round of the day, but rarely do I ever win a handicap round. Remember, it's not about winning the biggest tournament around, it's about regular fellowship and good fun with your Disc Golf friends!

[Jroc]

Hey Rock,

What do you do about newbies that dont have a handicap? Or players that play so infreqeuntly it takes most of the year to get 10 rounds?

[johnrock]

Jerry, For the new players that don't have an established handicap, we use whatever they shoot that first time as their "Average". Until they build up to ten rounds, we average all of their rounds. So, with their handicap not really keeping up with their skill level advancement, newer players usually get enjoy one or two early handicap victories ;), which just sets that hook and keeps 'em comming back for more. After they get past ten rounds, it smooths out and is a pretty accurate judge of their skill level.

Do you guys do regular weekly activities there in the other West Texas A-Town? I worked on a project at the Air Base in '96, and I enjoyed playing at Cal Young in the evening. We do our handicap round every Saturday. What kind of turnout do you get on the weekends?

[Jroc]

Cool!! I didnt know you had played in Abilene before. We have a Sat. mini at Cal Young thats stroke play. 'B' division for novice players....'A' division for the rest of us. $5 entry plus optional $2 ace pot. We usually have at least 8 players....I've seen as many as 25 players before. We also have a Sun random draw doubles mini at our 9 hole course(was Will Hair around when you were here?)

I am about to take over the Abilene Disc Golf (http://www.abilenediscgolf.com) site and I thought about changing our format to a handicap...to kind of spread the wealth. But, I definetly wanted to start player handicaps....if nothing else for players information.

[johnrock]

No, I didn't get to see Will Hair (it was still in the planning stages), but I did play enough rounds at Cal Young to throw a few into the water at #13(?).

The weekly handicap round is a great way for locals to keep up with their averages. If you can, post a list every week (or at least once a month) at the course sign, or by hole #1. If you guys do a tag challenge also, you might consider putting up the tags for how everyone finishes in the handicap round. That will get the tag #'s spread out a little differently, and the top locals have to play outside their regular crowd to get those lower #'s. We've talked about doing that here, we might start doing that once a month.

Hey guys, I really appreciate all of your help on this subject. I can see that I wasn't the only one that was interested in finding out how to do this.

I do believe that we will be doing the every week thing, I have a league that started last summer and the players are really excited for us to start a handicap system so that the same more advanced players don't win every single time.

Thanks again for all of your help.
Kim

So we have these methods so far:

1. Average the best 10 out of 20 scores and subtract 50
-Would not seem to account for golfers with decreasing skills as your handicap could only shrink with this method (unless its just your last 20 rounds and older rounds are deleted as new ones are played

2. 80% of your average
- This is what we at Fort Lauderdale Disc Golf Club currently use, slightly modified. We require 3 rounds before you get an average, then throw out the best and worst score (only using the last 6 rounds on record), Subtract 54 (par), and multiply the result by 80%. You can definately 'bag' with this method with a few bad rounds, but overall seems to work fairly well.

I am looking for other methods as I believe ours can be tweaked better yet. Maybe using 10 rounds and throwing out the 2 best and 2 worst rounds leaving six to average out. I think 3 rounds to establish is a good rule (we dont require that you throw the rounds in league, you can throw on your own and just turn in the scoresheet to establish a cap for any newcomers)

Hey DGU (or anyone else out there), care to post any formulas that you use for people that want to do it on their own? Does the PDGA have a guideline for handicapping?