• Track your golf stats

• Accurate recreational handicap (USGA formula)

• Track score, putts, GIRs, DIFs, SSs, UDs, and more

• Tons of game analysis charts and tables

• Easily find areas of your game that need work

• Compare past rounds

• Easily enter round info

• Find a course's weather and location on a map

• Sort and filter stats

• Data is backed-up nightly

1. Can my MobileGolfStat handicap be used as an official USGA handicap?
2. How is my MobileGolfStat handicap calculated?
3. What is Equitable Stroke Control?
4. What do all the acronyms stand for on the different tables and charts?
5. Will you be adding new features?
6. Can I enter a 9 hole round or less?
7. What happens if someone deletes a tee box that I've used for one of my rounds?

Answers:

1. Can my MobileGolfStat (MGS) handicap be used as an official USGA handicap?

While your MGS handicap is calculated with the same formula as the USGA, it can not be used as an official USGA handicap. It is for recreational purposes only.

2. How is my MobileGolfStat Handicap calculated?

We use the same formula as the USGA. The following steps are taken to calculate it.

Step 1
First, we calculate the handicap differential for each round using the USGA Course Ration and Slope Rating for the courses played.

HCP Dif=(Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating

Example: Your score is 85, the course rating is 72.2, and the slope is 131.

The formula would be (85 - 72.2) x 113 / 131.

This differential is calculated and recorded for each round.

Step 2
The next step is to figure out how many differentials to use. Only the lowest differentials are used. If you've only entered 11 rounds then only the 4 lowest differentials are used. See the following chart:

Step 3
Next, we find the average of the differentials used. If we're only using the 4 lowest then we add them together and divide by 4. We then multiply this by 0.96. All the digits after the tenths are dropped (not rounded) in the result. This gives us your handicap index.

HCP (handicap) index = (sum of differentials/# differentials)*0.96

Step 4

The HCP index is used to find the course handicap. This is because course difficulty varies and your handicap on one course may not be equal to your handicap on another.

Finding the Course Handicap

The course handicap is calculated using your HCP index and the Slope Rating of the Tees Played divided by the average slope rating of 113.

Course Handicap=(Your HCP Index) x (Slope Rating of Tees Played)/113

Example: You have a HCP index of 16.7 and you played a course with a tee box slope of 127.

Course HCP = 16.7 * 127/113 = 19 (Course Handicap is rounded up or down)

In this example the course you played is harder than the average course which is why your course handicap (19) is higher than your handicap index (16.7).

The Course Handicap is the number you use to determine how many strokes you get.

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the system put in place by the USGA to eliminate the effect of "distaster holes." You know, that one hole per round where you put three balls in the water and then 5-putt. It's also a way to combat those pernicious sandbaggers who intentionally blow up on a hole in order to raise their handicaps. Equitable Stroke Control puts a limit on the number of strokes you can write down on the scorecard for any one hole, based on your course handicap. For example, on that one disaster hole you might have taken 14 strokes (get to the practice range, buddy!) to get the ball in the cup. But based on your course handicap, ESC might require you to post only a "7" on the scorecard you turn in.

Taking the "14" might throw your handicap index out of whack. And remember, the handicap index is not meant to reflect your average score, it's meant to reflect your best potential.

3. What is Equitable Stroke Control?

The USGA came up with Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) as a system to eliminate the effect disaster holes have on your handicap. The one or two holes per a round where you really blow up. ESC puts a limit on the number of strokes you can take on any one hole based on your course handicap. For example is you have a 12 on a hole and your course handicap is 16 then the worse you can write down is a 7. See the chart below to find out the maximum score you can take based on your course handicap.

MobileGolfStats does not automatically figure the Equitable Stroke Control. This is left up to you when inserting your scores.

Equitable Stroke Control Chart

4. What do all the acronyms stand for on the different tables and charts?

DIF = Drives in Fairway

GIR = Greens in Regulation

Scramble = This is the ability to still make par when not on the green in regulation. For instance you play 18 and have 8 GIRs. Then for the 10 greens you missed you made par on 4 of them. This gives you a Scramble % of 40%. The higher the scramble % the better.

Putts/Hole = Average putts per a hole

Putts/GIR = Average putts when getting on the green in regulation

Putts/Round = Average putts per a round of golf (18 holes only)

1st. Putt Dist. = Average distance of your first putt

Up/Down  = Percentage getting up and down in 2 strokes from off the green

Sand Save = Percentage of getting out and in the hole in 2 strokes

Drive Lft = Percentage of drives left

Drive Rt = Percentage of drives right

Hole Avg. = Average score on a hole where par=0

Post Birdie Avg. = Same as Hole Avg. except on holes after a birdie are counted

HCP Ind. = Your handicap index

HCP Dif. = Your handicap differential, used to calculate HCP Ind.

Scoring Average = (your score)/(course par)*72 This is a great way to compare your scores no matter if you play 9 or 18.

5. Will you be adding new features?

Yes, we continue to add new features whenever we have time. Not only do we run the website, but we use it to track our own stats. So were always looking for cool stuff to add. If you've got a suggestion send us an email using the form on the "Contact" page.

6. Can I enter a 9 hole round or less?

You can enter a 9 hole round, but you must make sure that you specify it as a nine hole round during the record round process. You will see a selection for 18, front 9, or back 9.

Partial rounds, less than 9 holes for example, are counted as full rounds. These should be avoided since it will throw off your stats.

7. What happens if someone deletes a tee box that I've used for one of my rounds?

Don't worry...once you record a round all of the tee box information is saved with your round. So even if someone deletes the tee box it won't effect your stats! This is why it's important that the tee box information is correct before you submit your round.