El Bandito
Q-School Graduate
Bucket. Embrace it! As an improving golfer, you will get it from time to time. Either in jest, or because they are frustrated with their own game. I just let people get on with it.
Being called a bandit
- Thread starter Bucket92
- Start date
User 105
Journeyman Pro
I used to get this a lot.
Sometimes from people who knew me, more in jest, and knew I played in pretty much every comp and was improving very rapidly. Sometimes from people who didn't know me and just saw me consistently shooting 4-5 under my handicap every time I played a comp.
I still get it now from some people who knew how quickly I was improving when I tell them I'm playing off 11. I could play to single figures 2 years ago, but I actually got worse for the last couple of years, and my game is almost about back where it was.
A lot of high handicappers get called bandits because they can play reasonably well, just inconsistently. They can string pars together, the occasional birdy and but then throw in a few 9's and 10's as well.
Sometimes from people who knew me, more in jest, and knew I played in pretty much every comp and was improving very rapidly. Sometimes from people who didn't know me and just saw me consistently shooting 4-5 under my handicap every time I played a comp.
I still get it now from some people who knew how quickly I was improving when I tell them I'm playing off 11. I could play to single figures 2 years ago, but I actually got worse for the last couple of years, and my game is almost about back where it was.
A lot of high handicappers get called bandits because they can play reasonably well, just inconsistently. They can string pars together, the occasional birdy and but then throw in a few 9's and 10's as well.
jason6r
Assistant Pro
KL is off 12 on our tour so that's interesting... No, he didn't win but did score 39 points. I clearly made the mistake of contacting the organisers to inform them of my handicap cut
Bucket92
Challenge Tour Pro
Looking back at this now after 2 days it wasnt really the bandit tag . The main thing was that I put so much pressure on myself in the comp on Saturday that I just got extremely annoyed with what happened. I was going well, then the disaster struck, meaning that a cut would only be likely if i shot gross one over of last 7 holes.
StrangelyBrown
Tour Winner
I get it all the time from the old guys I play with.
It's like water off of a duck's back now.
It's like water off of a duck's back now.
Paul_Stewart
Tour Rookie
How do you compete in a match against a 20 handicapper who is +3 gross after 13 holes? I did well to only be 4 down at the end of the first 18 holes in this two round match. No way he ever ever plays that well again.
Last time I saw a bandit like that, Yul Brynner and his six mates were playing them.
Last time I saw a bandit like that, Yul Brynner and his six mates were playing them.
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
When I was 5 down after 8 against a 27 handicapper in last years singles I just reminded myself that he's a 27 for a reason, and bit my tounge at any handicap observations (he really was a very nice man, and was clearly starting to put pressure on himself - he commented afterwards that he was amazed that I didn't comment re bandit etc, and expecting it after every shot....)
Just play the game as best you can.
JT77
Tour Winner
It happens a lot that people can comment on your game because one aspect is good. If you improve the rest of your game to match your long game then your handicap will come down. I have been called a bandit off 8 because I drive well and hit my irons well and can putt, but if I miss the green I'm knackered. Shot 4 over yesterday and the one green I missed that I couldnt putt the ball I made 6 for triple bogey!
ThePhantom
Medal Winner
First post so be gentle with me........I always find the people concerned with so called bandits are indeed bandits themselves. I got called one last week after my drive on the first with comments like, oh here we go, another bandit. I just laughed and carried on. During the round he was talking to the other guy about throwing shots on the 18th in the winter league so not to 'peak' to early and lose shots. I asked what was more important, winning the league or getting his handicap down, he responded by saying winning of course! I laughed and said I was only here to get my handicap down and in the process I was sure wins would come, if they didn't so be it but getting my handicap down was my primary goal
MadAdey
Money List Winner
is that what you really think? I am not quite a bandit but i still moan about them.
In my experience the word bandit is used by those with petty jealousy and insecurities about the state of their own game. I have heard it bandied at every club I've been at. I'm sure many of those do use it in jest but there are those that believe that a high handicapper is incapable of having a good day and that when they do their handicap must in someway be false. Quite simply you play well and get cut. If you don't you go up.
MadAdey
Money List Winner
For me the bandits are the ones that keep their handicap artificially high, normally so they can win the big comps with the good prizes.
stevelev
Journeyman Pro
Just laugh it off and ask them how they keep their sombrero looking so fresh and clean. Give them the odd dig about Burritos, taco's and then at the end let them know how nice it was to be thought of as a good golfer for your handicap and you'd love to play with them again as you seemed to play well in their company. Finish with Muchos Gracios Bandito.
North Mimms
Tour Winner
How can KL have two different handicaps?
duncan mackie
Money List Winner
he has at least 3 - but they aren't all 'handicaps'
if you read my earlier post it referenced an Am Tour handicap - frequently, and also in the case of the GolfDays UK Tours, http://www.golfdaysuk.co.uk/essex-tour-2013-leaderboard organisers take it upon themselves to manage handicaps outwith CONGU; there are many reasons, and most are well intentioned. There are also long term associations, or societies, who manage handicaps. In this case http://scctour.co.uk/statistics/view_tournament_details.php?gn=187 again, well intentioned, and well organised.
In this individuals case he plays at a really tough course and clearly does well off Yellow tees and easier courses - one of the above makes no reference to SSS so he does well to par off yellows (the other runs things as if they were club events).
There you have it. One official handicap, many unofficial ones - not at all uncommon.
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ThePhantom
Medal Winner
Exactly!
chrisd
Major Champion
I have played at my club for about 15 years now and have never knowingly played with anyone who has thrown a round or played badly so as to not get a handicap reduction. My regular partner is one of the biggest bandits and, over the years, has gone from 9 to 18 handicap and still hits a superb ball but has the worst case of the yips for chipping and putting you've ever seen. He's a great partner at 4bbb when he hits a green in regulation but in a carded stroke play often hits 100 because of his yips. He's a bandit whenever we win according to our opponents but I know that he never has a bad shot, or round, on purpose
MadAdey
Money List Winner
I have only come across one at my place. He won the club singles in 2011, then got to the final again in 2012. The only reason he did not win it, he was playing my mate who is a rapidly improving golfer. This bloke though was +7 when he lost on the 17th, he plays off 22 and has had that handicap for a couple of seasons. That is not someone just having a good day, that is someone who is capable of playing off a lower handicap. He rarely enters the monthly medals but always turns up for the better-ball comps as his handicap is not going to get touched. He plays enough qualifiers to keep his handicap active though. This to me is a perfect example of a bandit.
Seriously if you saw this lad playing you would not think he was any more than about a 12 handicap.
