Full allowance in Matchplay

[USER1999]

Any one else played a knockout singles recently since they changed to full difference on the shots?

Now this might sound odd, as I was recieveing shots, but played against a 2 handicapper last night, and got 10 shots. That is way too many. When it was 3/4 it lead to a close match, but full allowance with this great a difference was silly.

A mid handicap golfer will use his h/cap up on probably 5 holes, with a few doubles etc. When the difference was 3/4, this kind of made up for the fact that I don't drop shots on index 1 to 12, but spray them about a bit, with a lot of pars in the mix. Now I get full allowance, I can't see the better golfer has much of an advantage.

I probably would have won anyway, as I played really well, and pretty much the only holes I lost were when I lost the ball, but this kind of proves my point.

Any one else played full allowance matchplay yet?

 

[Tommo21]

Been playing it for a couple of years now and I read somewhere, could have been here, the stats show there is a much more even split on who’s won a match with the full allowance.

I played a guy last year and I gave him 12 shots and he birdied one of the longest holes on the course….net eagle.

 

[StuartD]

We started a couple of years ago.

Got beat then in a game with no shots. Last year i had to give away 16 shots to a 27 handicapper. Got beat 7&6 and felt i could not do much about it.

A 6 handicapper still won it at the end of the year though

 

[theeaglehunter]

Nope, but I agree that it is a bad idea when I played with 3/4 it was a good match so why there was a need to change I don't know. And to be honest until now I didn't realise it had changed as matchplay events are rare at my club. And I have only ever entered one anyway so they may well have changed it and I just didn't know! What was the score Murph?

 

[USER1999]

I was dormi 4, and eventually won 3 & 1. I just felt that it was always going to go my way, as I have played him before, and although he is a fantastic golfer, if I played marginally better than my handicap I would win.

If it is only a few shots difference, ie: a 10 playing a 14, then whether it is 4 shots or 3 probably won't make a difference. But there is a big diffence between giving 10 shots or 8 because indexes 9 and 10 are not really difficult holes.

A friend of mine once played a lady in Germany, him off 4, her off 45, full allowance, 41 shots. Daft.

 

[Marko77]

We've been full difference for singles matchplay for as long as I've been at the club. Our stats are the same as already commented on, the lower handicap player usually wins more often than not.

Personally, I'd like 3/4 difference but see the full diff as a challenge - thankfully I've not yet had to give away 16 shots like poor Stuart though! 11 is the limit I've given away so far and managed to win that.

 

[USER1999]

We only changed at xmas, in line with the R&A rule book. It is my first experience of it, and I always thought 3/4 gave a good game. I can't see why it needed to change.

My worry is that a lot of the single figure guys might avoid these comps, as they see the allowance change as a kick in the teeth, and favouring the higher h/capper. If they don't enter, then the comp will be a bit worthless.

I guess over time they will get over it, especially if a low h/cap player continues to get their name on the board.

 

[johng]

I've played in a couple of yellow and white comps recently. closest matches have been when i've only receive 1-2 shots etc. Biggest win was when i received 7 shots, (15 against 8)won 7+6.
There has been a bit of discussion in the club about this as it does seem to go against the lower single figure handicap and a few of the clubs better players will only enter the medal comps as a result of the changes.

Still thems the rules and we all know this when we enter any comps'.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Got my first round matchplay next Sunday. High Noon showdown. The guy I'm playing is off 6 so I'll get 8 shots and to be honest think I'll need every one of them as I'm just not playing well.

Still its not over til the fat yellow guy shouts Doh!

 

[toonarmy]

This keeps coming up and it's still the same answer:

CONGU have crunched the numbers and the idea that 3/4 is fairer than full handicap is just plain wrong. Statistically fairer to allow full handicap.

Details here:

http://www.congu.com/template1.asp?pid=174

 

[clubchamp07]

Murph, I played a match last week and had to give 14 shots away. I didn't hold my breath thinking about a win but I did win. I agree the full shot stuff makes it really harder for the low men. In the next round I play a guy of 20, a shot a hole he's getting. No odds on me winning but I will keep you posted!!!
I think it was much better 3/4's

 

[backwoodsman]

toonarmy got there first - the Congu site explains all about the lower handicapper still generally winning - even off full allowance. But even without the article, I always thought it odd - and never understood the point of playing off 3/4. Surely a handicap is a handicap?

 

[Dodger]

I do not play in knockouts anymore due to this rule....last 2 years I HAVE BEEN BEATEN BY 16 AND 18 hcprs when finishing the game I have benn around par and stuffed 4 and 3 both times!

 

[Nico]

PLayed my first round like this last week and won 5 & 4,seemed ok to me.

Mind you we are both off 5 so.......

In all honesty I know my next opponent and he is off 11 and beat me in the scratch matchplay 4 & 3.

I was at my worst then with my knee but I think my future in this competition is limited.

Whatever the stats say,I cannot see how full difference is fair. You can use the stats to show that higher handicappers tend to drop their shots in clusters of 2/3/4 not one at a time which I always thought was why we had 3/4 diff.

Low handicappers tend to win for 1 main reason,we tend to manage our game better over a round.

 

[rgs]

The congu stats confirm that low handicappers win more than the lose in matchplay competitions.

We all have a handicap so why should the handicap in matchplay differ from the handicap used in the weekly stapleford or monthly medal competition.
The scores recorded by all players over the course of the season are what determine the players handicap and these should be the handicaps used in all internal competitions be they strokes, stapleford or matchplay. The club committee are in a position to observe the playing of all members and make adjustments if necessary.

I currently play off 20 and know i should be playing off a lower handicap, however my recorded scores in all single competitions this season do not justify a lower handicap, however my performances in matchplay & team competition are far superior to the singles performances, this annoys me but i am trying my utmost to reduce the handicap.