If I understand you correctly it seems the division handicap limit is decided after the comp is completed, but based on those you stated?
Theoretically, if you had a very large field with, say 20 scratch golfers and 20 40+ handicappers (some of who may have just started the game). Probability wise, will the winner be a scratch golfer or a 40+ handicapper? I'd imagine there is a better chance of a 45+ stableford point round from the higher handicapper. So, as a scratch golfer, you may feel that regardless of how well you play, at least 1 of the high handicappers will have a great round and shoot a score the scratch golfer has no chance to achieve.
Analysis of our comps shows that divisional winners are almost always at the highest allowable hcap in that division, which bears out your probability scenario.
I'd suggest the opposite is true though, certainly if the results from the two clubs where I've been on the handicap committee are anything to go by. CONGU analysis of scores taken from there vast database would also suggest the same.
A 40 handicapper, who is new to golf, is likely to improve and ultimately see a significant drop over time. Therefore, it is not unusual that at least one 40 handicapper out of many could shoot a high score. For example, imagine a field that includes 50 golfers who play off 40. It would certainly not surprise me to see the best score of those 50 golfers to be high, say 48 points as an example. Imagine the same field including 50 golfers who play off scratch. Is is equally likely that the best score for the scratch golfers would be 12 under gross to get 48 points?
You are right in that a high handicapper is more likely to come in with an unusually low score than a scratch golfer, but in my experience, they are still relatively rare occurrences restricted to golfers new to the game. Certainly at my club if we introduced divisions we would be redistributing the prize fund from low to high handicappers, which could, of course, be seen as a good thing.
You missed my point. I fully agree that a lower golfer will beat a higher handicapper more often than not, due to their consistency. However, in a very large field, the odds significantly increase that at least 1 high handicapper will get a great score. And, it only takes 1 to get a great score that no lower handicapper is likely to achieve. It doesn't matter if a scratch golfer has a great day and shoots 42 points, and beats 45 out of 50 guys who have a 40+ handicap. Not when 5 of the 40+ handicappers shoot around 43-50 points.
Only because I’ve been told by the Pro that players need to know which division they’re in. If a player always plays his best I cant see that argument, hence seeking opinions!
Which if you are paying out for just one prize is a good argument, but not if you are paying multiple prizes, we pay top 10% for all our competitions, so anything up to 16 prizes.
