Q1: What is the premise behind strokes gained, and how does it work in Circles?
Answer: Strokes gained is a metric that compares a player's performance to a benchmark, typically a scratch golfer. In essence, it measures how many strokes you gain or lose relative to this benchmark during a round.
Q2: I had a round where I shot 83 with great stats, but the strokes gained suggested I'd be equivalent to scratch. Why is this?
Answer: Your understanding of strokes gained is spot on. Our strokes gained model, while comprehensive, doesn't always translate perfectly in all scenarios. The metrics we use represent the performance of an average scratch golfer on an average course. We account for differences in course difficulty in aggregate, but individual round adjustments for course difficulty aren't made. As you continue to enter more rounds, the model should align better with performances over time.
Q3: Does the term “scratch” in Circles correlate directly with handicap calculations?
Answer: While we use the term “scratch”, our model doesn't precisely correlate with traditional handicap calculations. Handicap calculations can involve other factors like slope and occasional adjustments. In Circles, our use of “scratch” represents what we believe an average scratch player would do on an average course, rather than mapping stroke for stroke with a handicap.