Golfer Newbies

Archive for April, 2010

If you are interested in finding out your handicap index, here is a step-by-step method for doing so:

1. For each round played, figure out your handicap differential. To do this:
   1. Take the score and subtract the course rating from it. The course ratings can be found on the course websites or sometimes on your scorecard. If not, you can ask in the course pro shop.
   2. Get the course slope rating from the same sources as step one. Divide 113 (the USGA designated average slope rating) by your course slope rating.
   3. Multiply the result of step 1 times the result of step 2. This is your handicap differential for that round.
   4. Do this for all rounds played.
2. Use the chart below to determine how many of the differentials and which ones you should use to calculate your handicap. Note that you need at least 5 18-hole rounds in order to calculate a handicap.

3. Take the average of the number of differentials used, i.e., if you used 3, add all 3 together and divide the result by 3.

4. Multiply that result by 0.96. Drop all digits after 10ths. The result = your handicap index.

For example, if I have 5 rounds to work with, my course rating is 62 slope rating is 104, and my lowest score is 102 my calculation looks like this:

     102 – 62  = 40

     113/102 = 1.10

     40 x 1.10 = 44

     44 x .96 = 42.24

Therefore, my handicap index would be 42.24.

See larger image Sun Mountain MCB Cart Bag (Misc.)

In the previous post I recommended the Micro Cart – and the more I use it the more satisfied I am with it. I also mentioned that Sun Mountain has a bag that goes with the cart – I thought you might like to have a link to see the bag, too.

After struggling for some time trying to get my golf clubs, miscellaneous accessories, and awkward 3-wheel push cart in my small car, I found the perfect cart – the Sun Mountain Micro-cart. It is remarkably lightweight, folds up very small, is very easy to push, and has really nice features. In addition, it's four-wheel design makes it extremely stable, and I like the hand brake feature as opposed to the inconvenient foot brakes found on most three-wheelers. It comes in four colors as well. An added bonus is that you can get a cart bag that is made to fit. If you're tired of wrestling with clumsy carts that take up too much room, I can highly recommend this cart.