Golf Cheats

Should the Burka be banned.

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I play off 24 and was up to 26 a few weeks ago. I like most high handicappers have a lack of consistency throughout a round of golf, with 3 or 4 card wreckers per game. I have made par on every hole at my club, so the ability must be there. Low handicappers can believe it or not, but yes it is embarrassing scoring 4 points for a par, even if the blobs do even your score out.

I recently scored 39 points in a club major, my personal best. I was disappointed to see my handicap only drop by 1.2. I proved with my score that I was 3 full shots better than my handicap. That’s were I feel the system is wrong. Every shot you hit below your handicap should be rewarded with a full shot reduction, in the higher categories at least. My objective is not to win a few bob in a comp, but to prove to myself I am improving my game with a lower handicap. I would rather score 30 points and be able to boast a handicap of 18, than score 36+ and having to admit playing off 24
 
I play off 24 and was up to 26 a few weeks ago. I like most high handicappers have a lack of consistency throughout a round of golf, with 3 or 4 card wreckers per game. I have made par on every hole at my club, so the ability must be there. Low handicappers can believe it or not, but yes it is embarrassing scoring 4 points for a par, even if the blobs do even your score out.

I recently scored 39 points in a club major, my personal best. I was disappointed to see my handicap only drop by 1.2. I proved with my score that I was 3 full shots better than my handicap. That’s were I feel the system is wrong. Every shot you hit below your handicap should be rewarded with a full shot reduction, in the higher categories at least. My objective is not to win a few bob in a comp, but to prove to myself I am improving my game with a lower handicap. I would rather score 30 points and be able to boast a handicap of 18, than score 36+ and having to admit playing off 24
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dont really think that if you shoot 6 under, that your h/cap should get cut by 6 for instance, think that is a bit extreme. is it set up for consistency.if like me, i ended up shooting my PB (83) in a comp, i would have been cut to 12!!! but my overall ablility is no where near worthy of a 12 h/cap at the mo!its cut by 0.3 for every shot to bring it down gradually!!
 
Recent newbie on here Sundance is the epitomy of what can be achienved but at a price. He started the year on 26 and since then he has played every competition going and is currently 12.6. In doing so he has won a fair few prizes and so has been labelled a cheat, a bandit and a handicap protector. How can that be. I played with him last winter and to be fair 20 would have been the right sort of mark but having put his cards in during the wet and windy weather 26 it was.

He has been refused entry into one of the roll ups because they were scared he'd win the money every week and said that to his face. What can the guy do. He's put a card in for every comp and had 0.1's back as well. I'm sure Hawkeye will say the same as will those that met him at the Grove that he is becoming a capable young golfer and spends as much time as he can playing. Why should he be labelled a cheat by so many tinged with green envy. It's going to be interesting to see prize giing this year and some fo the comments. I think he'll ruffle a few feathers and hope he does. I'll be there clapping loudly for him. The problem is, mud sticks!

Its not just him though. We've often had tales of a great 40+ round from nowhere from guys whos game has been in the doldrums for months. Are they suddenly a cheat or handicap protector on the basis of one good round.

Personally I'd like to see the minimum number of qualifiers changed to 8 of which 4 must be medal play. With midweek events and the busy summer schedule that isn't impossible for anyone.
 
Every dog has its day... and well done to the people that do.

As Chris points out 3 cards is the minimum you need to enter I personally think it should be 5, 12 is a bit excessive but is certainly worth a debate.

As for cheats... hmmm I'd say no, unless they know they are going to score so well on that given day so protect their high handicap, which you can't. For me live and let live, hope they get a cut, you never know it could be me next time!

bloody bandits :D
 
Allegedly, the average club golfer should equal or beat their handicap approx 3 times per year.

The last change to the CONGU h'cap system was brought about after a few years of piloting the changes. The changes were full allowance in Stableford and Matchplay singles. Prior to the change single h'cap golfers won 58% of all singles competitions. Since the change the percentage has changed to marginally in favour of those with a h'cap in the teens.

If you're beating your h'cap in competition on a regular basis I'd be tempted to ask the question, "why hasn't Rule 19, General Play, been applied?"

There is a lot of truth in every dog has his day but sadly, if you ever become involved in comps committee's you will see specific trends that strongly suggest someone is managing their h'cap. And if you gather enough evidence, and apply Rule 19 be prepared for a Solicitor's a letter - I got one.
 
Well pointed out Hobbit.
That is how i've always viewed a golfing handicap,i.e it should be what you are capable of playing to on a good day,and not what you usually shoot every other weekend.
I became totally disillusioned with weekly medals and stablefords at my last club,the reason was,that i never felt i had any chance of being competitive.I played off 4 at the time,and prided myself in the fact,that i could play to my handicap,or slightly better,every time.The problem was,that net 69's or 39 Stableford points,just didn't make the grade.
So,how can the present handicap system be "fair" ?
 
