Close to the edge.....help!

[RGDave]

Today, I met up with TonyN, a club mate and Sammybee for a game at Tony's. I expect there will be a post ASAP about the game. I was really up for the match having put in some good work over the last few days after a very instructive lesson.

I stepped up to the 1st, hit a reasonable iron onto the green but felt a horrible twinge in my right shoulder/top of back area. I thought it was probably nothing, but leaning over my putt, I knew something was badly wrong. Anyway, I knew there and then I was going to play all 18 regardless and just about managed to get round.

Needless to say, Sammybee played very well for enough holes to hold off the U-b-C pair, and I'm just gutted I couldn't give the game my best.

I hope the write-up makes note of the astonishing birdies Sammy made....but more on that for another post....

BUT, what has really "done my head in" is the news I picked up yesterday at my club. I asked about the result of a game a couple of weeks ago and have learned that I'm going to get a h'cap cut imminently.....????

As some of you will know, I got a new h'cap about 18 months ago, the first genuine h'cap in over 10 years. I've expressed my confusion over the figure and made numerous posts about not getting 0.1s off yellow tee games....you know the story.....I still strive to match 12 off the full length course. I've had some great games (79/80/81s) on the shorter course and beaten 12 on a good few other courses where I play.

So, despite not qualifying for a genuine CUT at any point over the last year's games, I am due to be cut under the yearly review.....

I'll find out tomorrow "why", but I already know the reason; which is - under the guidelines because my scoring has been MORE CONSISTENT than other players off 12, the secretary HAS to look at the figures and make a cut.....

So, we will see. If I get cut and don't get it back on appeal, I'm done. Seriously, I'm just going to drive out the gates, and not come back.....

Help!

 

[haplesshacker]

How many of us play anywhere near our h'cap regularly anyway! If we did, we'd be cut so that we don't.

Our clubs h'caps are adjusted weekly after every weekend comp. Therefore there's no huge cuts and generally no 'protecting' of h'caps for the few events where h'caps are adjusted at other clubs.

Sorry. Not particularly sympathetic, but I'm sure that we all have a 'hard done by' h'cap story.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think you may need to take stock here and have a full and frank discussion with your handicap secretary and reiterate what you have said here.

That said if its only a one shot cut you'll get that back after a few compwtitions and won't make that much difference. You have already posted on here about the progress you are making in the swing so chances are you'll soon be matching the handicap especially in the drier conditions coming soon.

What happens if you do leave. Where will you go and would you really be prepared to start again at another club possible paying joining fee and having to get to know people and playing competition with strangers.

 

[Herbie]

RGDave, I think you should be cut, if you are consistant enough to shoot below your h/c in matches/comps then you are better than your current h/c. I have some duffer rounds but regularly shoot below mine and believe I should be off 8 or even 7 to be an honest person, I have even made aproaches to the club to have it reassessed but no luck yet.
I think the penalty is that there are so many people playing off inaccurate h/c's that will make your life harder should you be cut. I havent seen your regular scores but based on what you have just put here, you should be cut, but then again so should a lot of people.

 

[stevek1969]

I know the opposite feeling, but surely the name of the game is to get your handicap cut, i've had this argument about this for a few years at my club 2 years ago in the winter league i posted 2 75s , 2 76s in 4 rounds ( we play full course no mats or winter greens) the secretary said he was going to cut me which was fine , then renegade on it when questioned again about it .In October i had a 73 of the yellows in the pro's saturday sweep which was nett 63 , 8 under i asked him about it again he said there was no css for the day but theres one on the card 71 ? . It has brought a few a few comments from guys at my club about being a bandit but i play in sweeps, medals, and some opens
so will continue to play happily of 10.

 

[GB72]

I also have the opposite problem. In the last 3 comps I have posted to sets of 39 points then shot a 90 in the medal but because they were still off the yellows then no cut as non qualifying. Needless to say I went to pieces last week in the first qualifying comp so despite the recent good scoring I could end up going up.

 

[TonyN]

RGDave, I think you should be cut, if you are consistant enough to shoot below your h/c in matches/comps then you are better than your current h/c. I have some duffer rounds but regularly shoot below mine and believe I should be off 8 or even 7 to be an honest person, I have even made aproaches to the club to have it reassessed but no luck yet.
I think the penalty is that there are so many people playing off inaccurate h/c's that will make your life harder should you be cut. I havent seen your regular scores but based on what you have just put here, you should be cut, but then again so should a lot of people.

But the point Dave is trying to make is he hasn't once shot to or below his Handicap in comps off the whites so in his eyes (and mine) the cut is not justified.

He explained to me today that the only reason he is gettin cut is because out of all the other players at his club off the same H'cap, he shoots more conmsistent scores. This is not how the handicap system works and is totally unfair.

On a similar note, my Handicap went up today, it was 19. Haha 19, how generous, I can already hear the bandit cries.

First comp Wednesday, we will see how I get on!

 

[Herbie]

I agree Tony but my point was in relationship to his post and the scores indicated. On that basis he should be cut, but that opinion is generated by my belief in a more heavy handed control of all h/c's. When you read the threads in here so many people indicate regular scores way below h/c and in my view those scores should be far less regular than they are, otherwise they should be on a lower h/c. Now many may disagree with this view but it is why I posted as I did.

I also believe that every comp played should warrent assessment for h/c, there should be no qualifying requirement other than official course and designated tees and sss from those tees, what more do you need to assess someones ability? Likewise many may disagree with that one too, but I believe it may even halve the arguments on this subject and bring a fairer ballance across golf as a whole.

 

[TonyN]

Fair points made I wont argue with you, but do you really think he should be cut when he has not once played too, or below his H/C in a comp? If he is unable to do this just once in a season, surly its too low, no?

