Strokes In Stroke Play


When you're competing in a net stroke-play competition, what's the best way to determine how many strokes you must give to-or receive from-your fellow competitors? A few basic steps are necessary, so let's walk through this process with help, as always, from our pals Uncle Snoopy and Woodstock.

The simplest format for determining strokes given or received is individual net stroke play. The process starts with your USGA Handicap Index, so you must consult the Course Handicap Tables, usually located in the locker room or near the first tee. Find your Index-it tells you what your Course Handicap is for that day for the set of tees you choose to play. You then play at your full Course Handicap for that day. To determine your net score, deduct your Course Handicap from your actual score. Easy, isn't it?

Suppose that Uncle Snoopy and Woodstock play the middle tees at Beagle Haven Country Club. Uncle Snoopy's Index is 11.6; Woodstock's is 17.8. Uncle Snoopy consults the Course Handicap Tables and finds he receives 13 strokes, while Woodstock discovers that he gets 20 strokes. Uncle Snoopy shoots an 82 for that day; Woodstock records a 94. Uncle Snoopy's net score is 69 (82 -13 = 69) and Woodstock's net score is 74 (94 - 20 = 74).

Others forms of net stroke-play competition exist, of course, and to ensure fairness they all require different allowances based on the USGA Handicap System. In net four-ball stroke play on a better-ball (of partners) basis, men get 90% of their Course Handicaps, while women receive 95%. (The USGA recommends that the spread between the Course Handicaps of partners in net stroke-play competition be limited to eight strokes. If it's more than that, reduce all Course Handicaps by 10%. If you don't, teams with a wide handicap spread will have an advantage.)

Best-ball-of-four net stroke play allows men to receive 80% of their Course Handicap; women get 90%. For two-best-balls-of-four, men are allowed 90% of their Course Handicap; women get 95%.

Whatever the stroke-play format in a net competition, you receive strokes in the order assigned on your scorecard. Look for the line of numbers usually identified as "strokes." These strokes are rationed out where they are most likely to be needed based upon the relative difficulty of a given hole.

All these stroke-play allowances for net competitions are designed for one specific purpose: to provide equity in various forms of play. No matter whether you're playing against Jack Nicklaus, Uncle Snoopy, or Woodstock, you'll receive the chance to compete fairly on the same course. What more can a Bear, beagle, or bird ask?