A couple of years ago I scored 44 (with a blob on the par-3 17th) points off 9 in the first comp of the year and then didn't reduce my handicap again all season.
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Blimey - it's tough at bearwood - even if i hit a big drive at the 17th, it's still a sand wedge in for me ;)
 
I'd suggest everyone starts off at 18 handicap, and your 3 cards get you cut from that, or your start from that.

Cuts as current, and i'd give consideration to rises a function of your score over CSS (rather than 0.1),
 
I don't think is cheating. I think that more people are joining clubs and are improving quicker.

I know people may say that this is tosh and that club memberships are struggling, but I think that this is primarily due to more clubs starting up.
 
Well pointed out Hobbit.
That is how i've always viewed a golfing handicap,i.e it should be what you are capable of playing to on a good day,and not what you usually shoot every other weekend.
I became totally disillusioned with weekly medals and stablefords at my last club,the reason was,that i never felt i had any chance of being competitive.I played off 4 at the time,and prided myself in the fact,that i could play to my handicap,or slightly better,every time.The problem was,that net 69's or 39 Stableford points,just didn't make the grade.
So,how can the present handicap system be "fair" ?
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I know what you mean about having to shoot a course record just to be competitive. And then when you do have that day out you become the bandit. I shot 43pts playing off 4 in an Open a number of years back and got crucified as I went up to collect my prize. Being a sarcastic sod I enjoyed my speech - "heart of my bottom" stuff.

My club has 3 divisions for prizes apart from the board comps. Least that way the low guys don't need to shoot silly scores.
 
A solicitors letter *gulp* some people take golf way too seriously!
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I offered to suspend his h'cap whilst the County Union investigated the "away" scores I'd been made aware of.

Sorted... nothing more was said.
 
I agree that 3 rounds is a little low but the clubs are concerned about retaining members.

My preference would be 6 as per the OP. However this does not stop someone who is improving from getting 40+ points in a comp - I actually won a club Stableford with 42 points earlier in the year and got a cut.

Very pleased but also got a few comments. I had played in 12 qualifiers in the year at that stage (more since) , put every card in come what may, and come down by several shots at that stage so didn't feel it was fair that the implication was that I was sandbagging so I could get a win.

It is also true that a higher handicapper has more leeway to score well as they can have a good day and sparkle - a low H/C er needs a good score just to get the 36 point representing their level. To combat this in most comps (but not all) we play in our handicap division only.

I got beaten into 3rd this weekend by someone who has a higher H/C than me but I understand is also on a roll and having a few good results so I think its great to see different people take a win every now and then.

Our club championship is over 2 rounds and it was won by a 2 H/C so I think that is also a good indication that the H/C's in our club are right.
 
Cheats is a bit harsh on most golfers. Admittedly it sounds as if some people do protect there handicaps but these are not usually young folk or people who are just starting out in the game.

For me been playing golf properly for the last 18months. I started at 24 handicap and wanted it down to 18 quickly. How ever due to time constraints of when the tournament was I couldnt compete in most of them and have only managed to get it down to 19.5. Which is probably about right at the moment I am capable of shooting at best 12 over but I am also prone to the 20+ over at the moment it depends on the day. I would take offence at being called a cheat if I did have a good day.

Every person who has just joined the game or is young wants to get better and hates being the high handicapper. So when they do well they are proud while also a little embarressed about winning due to the incoming flak that happens. Do people campaign for those that come in with 18 points to get a higher handicap to make it fair as they say?

It depends what type of course people play on to how there game is. The course I am a member at is a tight course where you cant go much off line or you get in trouble and if I play to handicap I am happy. Where as another course I play regularly is very open and it means I can open my arms abit and most holes you can go offline and still have a shot to a green. Now here I have played really badly last 3 times I have been there and still hit 36 points yet if I play averagely I would expect 40 points.

Now if I was to change clubs at end of the year to the one I find easier yes my handicap would come down a lot. Would it make me a better player? No.

There needs to be a better way for handicaps to reflect courses.
 
They do complain, but how did the low h/cappers get to be low h/cappers?

Could it possibly be that they often shot well below their h/cap at the time and got cut? :p :p

Isn't that what the h/capping system is about?
 
In all seriousness I doubt I've played that many comps in the last 8-10 years and I'm nowhere near it if you only count handicap qualifiers (cricket took precedence).

Just out of interest what is the sss of your course relative to par and how much have you come down shooting 40+pts 16 times (that's more than 1 in every 5 rounds of 40+pts).
 
They do complain, but how did the low h/cappers get to be low h/cappers?

Could it possibly be that they often shot well below their h/cap at the time and got cut? :p :p

Isn't that what the h/capping system is about?
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We do complain because quite often we need to shoot a course record to stand a chance of winning. But that doesn't mean the guy that has won is a cheat, it means the system is flawed - or at least that's what some people believe.

Personally, I think the system is a good one. Golfers beating their handicap by quite a margin will always happen. Whatever the system is in place you will always see someone have that round of their lives.

But there are also those that manage their handicaps, however they are rarer than people think. Even then they've got to manage quite a margin to guarantee a win.
 
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