Especially when others are technically in the same position as him (not made H/C I beleive) but dont score as consistently as he does( 13,14 in comp) and they aint getting cut.

 

[Herbie]

On a personal note and in all consideration of the current situation in golf, no I dont think he should be cut at all, its hard enough as it is off his h/c to do consistantly well in competition, off other h/c's I may have a different opinion, depends on how accurate h/c is and how often addressed. Its more the ideology that by making everyones h/c hard to play to would bring about a fairer playing field and wider oportunity for players.I myself play some dross rounds now and then but more often than not play to or under my h/c so I would welcome being cut at the same time as not liking the idea of having my life made even harder in comps in the current climate.

 

[stevek1969]

I no of guys at some clubs in my area that are cut under clause 19.2 general play on the hearsay of a good round in a bounce game, there should be a clear rule on this not at the whim of a club official who's mates start to complain

 

[Macster]

I dont think any H/C cut is warranted unless its done in true competition circumstances offf White tees etc, and if i'm honest, I dont really think a Stableford should qualify either, as its just not the true test of a medal and allows for blowups.

Perhaps there is a case for a cut under General play IF someone doesnt regularly play in medal's, but regularly plays well under his handicap say in Club matches etc, but even then, its difficult.

I can play some fantastic golf socially, sometimes well under my H/C, and would love to get down from 11 to single figures, but I would want to do it properly, under Medal circumstances, otherwise i'd feel that I'd been gifted the reduction.

Medal's are the true reflection of your Handicap.

 

[Robobum]

I didn't think that our h'caps were meant to be nice comfy figures that we have no problem playing to?!?!

 

[bobmac]

Dave, if you do drive out the gates, dont forget your handicap certificate, you'll need it at your new club.
Seriously, if they do cut you, get out there do some practice and prove to them you can play to it.
At least you can hold your head up high and say with pride 'My handicap is right'. The bandits cant do that.

 

[AliB]

Dave
Here is the diagnosis by Dr. AliB

1. You are just seeing light at the end of the tunnel with your swing - hooray!
2. You have gone and hurt your shoulder (and it's still hurting)- booh
3. And now those B**s have cut your handicap - double booh

I think if you focus on 1 and attend to 2. (hope some TLC available locally) no 3. might not feel so bad.
(And what would a woman know about such handicap technicalities!)
All the best
AliB

 

[slugger]

is the aim of the game not to get better and therefore get a lower handicap??? I'd be over the moon to achieve a lower handicap...

or am i missing something here?

 

[Macster]

I think there is a difference to 'achieving' and or 'being given'.

 

[TonyN]

is the aim of the game not to get better and therefore get a lower handicap??? I'd be over the moon to achieve a lower handicap...

or am i missing something here?

The thing is, I know Dave enters the comps and is desperate to win atleast 1. He has been lower in the past, (single figuers) and I know he would love to be there again. He practices hard and plays when he can but he knows, he is not at the standard of playing lower than 12. Ok he does play pretty solidly to it most times but that is off YELLOW tee's not WHITE. I have to say, Dave is one of the most honest guys you could ever wish to meet and if he says he feels 12 or below is too low for him, then he genuinly means it.

He wants a FAIR chance to mix it up in comps with a view to winning. He pays his subs and entry fee's like everyone else but is always a good few shots off the pace.

There are other guys who just like him have not played to their handicap in competitions who are not being cut in the 'annual review' Dave is because he shoots more consistently close to it than others. He does this because he has very good course management and pretty much never has any doubles on the card. But he is still not at the ability to shoot to 12. The handicap system is in place so everyone can compete fairly for a chance to win. For it to be fair, everyone should be adjusted under the same revisions. Not some ones opinion.

 

[RGDave]

OK.....I am;

1.Hugely grateful for replies (on both sides of the fence) and
2. Quite emotional at the time and energy folk have put into replying.
Thanks....

The news is that for a while I will play off 11. This is good and bad (for reasons pointed out above)

I think I am going to go with this quote to sum up my feelings.

I think there is a difference to 'achieving' and or 'being given'.

I was GIVEN my h'cap, the figure is not currently accurate in terms of "adjustments" as I've only been adjusted just the once and now CUT by a scheme which (to my mind) is just irrelevant to my playing ability.

IF I felt that 11 was possible on a good day OFF THE WHITE tees, I would accept this, I don't want to have a cushy figure and be at all "bandit-like". So, i.m.o. it's a few shots too low and I will just have to improve.

Trouble is, if I play 40 times between now and next spring and continue to only play off the yellow tees then it'll be stuck here forever....

So I need to get off work on Saturdays (costly) play off the whites, pay (waste) my £3, and simply shoot worse than 13 on a regular basis??? (Sarcastic comment!)

Anyhow. I don't agree with a system that randomly cuts players for being "too consistent".....the reason I'm more consistent is that if and when I play, I practice the day before and get an early night. Just because I'm more consistent than other 12 h'caps who play cold and with a hangover, doesn't mean we should all be compared together....

So, I'm resigned to my fate and will go on as before.

Thanks for your support, even if you were non-sympathetic to my situation, I value your straight talking.

 

[Macster]

I dont think its fair, as I've said earlier, but rather than let this fester away with you, why dont you take it as a personal challenge to step up and play to it ?
Might be better than resigning yourself to being a lesser golfer and having a year of frustration ?

I'm off 11, after being 12 for years, and many of those when I didnt play much and certainly struggled to play 'to it'.

Last year saw a reduction, and I hope to better it again this year, but never once have I expected either to be 'pushed up' or 'cut down'.

Go on - you can do it !