Broke 80 by accident... I guess my handicap travels well
 

I play 90% of my rounds on my 6712 yard home course par 72 rated 72.6/134 (yards and rating based off the tees I play there) and currently carry a 13.6 handicap based mostly off rounds on that course. My lowest round there is an 81, which is as close as I've come to breaking 80.

So yesterday I play a round with a friend after work at a local course where he is a member and we are playing in the member / guest tourney next month. Good chance for me to learn the course so we weren't playing a super competitive round. The tourney plays from the white tees so that's where we played from. 6200 yards par 72 rated 69.8/117. Shot 40/39 for a 79. Missed a 10 foot eagle putt on the 514 yard 9th hole and lipped at least 2 other birdie putts so the round could have actually been a stroke or two lower. My buddy, who's a 1.8 hdcp, shot 70.

This was my first time breaking 80 and it seemed fairly effortless on this golf course.

For those of you that play regularly on tough courses, is this a classic example of a handicap that travels well?

I'm in a similar situation and I do typically drop a few strokes at easier courses that I'm familiar with. It's harder to do on a new course.

Congrats on breaking 80!

Congrats on an awesome round, if you can keep that up you and he will do well in the tournament!!!

I may play a stroke or two better on the tougher course, but I'm a hack no matter where I play, easy or not!

I also have this. It plays 6500. I went to an easier cheaper course that was just under 6200, It dosen't seem like a lot but It really was so nice to hit driver wedge instead of driver 7 iron. I ended up shooting par (9) and was stoked. I like being able to get away with a bad drive instead of hoping for a bogey. Speaks good for the move up a tee program and stuff.

Congrats RoundersRob. Breaking 80 has been my goal for a long time.

I'm in a similiar sittuation, low teens handicap but my home course has a slope of 136 and plays to a similar yardage. I've tried moving up a tee but I don't see much of a change in score, also all of our men's club tourneys are played from the 6670 yard tees. My typical score is around 92. When I play other courses in the area I always shoot better. At one point 8 of my 10 scores used for handicap were from away courses. I've had an 80 and and 81 both at away courses, I play 3-4 times/year. The courses were 6400/130 (par 71) and 6451/121 respectively.

So yes I do think its easier to travel with a handicap from a tougher course, but I've never had a handicap at an easy course.

Your 81 on the course rated at 72.6/134 is almost two shots better than the 79 on the 69.8/117 course. It is not unexpected to score better on "easier" courses. In your handicap calculations the differential for the 81 should be something like 7.1 and the 79 should be about 8.9. Both of those are much better than your handicap so congrats on the good scores.

To know if your handicap "travels well" you should play a course with similar course rating and slope to your home course.

Correct, the 81 differential is over 2 shots better compared to the lower 79. Almost seems like a letdown now. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/sad.png

My play has been improving a lot lately, especially after a good wedges lesson where we dialed in distances on all 4 of my wedges with different swings on each one.

But that 81 is a personal best at your home course where you've played how many times? I would bet if you played the easier course multiple times a 77 or lower would happen.

Good point - many rounds at that course.

congrats on breaking 80...i'm hoping to do the same by november

Don't let it get to you. There's something to be said about hurdling barriers. Something will unlock in your brain now. 70's? Yeah, now you've "been there... done that." You can expect more to follow, and at your own course.

Great round, I have seen this handicap issue rear it's ugly head in the different direction, the course I play a majority of my rounds on is an "easier" course. Keep up the good work and enjoy the sub 80 round.