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BGonline.org Forums
US, Europe use different convention?
Posted By: Henrik Bukkjaer In Response To: US, Europe use different convention? (Chuck Bower)
Date: Wednesday, 26 January 2011, at 7:17 p.m.
Chuck, it's true that handicaps below zero are referred to as "plus handicaps" (eg. +1, +2, etc.) - It's basiccally because you add them to your score to get your net score.
This is not a European thing, it's a World Wide thing. *Cough* And it also says so, on the exact same page you refer to *cough*:
A golfer whose handicap is zero is called a "scratch golfer." A golfer whose handicap is 18 is called a "bogey golfer." It is possible to have a handicap below 0; these are referred to as 'plus' handicaps, and at the end of the round, a 'plus' handicap golfer must add his handicap to his score. A professional golfer effectively plays off scratch, but has no actual handicap.
*I can add, that almost all golf federations around the world, have some criteria you must adhere to, in order to qualify for scratch and plus handicaps. It must be scored in more than one round, in tournaments on certain levels, and not on your "home" links. I know, because I failed to reach an official scratch handicap myself, because I didn't played these needed tournaments. I don't know if it's the same in US however.
Anyway don't get derailed by CMC being clever ;-) It has nothing to do with the topic...
Your point is a valid one, it's much more likely to see an amateur beat his handicap by 10 strokes, than it is to see a pro post a round in the fifties. BUT most people are not aware how strong the tour pros actually are. You see them play weekend after weekend, with the winner ending up in -10 to -20 for 4 rounds. What you fail to notice, is how difficult the courses they play are setup. They are longer, playing from back-tee, sometimes even stretched especially for the tour. Pins are setup more challenging than your average 6 easy, 6 normal, 6 tough. Greens are cut to a speed that are closer to most players carpets at home, than their normal club greens. And finally the fairway/rough edge typically leaves a more narrow course at the critical distances from tee, than the normal club layout.
Ohh yes, also keep in mind that the tournaments played at bigger resorts, sometimes play 18 holes stitched together from several loops. Barsebäck in Sweden hosts one of the more prestigious tournaments on the European tour. The course used there is a mix from the normal 36 or 45 holes. I've played them all, and I can tell you, it's not the easiest 18 they chose for the tour! :-)
I think you should adjust around 3-4 strokes for the pros, when you see their scores vs. par, if you want to compare to regular club play.
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