FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Handicap HintsSummer 2016
Home›Handicap Hints›In Pursuit of Smiles: Measuring the progress of junior golfers

In Pursuit of Smiles: Measuring the progress of junior golfers

By Kevin O'Connor
July 1, 2016
3511
0
Share:

It can be an exciting time when someone new to the game catches golf fever. This can happen at any age, but the look on the faces of junior golfers making solid contact, successfully navigating a pitch shot over a bunker or making a putt is something special. It spurs some to tackle the next challenge and derive a sense of accomplishment; for others it may be a desire to bring another smile about.

Given that golf has many components and nuances to conquer, sometimes taking a step back and looking at one’s overall progress can be a good measuring tool. One way to do that is through the analysis of scores made, which ultimately feed into the determination of a Handicap Index®. Using the mathematical model to measure which rounds are actually one’s best rounds, without the anecdotal perspective of trying to decide where a golfer hit the best shots, made the most putts, etc., works pretty well. It helps in objectively determining whether the 90 at Super Difficult GC or the 88 at not-so-difficult GC was the “better” round.

The decimal value Handicap Index is a simple, but unique way to measure progress. If the value goes down, the golfer is improving; if the value goes up, the golfer isn’t quite doing as well as previous efforts. That is pretty straightforward, and doesn’t get confused by which course, which tees, etc. The use of a Handicap Index is not a precursor to a competitive environment; measuring progress in and of itself is pretty valuable. The science behind the formula does all the work and lets the golfer focus on the game itself, including deriving enjoyment.

A key for all golfers, including juniors, is that having a Handicap Index is available to anyone. It is not tied to skill; from novice to superstar, anyone can use the system. And here at the SCGA, we encourage juniors to get into the habit of posting their scores and maintaining a Handicap at an early age, which is why we don’t charge clubs for any juniors on its roster.

Please take the opportunity to provide junior golfers with this valuable member benefit. We all want to know where we stand with our game and a key SCGA offering is at one’s fingertips. Bring on the kids and the smiles!

TagsSummer 2016
Previous Article

Drought? Megadrought?: Where do we stand and ...

Next Article

Day at the Beach: Know Your Bunkers

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Kevin O'Connor

Kevin joined the SCGA in August of 2012, and will oversee utilization of the USGA Handicap System by SCGA members and member clubs, including utilization of the GHIN service. Having worked at the Northern California Golf Association in a similar role, and then more recently in a senior management role with the United States Golf Association, his experience positions him to assist the SCGA and its members in continued successful implementation of these core programs.

Related articles More from author

  • Handicap HintsSummer 2015

    To Post or Not to Post: Is that a Question?

    July 1, 2015
    By Kevin O'Connor
  • #18 U.S. Open
    Classic CourseSummer 2016

    The Riv: As Nearly Perfect as Man Could Make It

    July 1, 2016
    By Bob Buttitta
  • Summer 2016The Podium

    The Unforgiven: Ruminations on a Sissy Game that Came Back to Bite

    July 1, 2016
    By Bill Dwyre
  • Fall 2020Handicap Hints

    Handicap Hints: Exceptional Score Reductions

    October 14, 2020
    By Kevin O'Connor
  • bunker
    Know the RulesSummer 2016

    Day at the Beach: Know Your Bunkers

    July 1, 2016
    By Jimmy Becker
  • ProfilesSummer 2016

    A New Leaf: How prison, and then golf, saved former NFL player Ryan Leaf

    July 1, 2016
    By Julia Pine

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • FeaturedProfilesWinter 2023

    A Modern Throwback: Cole Young Calls his Own Shots

  • FeaturedPublic AffairsWinter 2023

    Grass by Design: Pure Research Yields New Strains of Drought-Tolerant Grass

  • Classic CourseFeaturedWinter 2023

    A Return to SoCal: The U.S. Open at LACC is the Start of Something Big

  • FeaturedGolf GroupsWinter 2023

    Club Spotlight: FOREGALS Golf

  • FeaturedThe PodiumWinter 2023

    Changing of the Guard: New Galleri Classic Set to Debut in the Desert

FOLLOW US

Facebook 0Fans
Twitter 0Followers
Instagram 0Followers
Youtube 0Subscriber
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Changing of the Guard: New Galleri Classic Set to Debut in the Desert

    By Judd Spicer
    February 7, 2023
  • New Year’s Daze: Looking Forward and Looking Back at your Handicap

    By Kevin O'Connor
    February 7, 2023
  • Grass by Design: Pure Research Yields New Strains of Drought-Tolerant Grass

    By Craig Kessler
    February 7, 2023
  • Best Ball Bar & Grill: Woodley Lakes GC Gets a Big Culinary Upgrade

    By David Weiss
    February 7, 2023
  • Making a Future in Golf a Reality: Skylar Graham and the Pathways Internship

    By Ken Van Vechten
    February 7, 2023
  • The Diva Golfer

    By Azucena Maldonado
    January 31, 2017
  • The USGA’s Major Proposed Changes to the Rules of Golf

    By admin
    December 14, 2017
  • Stand By Me: Temecula Native Joe Skovron On Life As Rickie Fowler’s Caddie

    By Jonathan Coe
    October 26, 2016
  • Watching the Tiger Watchers

    By Andy Brumer
    February 20, 2018
  • Remembering Jim Murray: Best of the Best

    By Bill Dwyre
    February 14, 2017
  • Julie
    on
    November 13, 2022

    The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”

    Thanks for this. I ...
  • free proxy list
    on
    December 5, 2018

    Top 4 College Golf Names You Need To Know

    Hello,I log on to ...
  • Adela C. Garcia
    on
    November 17, 2018

    Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”

    Azucena Maldonado is a ...
  • Rose Sauceda
    on
    November 15, 2018

    Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”

    Congratulations my lovely Amiga ...
  • Judy Carls
    on
    November 15, 2018

    The Gilded One: Eldorado CC

    Excellent magazine..thank you Judy Carls LPGA ...

RECENT COMMENTS

  • Julie on The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”
  • free proxy list on Top 4 College Golf Names You Need To Know
  • Adela C. Garcia on Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”
  • Rose Sauceda on Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”
  • Judy Carls on The Gilded One: Eldorado CC
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise