Are you embarrassed by your handicap?

Yes I am most definitely am embarrassed with my 24 handicap. Almost every comp I play in I will get a jokey remark about being a bandit, but many a true word said in jest. I always reply you can call me a bandit when I win a comp, with the exception of a Texas scramble it’s never happened. So my handicap must be right

The problem is; off the tee with my driver is the strongest part of my game and that’s what everyone sees and judges you on, and then it all goes wrong afterwards. Like most high handicappers I get the odd par and a good few single bogeys. Then get a couple of eights or nines. Hardly ever play a stableford without not scoring on at least one hole that I get 2 shots on. Then when I par the next for a 4 pointer, I’m a bandit again
 
I am embarrased when i score 41 points as i did last week, but then i am not when i score 27 the following weekend! There is a school of thought that we can all play better but we are more "comfortable" staying where we feel comfortable - if you see what i mean!?

At my club you don,t have to wait for medals as a stableford comp will get you cut as well as an assesment of general play.
 
JustOne said:
Del, just play as many comps as you can and take it from there, that's all you can do.
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WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

I'm sorry, but it is this sort of blind ignorance of what golfers can do which means that we will always see stableford scores of 45+ coming in and members shouting "bandit" in the clubhouse.

If you are playing consistently within your handicap in non competition rounds there is absolutely nothing to stop you submitting cards for consideration by your handicap secretary, who will review your handicap if necessary.

In our Saturday roll up we have a fella who shoots 40+ points virtually every week, regardless of weather conditions, course set up etc. The only person who doesn't find this level of performance embarrassing is the player concerned, who thinks nothing of taking his share of the cash week in, week out. We have had regular players move on because of it.

When suggested to him that a return of 45 points really should mean him putting a card in, his response? Why should he penalise himself when other members don't put cards in themselves. And therein lies the problem - ours is a game of honesty and integrity, but until such time as we are all equally honest when it comes to our true playing ability then we will never have a truly level playing field, handicap system or no handicap system.
 
Billysboots said:
In our Saturday roll up we have a fella who shoots 40+ points virtually every week, regardless of weather conditions, course set up etc. The only person who doesn't find this level of performance embarrassing is the player concerned, who thinks nothing of taking his share of the cash week in, week out. We have had regular players move on because of it.

When suggested to him that a return of 45 points really should mean him putting a card in, his response? Why should he penalise himself when other members don't put cards in themselves. And therein lies the problem - ours is a game of honesty and integrity, but until such time as we are all equally honest when it comes to our true playing ability then we will never have a truly level playing field, handicap system or no handicap system.
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how can this happen?

surely he cant win a competition if he doesnt submit that card? and if he does then he will be cut?

so if he justs shoots 45pts and then rips his card up every week.. who cares?

if he shots 45points every week and hands his card in he will soon be in the +numbers.

Phil
 
I am a bit, but I don't really care. I do feel that if I can keep my back healthy and get a decent amount of practice in this winter and spring that I can get myself down into the teens.
 
A bit of a catch 22 situaton here - I won a few medals and a stableford at our club this season to the cry of 'bandit' and I have had some fantastic scores (for me) recently but only in friendlies.

I came down 4.2 shots and was continuing to improve but ran out of competitions. I have had a few comments like' what did you say your handicap was again?' but to deflect this I can honestly say that I entered as many comps as there were going last year and mixed in with the cuts and 0.1 backs I ended up at 19.8. Every card was put in - good, bad or indifferent. I put a couple of general play cards in hoping for a cut but the comittee decided not to act on them as they were not qualifiers - you can but try.

Am I embarassed - no - anyone who is improving over time, even a little, should be getting decent stableford scores and do well in medals unless everyone elses handicap was wrong!

I would dearly love to be lower and this has just resulted in me practising harder this winter to try and keep the run going and try and get them to carry on saying these things about my game :)

Fingers crossed for a few more crys of 'Bandit' - it tells me I am doing something right with my game :)
 
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HickoryShaft said:
I put a couple of general play cards in hoping for a cut but the comittee decided not to act on them as they were not qualifiers - you can but try.
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Spot on. You can but try. But if I was a member somewhere where the committee was consistently reluctant to act on general play submissions I would be asking some very searching questions of them, because they are wrong to simply ignore such cards.

Philm said:
how can this happen?

surely he cant win a competition if he doesnt submit that card? and if he does then he will be cut?
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I was referring to an informal roll up, Phil, not a recognised competition.
 
Billysboots said:
I was referring to an informal roll up, Phil, not a recognised competition.
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ah, got you.

doubt my club would listen to me, ive already offered up the fact ive shot 43/42/40/and 47 pts in the past few months and they dont seem interested.

i suppose that im unusual in that i want a lower handicap, i want to get right down if possible, i was always a good footballer and i would be more relaxed if my handicap reflected the level i can play to and my general ability.

maybe i should ask for the handicap Secretary to come out fora round with me this new year.

Phil
 
[QUOTE

If you are playing consistently within your handicap in non competition rounds there is absolutely nothing to stop you submitting cards for consideration by your handicap secretary, who will review your handicap if necessary.

[/QUOTE]

Sorry, but I disagree with this.

The only way to get a "True" handicap, is to play in qualifying competitions.

Anyone can play well in a friendly round, even if there's money on it, having a competition card in your hand is a completely different mindset. Also, I'm sure there are a few 'gimmies' in the round which are just not allowed in a qualifying competition.
 
Golfmmad said:
Sorry, but I disagree with this.

The only way to get a "True" handicap, is to play in qualifying competitions.

Anyone can play well in a friendly round, even if there's money on it, having a competition card in your hand is a completely different mindset. Also, I'm sure there are a few 'gimmies' in the round which are just not allowed in a qualifying competition.
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So if you were consistently shooting between five and ten shots under your handicap off a full length course in a regular roll up you wouldn't consider putting cards in? Because that is what this man is doing. He's lying to himself and cheating the rest of us, even if it is only a few quid here and there.

Sorry, but I hope I never meet you on a society day out!!
 
Billysboots said:
But if I was a member somewhere where the committee was consistently reluctant to act on general play submissions I would be asking some very searching questions of them, because they are wrong to simply ignore such cards.
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The CONGU handicapping system has no provision for "general play submissions" by the player.
 
Lump said:
My home course is not an easy course. Its a par 72 where SSS stays high.
I've played many courses where its basically a drive and short iron/wedge to the green without much danger from hazards. I know my handicap would be much lower if I was a member there.
That is why I personally think your handicap is only relevant to your home course.
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Not necessarily, because you'll find the SSS will probably be 3 shots under par, and the CSS 4 shots under par.
 
Billysboots said:
So if you were consistently shooting between five and ten shots under your handicap off a full length course in a regular roll up you wouldn't consider putting cards in? Because that is what this man is doing. He's lying to himself and cheating the rest of us, even if it is only a few quid here and there.

Sorry, but I hope I never meet you on a society day out!!
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Ooo,

No need to be like that, I love society days out.

I think we are misunderstanding each other.

I completely agree with your point above, but wouldn't join in a roll up with someone like that playing.

My point is: put him in a qualifying competition and I wonder if he would still shoot 5 - 10 shots under his "Fake" handicap.

Hope that clears it up. Now when's that Society Day? :cheers:
 
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