Are you embarrassed by your handicap?

[DelB]

I am!

Joined Haddington Golf Club a month ago and played in a Texas Scramble team event today. Each of the four team members had to play four drives and we were allocated to start at the 10th. I was the second highest handicapper in our group and was second on the tee. Struck an absolute belter down the middle and my drive was subsequently chosen as the next point to play from. So, I'd played only one shot and two of the guys in the team were questioning my handicap, albeit in a joking manner!! Then proceeded to hit the green from 180 yards! Played pretty well for the whole round and certainly did my bit for the team, but it's getting to the stage now that whoever I play with, I'm always told that I'm 'much better' than a 21 handicap. So, why can't my Medal scores reflect that I'm much better than a 21 handicap?

Almost drives me to drink sometimes!

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I'm currently off 8 and that embarrasses me! I should be much lower than that. I played yesterday - not very well and shot a 78 (6 over par). My putting let me down badly. If I could have putted that would have been closer to level par!! oo:

I'm hoping that this year I can get my handicap down to 6 at least - hopefully lower.

 

[chris661]

Because you are putting too much pressure on yourself! You know you can hit shots like the green from 180 or whatever BUT if you played to your handicap and knobbed a 9 iron twice and 2 putted in the medal it would still be at least net par or better!

Chillax man it will come. My handicap is what it is I know I can play to 4 or 5 or what ever but so what I play to enjoy it.

 

[philly169]

I was playing in a group last month, doing stableford and I was the highest handicapper with 22, the others were 10, 13 and 14 if I am correct. I was playing very well and managed 15 points after 5 holes, but had my standard blow out towards the end to finish on 35 points.

Standing on the last tee, after having missed my birdie putt on 17 to finish gross par for 4 points two of the old boys starting saying that all male golfers should have a max handicap limit of 18, getting rid of the current limit of 28.

I'm sure we all agree that we would love to be playing to a lower handicap, but that is just natural progression, if you started on an 18 handicap it would take you forever to come down and surely you would lose all interest in the game by not being able to play to an 18 handicap.

 

[Philm]

off 16 at the minute... shot 11 under that today.

47points isnt cool.

40points on friday not too bad

24points on sat to win the 9hole club stableford.

embarrassed? me? yes.

cant wait till the summer starts and the cuts start again.

Phil

 

[Val]

It is what it is but although I'm not happy with it as I know it can be better only I can change it.

 

[Karl102]

Difficult one! Medal rounds off longer tees and a lot less pressure make for a lot easier game! I love our winter team comps for this reason. Don't let snipers get you down. Work at your game and you will reach your target....

 

[DavidO]

If the maximum handicap available was only 18, you would lose the whole point of the handicapping system!

 

[AmandaJR]

Nope. I'm always striving to get lower and that is always way above winning in my priorities. If I hear the word "bandit" I convert it to "jealous" and secretly smile - well I think it's a secretive smile - perhaps more of a smirk

 

[thecraw]

Del, you have the game, we all know that. I promise you, it will just click one day. It'll all fall into place and you'll break through that barrier.

Bloody great big shark that you are!

 

[Brookesy]

I do sometimes but then i just practice hard and try to get better hence how ive come down about 11 shots in 2 years. I do get alot of comments (bandit etc) at my club which does get to me sometimes but it doesnt bother me much anymore because i know its only because of the hard work i put into my game which is allowing me to play better.

Alot of it is also jealousy i guess.

 

[DelB]

Del, you have the game, we all know that.

See, it's great to be complemented on your game and I hear it all the time, but these compliments also bring an element of pressure with them. (At least they do in my head!!!)

 

[JustOne]

Del, just play as many comps as you can and take it from there, that's all you can do.

I take it that was a solid 8-iron from 180?

 

[DelB]

I take it that was a solid 8-iron from 180?

Cheeky sod!! It was a knock-down wedge.

 

[wrighty1874]

No.

 

[G1BB0]

not embarrassed, just annoyed with mine as I have had plenty of rounds around 90 and 6 under 90 which would = a hc around 20, still off 28 though as always blow it in comps, started level par gross after 5 holes the other week then went 8, 8, 9.... after that I couldnt give a crap and just went through the motions

I have had 1 runner up and also plenty of comments about how I shouldnt be off 28... but I am so until I get my game together I will continue to be

 

[drawboy]

No one should ever be ashamed of their playing handicap, it is there for a reason. We all are capeable of playing well under our HCP, especially in Stableford comps. It is when we play medal rounds off the back tee when there is nowhere to hide, no pick up's and a 9 goes down as a 9 that we find out our true playing handicap.
Ultimately if you are off 20 or 7 or whatever number I believe that truely reflects our real playing standard not the good rounds we remember as we rarely ever remember the stinkers we all play.

 

[souchy 160]

I dont have one but am very embarressed about my game when it all goes wrong deffinatly. i think id deffinatly been in the 20's at the moment. one of my friends is a 6 hcap, watching him is amazing but duffing it afterwards is soul destroying.

 

[full_throttle]

Del, it's not just you. I played in a texas scramble on new years eve, the handicaps were 8,9,9 and my 22, I played very well and helped the team get -10 gross, but only fourth place. In a scramble there is no pressure, where as in the medals as you know every shot counts. Played today and started off par, bogey, par par, then went to loose my ball on index 1, finished the front 9 with 19 points and ended up with 38 for the entire round so I know it's possible to score well it's just keeping the swing together for 18 holes

 

[GB72]

I have been in the past. As my handicap was coming down i won some comps with silly scores and had the accusing looks at prize givings. Even when I was off 20 I got a few disparaging looks at social team matches etc when i put a good round together. I got some very strange looks at the GM Centenary qualifier when I scored 43 points but I even handed that card in to get a cut. Problem is that on a good day I can play to around 12/13 so when I play well I look like a total bandit.