Conference 7.286::golf

    Re:                       <<< Note 1987.0 by MINNY::KUHN >>>

    Wilfred:
    
    I am not sure  how  you are going to maintain a handicap if you don't
    have any course close by to play at.
    
    Besides  that,  at  the public course where I keep my handicap,  Stow
    Acres in Massachusetts, I believe they'll keep anybody's handicap for
    a small fee ($25-$30 USD), but unless the courses where you play have
    the same USGA rating  system  (stroke  and  slope rating) it won't be
    possible  to enter your scores  or  they  may  not  translate  to  an
    accurate handicap.  And you don't want to sandbag anyone, do you :-)
    
    Tavo

    re .1 
    
    Hello Octavio 
    
    I know that different people made their handicap in a foreign country.
    Somehow it seems to be possible to maintain a handicap as a "remote
    player". One possibility is that you visit the place where you made the
    handicap annually. Flights to anywhere in the States are available
    below $1000.- or to UK/Ireland/Scotland for about $300.-. It's not at all 
    an optimal situation but a possible way.
     
    
    concerning exercise:
    
    There are a few public courses in my country. If you have a handicap
    there are sufficiant places where you are allowed to play in a short
    distance (that's is one of the main reasons for me to get the
    handicap). 
    5 minutes from where I'm living there is a public driving range.
    
    btw:
    May be there are some people who have already experience as "remote
    players"
    
    Wilfried   
                                                            

Tavo,

I don't know how strict Stow Acres is, but I keep my handicap at 
Juniper Hills.  This past year they stopped collecting scorecards.
It is pretty much an honor system.  For all golf done outside of
the home club, you just enter a slope, rating, and score.

The question I have is.....Can the Stableford Scoring System be
converted to the US Rating of a course.  The slope could be 
approximated, to at least get a semi-legit US related scorecard.

Then with the help of an american friend, Willfred could send his
scores to the U.S., and someone could enter them on the computer,
thus maitaining his handicap.  All the golf however, would be away
from the home course.

I think it is doable, without sandbagging, or underhandedness.  

For what it is worth..........RTG

    Re:    <<< Note 1987.3 by SHRMSG::GALVIN "knockemdownspinemrounheygobowling" >>>

    Yes, that  what  I  was trying to say in my reply.  Stow Acres is the
    same way, you enter your own scores in the computer.
    
    It is just a matter of  figuring  out  how  to  convert his course(s)
    rating to USGA ratings.  My take  would be that they only have stroke
    rating.  We could go as far as  taking  a swag at the slope by having
    Wilfred  providing  some  indication of the degree of difficulty  and
    using the average slope (113) as guide.
    
    How does that sound, Wilfred?
    
    Tavo

    re: .1 to .4        
    
    Hello Octavio and Tavo         
    Thanks for your replies. Inbetween I got some additional information    
    from people inside and outside Digital; beside the notes infos.          
    
    The bad information: 
    The convertion from European course ratings to USGA ratings seems really 
    to be a problem. Untill today neither did I met anybody with adequate 
    experience nor was anybody capable to explain how it would be solved. 
    
    The good information: 
    I got known three golfers which are member of "remote clubs" (Europe) where
    they made theirs handicaps. They usually do not play there because it takes
    them hours to drive or fly to this places. 
    It seems to be a good and practical solution.  
    
    To me, the key criteria to join such kind of club is just to make my first 
    handicap. With a handicap I have a  l o t  more possibilites playing golf 
    here around.         
    
    BTW: The correction of the handicap on the license card to the relevant 
    level seems not to be that important to me (in the next 2-3 years). My 
    main goal is just to play with friends for pleasure on different courses. 
    
    Wilfried