Disc Golf Underground Handicap System Tutorial

A few weeks ago the Disc Golf Underground Handicap System was put into place, with the hopes of increasing bag tag movement, and increase the competitive nature of our friendly rounds.  Since implementing the system, there has been a lot of confusion, so this post is to help in the following ways: 1.) explain what a handicap is in the golf world, 2.) explain how the DGU system was modified from traditional ball golf handicaps, 3.) how to update the spreadsheet that generates the handicap so that they can be used for scoring purposes.

The Handicap in Ball Golf

According to Wikipedia, a “handicap is calculated with a specific arithmetic formula that approximates how many strokes above or below par a player might be able to play, based on the ten best scores of their last twenty rounds.”

A golfer’s net score is determined by subtracting the player’s handicap from the gross score (the number of strokes actually taken). The net scores of all the competing golfers are compared and (generally) the person with the lowest score wins.

Contrary to popular opinion, a player’s handicap is intended to show a player’s potential, not a player’s average score [bold italics added]. The frequency by which a player will play to their handicap is a function of that golfer’s handicap, as low handicappers are statistically more consistent than higher handicappers. The USGA refers to this as the “average best” method. So in a large, handicapped competition, the golfer who shoots the best with respect to his abilities and the normal variations of the score should win.

While there are many variations in detail, handicap systems are generally based on calculating an individual player’s playing ability from his recent history of rounds. Therefore, a handicap is not fixed but is regularly adjusted to increases or decreases in a player’s scoring.

In the United States, handicaps are calculated using several variables: The player’s scores from his most recent rounds, and the course rating and slope from those rounds. A “handicap differential” is calculated from the scores, using the course slope and rating, and the player’s handicap differentials are used to calculate the player’s handicap.

Disc Golf Does Not Have an Official Handicap System

Disc golf does not have an official handicap system for a few reasons; the two most important being that disc golf courses do not have a “true” course rating, and disc golf courses do not have a slope rating. Using the course slope and rating is an important aspect to developing a handicap in ball golf, as it allows players to know what their handicap would be on any particular course.

Disc Golf Underground Handicap Solution

Since disc golf courses do not have a rating or a slope, we had to come up with our own formula, or borrow one from someone else. In our particular situation, we did a little of both. The Effingham Disc Golf Evangelists Handicap Scoring System (EDGE), was a good starting point for our group. Their formula was the following: Handicap = (Average of Last Five Rounds – Course Rating) x 80%. 

Rather than using the devised rating system from EDGE, we looked to the Disc Golf Course Review for published Scratch Scoring Average (SSA) of courses with a tournament played on them. When the listed course did not have an established SSA, the Scratch Scoring Estimate (SSE) from the logged DGCR rounds were used. Therefore, our formula became: Handicap = (Round Score – SSA or SSE) x 80%. According to the PDGA, “A player who averages scores lower than SSAs on course they’ve played will have a rating over 1000.”

The next potential handicap issue came from the available courses throughout the Houston and Austin disc golf scene. We are blessed to have  a ton of courses in our area. Unfortunately, not all of the courses are “tournament” quality. Therefore, we picked certain courses on each side of town that would qualify toward the handicap scoring system. The courses that go toward the handicap system, and their assigned SSA/SSE in the spreadsheet as indicated below:

Each time we play one of the above courses, and log the round, the assigned course SSE should be used.

The Number of Rounds Required for a Handicap

We have all had our moments where we were on fire, while other days we couldn’t make anything outside of 10′. As mentioned before, the handicap system is not to establish the “average” score that we should make, but allow us to see our disc golf potential. Before the handicap becomes eligible for scoring, we have to score an appropriate number of rounds to find out the player’s potential. For this reason, there is a minimum of 10 rounds required for the handicap to become valid, while a maximum of 30 rounds apply to the handicap score.

The scoring section of the spreadsheet is color coded to help with organizing the scoring rounds. Once the 10 rounds are scored (identified by the change from light pink to dark pink) then the players handicap becomes “official.” After 30 rounds are scored, the player begins to replace the oldest scores so that the handicap demonstrates the most accurate score for the last 30 rounds.

As a reminder, the player should copy and paste the course name and SSE to the scoring section of the spreadsheet so that the appropriate values are used in tallying the player’s handicap.

Scoring a Round with the Handicap

Once two or more players have established a handicap, the handicap system can be incorporated into the round scoring for the event. The players will take their score for the round, and subtract their handicap in order to get their “net score.” For example, if Nathan H. shoots a 56, and has a 3.5 handicap, his final “net score” would be 52.5. After calculating the “net score” for each player, bag tags, prizes, and bragging rights are dispersed appropriately.

Generating a Handicap with the Disc Golf Underground

In order to get a handicap with the DGU, a few things have to happen. First, you have to be in the DGU. We are a family friendly group, looking to grow the sport of disc golf. Due to the family friendly nature of our group, we are selective of who we invite to our group. Second, you have to have a DGU bag tag. Finally, you have to have access to the spreadsheet. Access to the spreadsheet is found either through a direct link from one of the DGU administrators, or via the group Facebook page. Since this is an “open document” the link is only sent to those in the DGU, and by being in the DGU, we assume that you will update the spreadsheet honestly, as you are someone that is trustworthy and responsible. (If for some reason you are in the DGU reading this, and realize that you are not an honest, trustworthy, and responsible person.. let me know…)

Once the spreadsheet is opened, the DGU Handicap Overview tab will be shown:

This tab is also displayed on the website sidebar so that it can be easily accessed at the end of the round in order to generate the “net score” after a round.

At the bottom of the spreadsheet, individual tabs for each player that is establishing a handicap can be found:

A player that is establishing a handicap simply finds the appropriate tab, and then enters the date, course, SSE, and score for the round. The spreadsheet will generate an estimated handicap for that round. Following 10 rounds, the “official” handicap will be eligible to be used in handicap events in order to generate a “net score.”

This spreadsheet can also be edited from a mobile device. Download the Google Sheets app for Android if you are sophisticated and can think for yourself, or from Apple if phones are hard to use when they have more than one button…

Still have questions about the Disc Golf Underground Handicap System?! Comment below so that we can answer the questions for everyone to read.