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Course knowledge makes a big difference sometimes. But, I have to say sometimes I play better at course I don't know, because I am not trying to hit certain shots all day long on the same holes.

For the most part. The top scores on my stat sheet on here are pretty boring. Of my Top 15 rounds, only 1 has come on a course I haven't played anymore than 2 times.

Yea i know what you mean there. Its nice sometimes not to have those thoughts in your head.

It depends on the course. I mean, some courses are harder than others regardless of how many times you play them, so it only makes sense that your numbers would rise.

In my case, I've played most of the courses I play (a rota of about 20-30) enough times to feel comfortable on all of them. My scores fluctuate, but the numbers I shoot in terms of handicap index are pretty consistent with how much I've been practicing and playing.

Before last summer, I did have trouble busting 80 on non-home courses. But my ability to start doing that coincided with some major improvement in my overall game, so I don't know what that means in terms of handling different courses. I guess I'd say the better you are at golf, the better equipped you are to handle new things -- new tee shots/holes/courses you've not seen before.

I shot 80 from the tips at Indian Creek's Creeks course last month, which was a bit of a surprise for me (especially considering I could've shot 75); I figured if I busted 90 first time on that track I'd be happy. But my game is improving in some key areas that help me handle tougher tee shots/longer approach shots, and what I did at the Creeks is something I couldn't have done in 2010 or even early 2011.

I'd also say that without GPS on the golf carts, I wouldn't have shot 80 there. That helped a ton. Without that or a good guide on a new course, you can't expect to post much of a number unless you get an incredibly hot putter.

I usually score as well or better when I travel to play a new course. I assume its because my club has never narrow fairways and fast greens, so when I play a more open lay-out I can rip it.

It's usually worth at least a few strokes. I played Brook Valley CC for the first time a week or so ago. I incurred 6 penalties, 2 of which were poor strokes and the other 4 lack of course knowledge. Some hazards are completely unseen until it's too late while others are more subtle; places you don't want to hit it, false green fronts, I think your score on your "home" course reflects your true technical skill level, however, other skills also determine one's overall golf prowess. Cold green reading, emotion management, etc..

In my case I seem to score better, as the course that I am a member at is known to be pretty difficult. The down side is yes you get used to it (even at 27 holes) I turn in scores pretty much the same. The PGA San Antonio is a new course that I am to play soon and then I will have a better "feel" for my game.

I think it depends on the type of course too. Living in AZ we have alot of desert corses where if you hit off-line too much your in the crap,take a drop or penalty. These courses tend to raise my score. The more open courses that don't penalize a miss-hit shot so much, the scores are lower

I usually score in the low to mid 70s on just about every course I have played on in the past 18 months. When I play a new course I don't try anything heroic. I just try for fairways and shoot for the center of the green.

Don't like to play the same course week in and week out. Boring and burn out.

When you play the same course all the time I would hope one would have that "members knowledge" and score better. Some do not have the luxury of many courses in their immediate area to play anything else. Again it goes back to the yardage factor. Playing 6000 yard courses everyday isn't going to challenge your ability to hit many clubs in your bag. If you had 4 to 5 sets of tee boxes that stretch back to 7000 it might not be a bad thing to be a member as you could move around and change it up a bit.

One thing is for certain IMO, some courses simply do not set up well for some golfers. Different courses and different lengths will show more of your abilities than the same course week in and week out. Just my take.

I agree. I think even if i was a member at some of these nicer courses, i.e pebble beach, i would get bored playing it several times a week. I prefer to not play consecutive rounds at the same course unless there isn't another option. But like some have stated if the course you play constantly is a harder course than in theory you should shoot better on an easier course and vise versa.

Yeah? Well you suck! Ha ha, you know I'm just yankin' yer chain.

I think that's why I shot as good as I did at Brook Valley. Funny, when you go back to the basics it just seems so natural, fun, free of all the technical thoughts that turn you to stone, and more like art. I really love it when I get in that zone and all I'm doin' is PLAYING THE GAME!

And one day very soon I'll be breakin' 80 like soppin' a biscuit and I'll be coming to Liberty for a match! Really, if you're in NC we need to try to get a round in together sometime.

I usually have trouble when I travel to a different state where the grass is totally different. Bermuda kills me. Also when on a golf trip, I've had to much to drink, that make's the course much harder. Nothing like playing the home course.

I think it depends on a lot of things. Here are a couple examples.

If your home course is a very tough track and you have very deep course management skills your game should travel well.

If a course you haven't played presents challenges you are ill prepared to surmount, you'll probably see your score go up.