Why are handicaps the same as 50 years ago?

I find it amazing that the average golfers handicap hasn't changed much in the last 50 years, despite the fact that technology has improved so much and our courses are in better shape.

It would be very interesting to hear everybodys theories (crazy or sane) on why we are not getting any better at this game.

So fire away people, I am all ears!

Because the game is a game of skill.
Its still something that needs to be learned over time and with lots of effort.
The averge Joe is still playing to 26+ because there are more people playing and less people taking lessons and spending time on their game.

I agree with Gree,

Great thread Pete and very interesting.

To add to the skill eliment there is also a lot of luck involved with hitting a small ball along the earth, bounces and rolls.

Although equiptment is better and I agree does increase the average bods chances of making a decent contact, but you still have to get the ball into a hole, which hasn't changed in a hundred years.


It will be interesting to see other ideas.....................


Ian.

In fact it has gotten harder over the last 20 years because the balls got bigger, making the hole and the sweetspot on the club relatively smaller.

IMO, handicaps haven't changed because peoples' willingness to work on shots inside 100 yards hasn't changed.

It wouldn't surprise me if handicaps get worse in the near future, with the guys on the TOUR bombing it a mile. But what Joe Hacker doesn't realise is that while they bomb it a mile, they have the game to a) still find the green, and b) get it close, especially if they miss the green.

Technology can only get you so far as an average handicapper:

Driver Technology - affects the average handicapper on 14 holes (driver for every hole except par3s - course management sucks) - this may result in maybe 2-3 strokes saved (not in the trees! or lost).

Putter Technology - should have an effect on 18 holes - unfortunately (IMO) putting is all confidence and practice - no strokes saved (just by changing your putter)

Iron & Wedge Technology - should affect 18 holes - both iron and wedge play require a repeatable swing that results in repeatable distance and accuracy (average capper does not have this - trust me I should know) - no strokes saved by changing irons and wedges.

The pros may be able to take advantage of the technology, but in my opinion the average capper does not have the swing savy to take advantage.

A) Because people lied about their score just as much then as now.

"Most players best wood is their pencil!" Chi Chi Rodriguez

B) Contrary to what the Golf Industrial/Media Complex would have you believe, equipment will not make you a better golfer. My friend hits it further with his persimmon than most do with their R7.

C) See A.

D) The courses have been made longer? True in some cases.

E) People would rather spend $1000 on a new set of clubs than $500 on a winter session of lessons and practice.

Hay lets all face it. The first few years your score goes down then it slows down. I think that is why the score does not change. It is like all sports, we get a average an it does not change much. you are right, people do not practice the short game much and they just want to drive the ball. how many times have you went to the range and watch golfers drive the ball with out picking a target.

You are so right Scooter, inside of 100 yards we need to be as good or better than the pros (and that isn't going to happen), because we miss the green so much. Our practice should be more target orientated and less distance.
Also, given the advances in technology, are we changing our kit too often and not getting used to the clubs?
Any failure is always put down to the tools and not the workman, and in this world of instant success, yesterdays hot putter can become s**** metal in the blink of an eye.

Technology may have changed but one thing is for certain that hasn't and Peter mentions it in his last sentence,

I reckon it's all between the "ears" - this is the reason whay h'cap's haven't changed.

There is one reason not talked about yet...the fact that the raw number of players globally (maybe on other planets too) has grown exponentially...the largest number of any sport at any time.

This means that there is a massive number of "beginners" always being born with high handicaps. Average those into the mix and that will keep the htcp number very high.

Take 50 years ago where the golf population was only the few privilaged and you get good scores averaged.

Greg, your point is an interesting one, and I suppose that with lots of societies in action the numbers of high handicap occasional players has risen, particularly in England - is it the same in the states?
I have never joined a club, and this is something that dates back to the eighties when golf club membership was something special, the monied white collar, college educated type who regarded the golf club as an exclusive extra. At that time I just wanted to get out on the course and score, I wasn't interested in handicaps.
There are a lot of people who feel that way today and only play the odd game in a year.
I have also heard that some players cheat about handicaps and do not enter cards which may lower them.
As a person who has been involved in other sports - running, cycling, badminton etc., I do not expect any favours in a sporting event, and therefore am quite pleased to play golf with somebody who doesn't try to work out handicaps before each round. We play the course, compliment each other on good shots and the person with the lower score wins and gets the first round in at the bar afterwards.
Life today is too easy, you drive the car everywhere, sit in front of the TV, have ready meals. In the old days life was hard, and even with the handicap system, you still felt obliged to try and win. Nowadays if you don't win, your handicap may go up and you will have a better chance next time.
Am I cynical? Yes, but if the incentive to try harder is taken away, then the standards will not improve.

I was just looking at the pgatour.com stats, specifically the:
par 4 performance and par 3 performance.

What do I see in almost all the years (exclude Tiger 2000)? That of the top 10 the average performance has not changed. In fact, these top guys are just breaking or even with par. No wonder these guys are only "good" . These pga guys only do consistently better than par on the par 5s.

This tells me that the pros can't take advantage of the technology for 78% of the holes they play. So why would the average player?



I understand that courses have been lengthened, but has the majority of this been on par5s?

Here is my list of reasons:

1. the increase in the number of golfers and especially the weekend golfers has kept handicaps high.

2. That the average golfer does not really know how to take advantage of the technology, simply can not afford to or the technology is not designed for their game. (really most of the technology is in the area of Drivers, golf balls and a little in the hybirds)

i.e. take Pro V1's great technology helps pros, but if your swing speed is not above a 100 it really does not help an average golfer that much if any. Factor in their cost and most golfers can't play them anyway.

Or Drivers the Pro's can test 100's of diferent clubs and shafts, have engineers looking and running computer tests to determine the right one. Us amatuers that can afford them just buy one and hope for the best. Maybe some of us can make a better informed decision then others but I would bet that 90% of amatuers are using a driver that is not close to being optimal for thier game.

3. That scorng is still pretty much 100 yds in and that has not changed much.

Its all about skill... i remember hearing that someone (pro) recently tryed an exact same shot that jack nicklaus did in his days playing pro and couldnt pull it off... Technology is only useful if you know how to use it