Can you get a handicap cut on 'observation' alone??

[HickoryShaft]

I have entered a fair few comps this year (at least 7) and have been making some progress towards my target H/C but have also had a few blow ups on some holes that have limited this progress a bit. Fair enough - at my level you expect that, I am just happy to chip away at it.

I reckon I am getting close to a decent score and then loose it one way or another but in between I am playing fairly decent stuff and had a few comments that my H/C should come down a bit to reflect this.

Last night I had the round of my life and I am still buzzing.

Out in 40 then on 28 after the next 6 holes (par is 70 with 2 x 35 on each nine)leaving 3 par 4's to play. Trouble is this was a pairs knockout and having done so well we won 5&4 then played an extra hole up towards the clubhouse and called it a day. I only know my score as mine was the one on the card most of the time - believe me this is a bit of a rarity so I don't want to sound like I am bragging here just still happy at playing well.

One of the other pair is a club official from a couple of years back and he commented that I certainly played out of my skin and really we should suggest a H/C reduction to the committee.

Not sure if this is happening but kind of excited and worried at the same time - I don't want to be accused of being a bandit just for having played a great one off round and at the same time I do want to get my H/C down. But I also don't want to get a silly cut that I will never play to again.

How does this work - he would recommend one or they review past scores etc??

 

[brendy]

So he suggested asking for a cut for 15 good holes?
If only that was a reality, Id be a scratcher.

 

[RGDave]

So he suggested asking for a cut for 15 good holes?
If only that was a reality, Id be a scratcher.

LOL.

I waste more shots on my last 3 than the first 15 quite regularly. Over 15 holes, I'd be off 7.5 max!

 

[Fyldewhite]

I think this must have been more in banter than a serious comment. There is no justification for a reduction based on what you say. However, if you were to do a couple of good scores in competitions and you were being considered for a general play reduction then they would be entitled to take the performance into account in addition to the competition scores.

 

[GB72]

I have a similar issue, great rounds with a couple of howlers that prevent a cut. Last week it was the 11th and 14th, 2 holes that I normally par, that put me in the buffer zone rather than a cut. Everyone I play with says that I should not be playing off 20 but it is just not clicking in comps at the moment. Partnered last year's captain in my match last week and played to 14 over a course that I have never seen before. He also, jokingly, commented on having to have a word with the handicap secretary so I am also intrigued whether you can be cut on a verbal report from another member or, in this case, a club official (he is fixtures secretary this year)

 

[brendy]

The fact it was matchplay also makes it less likely, being three up and lashing a driver is one thing, being 3 under and standing there, you know its not going to have the same outcome on a tricky hole.

 

[HickoryShaft]

True enough - still plenty of time to have a blow up and mess it all up but would need to be a baaaaad one to get all the shots back on my H/C.

Just wanted to add that the guy was not being funny or anything and definitely not sour grapes as he was more than complimentary about my game on the night over a beer afterwards. That's what made it an even better night - the company and friendly atmosphere the match was played in.

True enough also that there was a bit of banter about it so maybe thats the end of it.

I have just been pondering if it was a genuine comment & wondering if it happens how it may work?

 

[ScienceBoy]

Take my last matchplay match, playing off 14 I had 9 pars, thats half the course just in pars!

Its the other 9 holes that usually get me! I can usually play 12-13 holes in a couple over gross and the rest is a mess.

Congrats on a great round friend!

 

[Macster]

Ahhhh....the times Ive ruined a good card on the last 3 holes.........

Medal play should be the only way handicaps are reduced imo, as a truer test of golf doesnt exist.

 

[imran_ali]

I am in the same boat guys. My club handicap is 22 but currently I am playing off between 12-14!!!! In my defence I have not had the chance to play in any of the comps this year. My 1st is on saturday and I know it may upset a few people!!!! Early this year we had a captains v presidents day and after the game my handicap was called into question!!!!!!

 

[Matty]

I don't think someone else can request your handicap be cut but you could if you wanted to.

I would say it's difficult to justify a huge cut based on one excellent round AND when you didn't play a full 18.

I'm a member of a 9 hole course and due to time & family constraints can't play around twice in one session. My handicap is based on 9 holes and I can never match this when I play 18!

 

[jammydodger]

When I came back to golf they gave me a 12 h/c , I then played my first bounce game the next week. Played the front 9 in about 8 over I think but then shot 1 under gross on the back 9. The old fellas I was playing with marched straight in to the pros shop and demanded a cut. They did cut me down to 10 btw

I was a little tacken aback and didnt want to cause a stir in my first week in the club so just accepted it. Easy to shoot well in a friendly or a matchplay with no pressure of a card though isnt it ?

 

[Ethan]

You can be cut based on general play. This is often someone who does very well in matchplay or pairs/4BBB comps but doesn't play many medals or do well in them.

You certainly had a great score going, and as a 22 handicapper, if you had played on and scored 3 gross pars on the last 3 holes for an 80, that would equate to 48 points. After 15 holes you could have had 39 points already, assuming none of the last 3 were SI 1 to 4 (38 if one hole was).

 

[Simbo]

wasn't there someone on here who got a cut after writing to their course to suggest they were better than their handicap suggested????

IMO medals are played for a reason, that is to win prizes and play for your handicap, you should score in this competition to get a cut, the country is full of golfers who say "my handicap is 2o but it should be 10, i shot 75 when i was out playing with jimmy on tuesday night"

what you classing as a blowout???

during a medal if you have 15 good holes and 3 howlers, say you take a 9 at the 3 howler holes, your handicap can still be cut uinder stableford rules,at your level you will be stroking at every hole therefor your 9's will only count as 7's on a par 5 and so forth, so providing your 3 howler holes and the other 15 break par you can still get cut although the 9's will count to your final score against the prizes etc

 

[HickoryShaft]

IMO medals are played for a reason, that is to win prizes and play for your handicap, you should score in this competition to get a cut, the country is full of golfers who say "my handicap is 2o but it should be 10, i shot 75 when i was out playing with jimmy on tuesday night"

I have entered all the medals this year so far and had a couple of small cuts - not trying to dodge anything here just trying to figure out what might happen if a comment is made to the committee, not sure how it worked with it being matchplay, pairs etc.

You certainly had a great score going, and as a 22 handicapper, if you had played on and scored 3 gross pars on the last 3 holes for an 80, that would equate to 48 points. After 15 holes you could have had 39 points already, assuming none of the last 3 were SI 1 to 4 (38 if one hole was).

Spot on with the scores Ethan - I would have been on 39 pts after the 15th. Like I said - my best round to that point to date - just wish I had played the last 3 to see if I could bag a full round PB.