GOLF ETIQUETTE Get A Cap!
Tips from the Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia 502 million rounds of golf were played on US courses in 2020, and while 2021's numbers aren't tallied yet, the expectation is for continued growth. Fortunately, more young people and women are joining too! Eventually this may have a great impact on the average age of a US golfer: currently a 54-year old male.
What's surprising is that most golfers on public courses never obtain a handicap! (Also known as a “cap.”) Unless you prefer playing alone, you're denying yourself an important benefit, because a handicap gives you a serious advantage in group play. And it's relatively easy to get one. How? Through terrific organizations like the Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia, the Golf Association of Philadelphia, the USGA, and the R&A (Royal and Ancient). All of these prestigious entities use the World Handicap System, which calculates it for players in over 100 countries.
ATER OF GRE HIA P L E PHILAD
Basically, after you play three rounds (54 holes) with a group, you can receive an initial handicap. (There is a prohibition on posting scores from solo rounds.) Once you record 20 games, your fully developed handicap is based on an average of your best eight rounds. There are more complex calculations involved, including the course rating, slope rating, bogey rating (yes, that's a thing), and mechanisms that kick in if there are any wild swings in your scores. But it all starts with just 3 games, and you don't have to do the math!
What's the range for a handicap? It's wide, but it tops out at 54. (That seems to be the lucky number for this article.) The current average for men is 16.4, and for women it's 27.3. Why bother? If you want to improve, you want to be able to measure yourself against other golfers, and a handicap is an objective representation of your current playing ability. And beginner or pro, if you like competition, an accurate “cap” levels the playing field a bit. It also enables you to present yourself honestly to the other players in your group - so there are no shocked faces when you birdie every hole! BTW, good shots have avian names, like birdie (one under par), eagle (two under par), albatross (3 under par) and the highly unlikely condor (4 under par). The birds get bigger as the shots get better. 2022 starts with resolutions for many of us. Let us help you with a fun one! Get your cap with the Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia. *Memberships are under $100, and include a USGA handicap account. We'll host two open houses for prospective members in early April, and hope to see you there! For further information, visit www.golftourphilly.org, or email TonyMcCarthy@golftourphilly.org Think Spring, and see you on the links! *The Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia (GTGP) is a locally-operated golf league for amateur golfers. GTGP is also an associate club of the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Members are eligible to play in GAP Member Play Days at private clubs in the area.
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