Competitions and Handicap

[TheCaddie]

Soon to complete my move to Sevenoaks and firs thing on the list is to join a club.

Quick question, is playing in a competition the only way to get a handicap cut? And, are all competitons played off the back tees despite ability?

The reason I ask is that I am strongly considering Knole Park at the moment, but the back tees make it an entirely different course from what I can see, and I am not really struggling with my driver and woods. Atm, I am taking a 4i off the tee, and knocking that about 200yds....

Any advice or help would be appreciated.

 

[jamielaing]

Most comps are played from the back tees. Some of the better courses have extra long 'tiger tees' that are at the maximum length that they will use a couple of times a season but other than that all comps will be from the white tees.

To get a handicap you will need to submit one competition card and 2 from the yellow tees but any cuts come from the white tee competitions.

If you like the course go for it. The longer tees will in time improve your game.

 

[TheCaddie]

Most comps are played from the back tees. Some of the better courses have extra long 'tiger tees' that are at the maximum length that they will use a couple of times a season but other than that all comps will be from the white tees.

To get a handicap you will need to submit one competition card and 2 from the yellow tees but any cuts come from the white tee competitions.

If you like the course go for it. The longer tees will in time improve your game.

Thanks for this Jamie. Yes, Knole Park has got red, yellow, white and green which spooked me a bit!! ha ha! I suppose you are right, with time, the handicap will improve anyways.... it's just I've been playing for around a year, and want to join a club under 28 (just a personal target more than anything).

 

[Scott W]

From 1 January 2016 I beleive that clubs will be allowed to allocate h'caps up to 36 for men - http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/...big-changes-to-handicap-system-for-2016-74643

 

[Foxholer]

Most comps are played from the back tees. Some of the better courses have extra long 'tiger tees' that are at the maximum length that they will use a couple of times a season but other than that all comps will be from the white tees.

To get a handicap you will need to submit one competition card and 2 from the yellow tees but any cuts come from the white tee competitions.

If you like the course go for it. The longer tees will in time improve your game.

Never heard of that requirement before! Must be a 'Club' rule. 3 Cards is the norm though.

Indeed, most comps are from White/Competition Tees. Some clubs have these exclusively for competitions - an attitude I detest!

 

[TheCaddie]

Would prefer not to have a handicap higher than 28!!

 

[chellie]

Handicap cards have to be off the whites for men at ours.

 

[AmandaJR]

Check with the club regarding initial cards as ours can be from Yellows or Whites and of course based upon their SSS.

 

[TheCaddie]

Thanks all! I am planning a visit there, and hopefully a complimentary round, and I will work it all out from there. Just having a bit of a panic as I want to feel welcome and comfortable playing at the club, and I want to be at an acceptable standard (although I would hazard a guess I would be very very close to that standard even if I wasn't initially).

 

[jamielaing]

Never heard of that requirement before! Must be a 'Club' rule. 3 Cards is the norm though.

Indeed, most comps are from White/Competition Tees. Some clubs have these exclusively for competitions - an attitude I detest!

Either that or a Scottish one then.

 

[Foxholer]

Either that or a Scottish one then.

I got my first on in Scotland and it don't believe it involved a competition! May have changed since 2001 though!

 

[jamielaing]

Thanks for this Jamie. Yes, Knole Park has got red, yellow, white and green which spooked me a bit!! ha ha! I suppose you are right, with time, the handicap will improve anyways.... it's just I've been playing for around a year, and want to join a club under 28 (just a personal target more than anything).

I know you will want to start off well at your club but choosing a club should be on a whole number of factors. If you have picked the club you like go with that feeling. Even off the longer tees with a 4 iron you will not lose too much distance. Much better to grow into a club than grow out of it in my opinion.

We are looking at changing clubs and, as there are 4 of us, there is much debate. One thing I am making sure of is that it will be my club for 10+ years. I really don't want to go somewhere and want to leave a couple of years later.

Don't worry too much about your handicap at this stage. Just enjoy the game and you may just surprise yourself from the whites. Before you know it you'll be desperate to get on those Tiger tees!

Make sure and try the course before you join though. And hopefully you will fall in love with it.

 

[jamielaing]

I got my first on in Scotland and it don't believe it involved a competition! May have changed since 2001 though!

Club rule then I guess. Always been that way at my club.

 

[SteveJay]

Hi Caddie, I am in a similar position. Just joined a club after relocating, mainly to try and get to play more and meet new potential playing partners.

i have played a couple rounds on my own but once I have got to know the course a bit I will be wanting a handicap. My club has a 3 card requirement but don't seem to insist on it being from competitions, just signed by a member with an official handicap themselves. Haven't established the tee protocol yet!

 

[Bazz]

I wish I could hit my driver 200 yards

 

[louise_a]

As long as you put in 3 cards off tees with a SSS allocated you should get a handicap, you can also put supplementary cards in, as long as you register you intention of doing so before you start the round. These will be used to adjust your handicap but will always be against SSS, whereas in a comp the will be a separate CSS.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To be honest I wouldn't let the longer tees faze you. You'll need to play off them at some point and it'll be more about course management than anything else. Maybe once you join, a lesson to learn to hit driver or 3 wood off the tee better will give you some extra distance. I understand the desire to start lower than 28 but to be honest it's only the beginning and so whatever you're allocated, it's all about trying to get cut

 

[pbrown7582]

As long as you put in 3 cards off tees with a SSS allocated you should get a handicap, you can also put supplementary cards in, as long as you register you intention of doing so before you start the round. These will be used to adjust your handicap but will always be against SSS, whereas in a comp the will be a separate CSS.

Well summed up.