First Handicap Question

[Coonberger]

Hi been playing since last August and have been playing off 28 as my scores have been in the 120s, now my mate who I started with has also been playing of 28 but has been a lot better than me usually in the low 100s but recently he has joined a club and has entered his 3 cards of 93, 105 and 109 and been given a handicap of 20. I have just been using the Golfshot app for myself as I haven't joined a club yet, that automatically tracks your handicap bringing it down if and when, but recently I have been scoring in the low 100s and suddenly i am being called a bandit as he and others think i should now be playing of alot lower handicap. My app hasn't changed my handicap so i thought id work out my last 3 cards (104, 103, 99) as you would if I joined a club, I have done the calcs according to CONGU rules of adjusting the scores to only score no more than double bogey then subtracting the sss of 67 for my course off each then adding together and dividing by 3 which comes out as 29 so in that case I should still be off 28, shouldn't I? but the thing is is that i also work his 3 cards he handed in and he should be off alot higher than 20, so my question (after the biggest explanation ever) is do clubs work out handicaps different to the rules set by CONGU if so what should my handicap be?

I really want to be lower than an embarrassing 28 handicap so any help is greatly appreciated
thanks

 

[G1BB0]

nowt wrong with 28

He may have handed a card in that rounded down to doubles put him off 20. I know its 3 cards but from what I have read on here it would seem a lot go off the lowest of the 3 as opposed to the average

 

[Coonberger]

So in that case my lowest card is 99 so i would still be of 28?

 

[pbrown7582]

It has changed you have worked it correctly rounding trebles and above to doubles but it is then the best card minus SSS gives your initial handicap and not an average of the 3.

 

[duncan mackie]

So in that case my lowest card is 99 so i would still be of 28?

assuming the appropriate double bogey adjustments

sounds like a case or 'relative bandit' ie you are winning more often than he is - this is frequently an issue when society golfers meet club ones, especially lower club ones, because they are very likely to appear to do well off society tees in generally good society summer weather, or generally easier society courses!

society handicaps are a way of redistributing prizes rather than a reflection of true golfing capability.

best thing you can do is join a club and get your cards in for a handicap - then any competition results will clearly define the level, if any, of your banditry!

 

[Coonberger]

OK ive just redone my cards of 103 104 and 99 and my 104 came up the lowest and gives me a handicap of 26 :clap: I am not officially a 26 handicapper woohoo!!

 

[matts1984]

You gotta start somewhere, were your mates cards on an easier course?

 

[Coonberger]

no same course par71 sss68