[Wazmankg]

Originally Posted by TwillDog

I know I should play my close to home course that I've played 100 times but I'm starting to rethink this strategy... First off, I'm convinced the slope is off. This course has supposedly been rated for a while, but they just recently became a member of the Louisiana Golf Association (LGA), which administers golf and handicapping for the state. It rates 74.3 and slopes 135 from the back tees at 7031 yards, and rates 72.0 and slopes 127 at the tees I normally play, which is 6521 yards (I'd likely play the back tees for OG/YG because I'd likely shoot the same score from the back and it will rate better for scoring...). This course has OB on all but one hole on the course and water on all but a few. Seems like the slope should be higher... Conversely, there is a course close by, usually not in the best of shape that I recently shot ok on. It has OB only on maybe 3 holes (could just be hazard...). It rates 70.7 and slopes at 132. I consistently shoot better scores there because I'm less likely to lose strokes for penalties. But the course is ratty and uninteresting. Thoughts?

I'd go with the course where you're less likely to lose strokes for penalties. That's what I'm going to do. My usual course, which I really enjoy playing, is 6500 yards and rated 71/125. But I probably average roughly 3 penalty strokes per round there. It's built through wetlands/nature areas and the rough runs downhill into the junk in a number of places. IMO, it should have a higher slope. I play there a lot and I've had a penalty stroke on every single hole at least once. I'm going to play my OG rounds at another course run by the same Metropark Authority. It's about 200 yards longer and is rated at 71.2/122. I think I've had 2 penalty strokes there in the dozen or so times I've played it, though. Even if I'm not hitting it well I usually get it around with a respectable number. It's not a place I'd normally choose to play but I'll get 2 rounds in there over the next few weeks.