We have all watched tournament competition on TV and in person. It really looks like a battle or 18 hole ‘Grind’. It really is but not primarily between combatants! It is a battle between the man or woman and the golf course. The challenge is against the golf course and ‘Old Man Par’. It can be looked upon as a war of attrition against Par. If it is a four day tournament, mistakes on day one often create a sting on Sunday’s last hole and the player‘s total. You cannot win it on the first few holes but you certainly can lose it early!
To maintain golf’s reputation of being ‘A Gentleman’s Game’ the ‘Handicap System’ was created long ago. If one can play to the course published Par (i.e. 72 strokes to get around the 18 holes), one is deemed to have played to Par, to a ‘Zero Handicap’ or to ‘Scratch’.
What is an advantage in having a ‘Handicap’ … averaging over or under Par? This truly levels the playing field unlike in big tournaments wherein each player has to beat the field or play strongly against the courses Par. Out there as a professional, only one man can win and it is always or usually the hard way … beatings with finesse!
How does this ‘Level The Playing Field’? If your established personal Par or Handicap is ten (10) strokes above Par from a certain ‘Teeing Ground’ (course length … see ‘Slope or Index’ … all quality golf courses are ‘Rated’ to a national scale). If you play 10 courses and record your performance, (averaging ten 10 over Par) you will have established yourself as generally an adjusted ten (10) Handicap. This teacher will leave the smaller details to you!
What is the benefit? You as a ‘10 Handicap’ can play a ‘Scratch Performer’ with a 10 stroke lead on the first teeing ground. If your competitor plays to Par and you play to 9 over par, one better than your established ‘Handicap’, “You Win”!
Pretty gentlemanly, right?
