Stroke Index

Mens Stroke Indices

Our present system has stood the test of time well since our PGA professional, Harold Gould, installed in 1965.
Harold's logic is attached for your information and is primarily based on match play format rather than hole difficulty.

We are, however, conscious that this index distribution does not meet latest CONGU guidelines, and the Course has undergone some change in the last 57 years. I regularly get feedback about the anomaly between 11th and 12th hole indices since the introduction of our new tees.

We therefore commissioned our current PGA Professional, John Peters to undertake a review. John's findings are attached which recommends "some minor tweaks" which we intend to implement during the coming season.

Stroke Index Review

The first thing to look at is the recommendation by CONGU that the longest 9 holes should have the odd numbered stroke indices applied. At present two of the holes on the front nine are even and two on the back are odd. The following change is therefore recommended.

• 5th becomes SI 17 and the 10th becomes SI 16

• 6th becomes SI 1 and the 11th becomes SI 2

This all seems straight forward with minimal disruption to the match play sequence recommended by Harold Gould and required according to CONGU rules. With these changes accepted and following some analysis of competition play ascertaining the order of holes according to their difficulty, the following further recommendations were made:

11th to become SI 12 and the 12th to become SI 2

The men’s card will now read as follow:

Hole      Par         SI           

1          4              9
2          4              3
3          4            13
4          4              7
5          3            17
6          4/5           1
7          3            11
8          5              5
9          4            15
10        3            16
11        4            12
12        4              2
13        5              6
14        3            18
15        4            10
16        4              4
17        4            14
18        4              8

Explanation of the Stroke Index for the holes in question - reproduced here from original notes by Harold Gould

“The present system has been in operation since 1965 when I was asked to revise the previous, rather unsound one. I think it took me something like 3 weeks to perfect. “ 

S.I. 1 -Your first thoughts are, where will I give one stroke? It must be somewhere in the middle of the round, hence I settle for the 11th, a hole where the better golfer holds a slight advantage over a slightly less capable opponent and has a fair chance to collect a half. 

S.I. 2 -This must come in the first half, so where but the 6th, being the ideal hole. The better golfer being unable to make the green in two, where his opponent can make it in three (net 2) – hence the higher handicap man has his advantage. 

JP- As you can see our decision to switch these two indices with holes 6 and 11, still complies with Harold’s view. The fact that we have altered the 6th hole to a par 4 from the men’s white tee and left it as a par 5 from the yellow doesn’t really make a great deal of difference. However, some consideration should be given to making the hole a par 4 off the yellows in the near future. This will require some alterations / repositioning of the fairway bunkers.

S.I. 12 - Either the 10th, 12th or 14th. It would be out of place at the 10th and 14th, so let us now consider the 12th and 17th. The 12th is a far more difficult hole than the 17th where you have a nice helping wind 9 times out of 10. We go for the 12th with bushes left and right of fairway. I assume many people would say the 12th is more difficult than the 11th, but the people who say this are likely to be the habitual slicers. 

JP – I think if you consider Harold’s thoughts and replace the 12th with the 11th in his analysis, then again this is still in keeping with his rational for match-play golf. The habitual slicers are hitting it considerably further these days without a great deal of penalty, whereas the 12th punishes the wayward golfer far more than the straight hitter.

S.I. 16 - We now have three short holes to allocate, the 14th being perhaps the easiest hole on the course. The 10th is slightly downhill, with the wind following. You can’t compare the 5th for difficulty. It calls for an accurate stroke to stay on the putting surface, with invariably a cross breeze. So S.I.16 is settled at the 5th. 

S.I. 17 & 18  - The 10th is a little more difficult than the 14th, so it is allocated S.I. 17, with 18 allocated to the easiest hole.” 

JP – The changes we have suggested are all still in keeping with Harold’s thoughts and maintain the integrity of the Stroke Index outlaid all those years ago.

Hers is some analysis below which shows the changes are reflective of holes under consideration.

White box competitions

* Hole 12 is ranked 2nd toughest with hole 6 now ranked the toughest playing as a par 4.
* 11th is 9th toughest.

Yellow box competitions

* Hole 12 is ranked 2nd toughest with hole 1 as the toughest
* 11th hole is 6th toughest

We believe these changes are in keeping with the general improvements in the modern game and the course modifications that have been made to the course in recent years.

These changes will be implemented during the month of April before any Men’s Knockouts get underway.

John Peters

Director of Golf