Do you think I'm ready for the handicap test?

Dear fellow GR peers,

I have taken up this sport for 3 mths. Although without coach, I'm pretty fortunate to have a below 90 friend to teach me at the beginning. The rest of it I learnt from books and video. There are times when I feel I'm ready, yet there were times I wished to put a bullet to my head after a round of range. Nvr really try a 18 hole course but have been frequent to Seletar Executive 9 hole. Hitting an average of 44 (Par is 29).

Can someone enlighten me so that I can have some direction and goals in this wonderful game? I really looking forward to join u guys in the forum to all over the places for golf - hehe!!

Mate,
these days, they dun call hit hcp test, but a 'courtesy round'. You need to submit 5-10 cards demonstrating that you have played and scored decently (average about 100 is ok). Then take a Rules of Golf workshop

'courtesy' in courtesy round means
(1) you are ready to go on course, they just 'verify' the cards you post are not scores that are fudged. Normally, the greens committe ppl are quite nice, dun give you any pressure. They wanna see if you can hit a tee shot (slice nvm)... can hit irons (can launch), can chip can putt. Give you an official hcp and you go on course and play will not cause delay to the flights behind - this is one aspect of courtesy

(2) Etiquette
Very very impt. Must shout 'fore' when you ball go astray (observe safety), hit your ball when your front is clear of the front flight, must fill up divot with sand, must rake bunker so that flights behind wun go !@#@$@# at you. - this is another aspect of courtesy

so the focus is as such (not simply standard of golf play). rest of the folks in the forum here can chip in. The greens committe doing the courtesy round dun ask if you learn from PGA pro or your fren who shots below 90. So, before you go for your courtesy round... ask yourself, if you can meet the above 'courtesy' requirements? good luck!

loserjo, the one thing I realized when I took my HC test (which was many years ago) was that the pressure is on to play well and mistakes happen more often. So, even if you think you are playing alright now, be prepared to stumble a little bit more when you are tested.

OIC. Pocketace,thks for ur detail guide. I think it's very useful. I will try to play more games to collect more score card before I go take the test. Techospaz, u r rite, I shld play more games to pick up more experience so that test that day won be so off.

Manithanks for ur replies.

just make sure the courses you play in have slope rating

Heya loserjo, looks like you're doing pretty well for someone who picked it up 3 months back

However yeah like the others mentioned, give yourself a few 18 holes rounds before sitting for the test.

Best of luck mate! Hope to see you in one of our flights real soon!

The problem is without handicap, which golf course with slope rating can I go???

Thanks but I'm not that good, if I am I would have go for it without doubt. Hee

I oso hope to see u guys in the flights real soon....

loserio bro,

i have the same question like you before.

i go to marina bay golf to take a swing test and play there.

then i collect the receipt n score card. remember to take the receipt as now they will want to see the receipt now. to prove that you have played there.

if u drive, u can go malaysia to ply... most do not require HCP

Hi,

I just went yesterday to octville. Pretty wide fairway, should not have problem finding the balls. Started @ 3 after the causeway jm and no buggies - we aited for 45mins for the buggies. Only to break down in the hole 1 . Changed another one for us which broke down in the hole 6. After all the waiting, we can't finish the 18 holes. New exposure reach home 15minutes before midnight in the end. Golf is so tiring but I was smiling all the way yesterday haha.....

This unfinished score card from Malaysia sure not counted so I nvr take it away too.

Ya , octville buggy cannot make it lor ...
we also changed it while playing half way , and there is marshall watching us .....
Think next time we wont go there liao ...

Our conclusion is the same. Marshall is ok as my buddy drops 2 clubs. A marshall recover for us instantly after we notify him abt it. Although when the marshall return the clubs, my buddy is a bit sad as he thought he was given a perfect excuse to buy a new set. He put the saddest smile on his face I ever seen in my life.

Aniway, the buggy really bad. We have to let a few flights over take us and really make our game real slow.

Octville's buggies have gone from bad to worse. They used to be very reliable but of late, they've been really sub-par. You need to know the course marshalls who can recommend you a good buggy but more often than not, if you start around 7:30-8, all the good buggies are gone.

On the upside, Octville is upgrading their course and buggies. So, this problem should be temporary. Fingers crossed - since I do like Octville. It is a challenging and entertaining course