Golf Societies and Bandit Handicaps

[TJ Hooker]

Hi All
Some of the long term members have clear bandit handicaps. For example a guy off 30 shoots 86 gross at a fixture few weeks ago.

There are others regularly shooting well under the handicaps each week and other members cant reach em at all. Same guys most weeks in placed positions.

The society is run well with deductions and add ons etc.
My point is the the initial handicap set for some was based upon good faith and was clearly too high on forming the society. This was based upon the old " what you off?" .."oh I'd say 20" that sets the handicaps. Same was asked when I joined. I know this will be subjective re views.

My main query for this post is I feel at the close of the season all scorecards should be reviewed for gross scores re each round played and handicaps reviewed and adjusted fairly for the following season based upon ability..a fair reset. If you are scoring consistently around 10 shots gross under your handicap most weeks that's not right. Yes we have deductions though it does not fairly swallow up the initial set too high handicap in my view.

A society review of all handicaps close season should be undertaken in my view.
Do you think that's fair ?

 

[rulie]

Hi All
Some of the long term members have clear bandit handicaps. For example a guy off 30 shoot 86 gross at a fixture few weeks ago.

There are others regularly shooting well under the handicaps each week and other members cant resch em at all.

The society is run well with deductions and add ons etc.
My point is the the initial handicap set for some was based upon good faith and was clearly too high on forming the society. This was based upon the old " what you off?" .."oh I'd say 20" that sets the handicaps. Same was asked when I joined. I know this will be subjective re views.

My main query for this post is I feel at the close of the season all scorecards should be reviewed for gross scores re each round played and handicaps reviewed and adjusted fairly for the following season based upon ability..a fair reset. If you are scoring consistently 10-13 shots under each week that's not right. A society review of all handicaps close season should be undertaken.
Do you think that's fair ?

No, I don't think it's fair to the non-bandits. Don't wait for the end of the season, check and adjust handicaps every week!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Hi All
Some of the long term members have clear bandit handicaps. For example a guy off 30 shoot 86 gross at a fixture few weeks ago.

There are others regularly shooting well under the handicaps each week and other members cant reach em at all. Same guys most weeks in placed positions.

The society is run well with deductions and add ons etc.
My point is the the initial handicap set for some was based upon good faith and was clearly too high on forming the society. This was based upon the old " what you off?" .."oh I'd say 20" that sets the handicaps. Same was asked when I joined. I know this will be subjective re views.

My main query for this post is I feel at the close of the season all scorecards should be reviewed for gross scores re each round played and handicaps reviewed and adjusted fairly for the following season based upon ability..a fair reset. If you are scoring consistently 10-13 shots under each week that's not right. A society review of all handicaps close season should be undertaken.
Do you think that's fair ?

Why don’t you get everyone to use Iplay to manage and maintain the HCs

 

[PhilTheFragger]

In my society, the handicaps are vigorously maintained, if you score under 30 points, you get a shot back
If you score 30-35 then no change
36 plus and it’s a minus 1
If you win it’s a minus 1

If you score 40 plus it’s a minus 2

Of course the society handicaps bear no resemblance to the WHS handicaps, but our society is a dictatorship not a democracy. And everyone is happy with that

 

[TJ Hooker]

In my society, the handicaps are vigorously maintained, if you score under 30 points, you get a shot back
If you score 30-35 then no change
36 plus and it’s a minus 1
If you win it’s a minus 1

If you score 40 plus it’s a minus 2

Of course the society handicaps bear no resemblance to the WHS handicaps, but our society is a dictatorship not a democracy. And everyone is happy with that

Yes we do the same though those 1 to 2 shot clips never impact enough on members at 30 shooting 86s

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Yes we do the same though those 1 to 2 shot clips never impact enough on members at 30 shooting 86s

It will do after about 10 rounds

 

[TJ Hooker]

It will do after about 10 rounds

Seasons virtually over then though

 

[wjemather]

Manually maintained simple society handicaps are generally a chore and completely hopeless at providing fair competition.
Buy some software that does society competitions and handicapping (e.g. HandicapMaster, which will cost a couple of pounds each) and let it work everything out for you.

 

[MACM85]

Society I am a member of introduced the rule that everyone must have iGolf if they do not have a membership at a club and must have a set number of cards to be eligible to win the major days. If they do not meet the requirements then they play off scratch but can still win NTP and Longest drive.

 

[LIG]

However big your society is, the easiest way to sort handicaps long term is using IPlay (see post #3). It used to be a free app from England golf, not sure it still is but minimal cost, if any.

If some don't want to use it, then Handicapmaster (see post #8) is the next best. After a small intial cost, you have it forever, and it includes options like eclectics if you often play the same course. The two downsides are that someone needs to run it: set up players and courses in advance AND then enter all the scores etc,. Much better to have each player enter their own scores into the IPlay app.

As an added bonus, I believe that anyone who's not revealed their club membership will get found out when they try to register for IPlay. You can only have one - either IPlay or IGolf or MyEG.

 

[wjemather]

However big your society is, the easiest way to sort handicaps long term is using IPlay (see post #3). It used to be a free app from England golf, not sure it still is but minimal cost, if any.

If some don't want to use it, then Handicapmaster (see post #8) is the next best. After a small intial cost, you have it forever, and it includes options like eclectics if you often play the same course. The two downsides are that someone needs to run it: set up players and courses in advance AND then enter all the scores etc,. Much better to have each player enter their own scores into the IPlay app.

As an added bonus, I believe that anyone who's not revealed their club membership will get found out when they try to register for IPlay. You can only have one - either IPlay or IGolf or MyEG.

iPlay is an average score tracker - it is not a handicapping app.

 

[MACM85]

iPlay is an average score tracker - it is not a handicapping app.

They would need to pay for iGolf - £46 for the year

 

[rosecott]

However big your society is, the easiest way to sort handicaps long term is using IPlay (see post #3). It used to be a free app from England golf, not sure it still is but minimal cost, if any.

If some don't want to use it, then Handicapmaster (see post #8) is the next best. After a small intial cost, you have it forever, and it includes options like eclectics if you often play the same course. The two downsides are that someone needs to run it: set up players and courses in advance AND then enter all the scores etc,. Much better to have each player enter their own scores into the IPlay app.

As an added bonus, I believe that anyone who's not revealed their club membership will get found out when they try to register for IPlay. You can only have one - either IPlay or IGolf or MyEG.

Players can enter their own scores via Masterscoreboard.

 

[rulefan]

Players can enter their own scores via Masterscoreboard.

Part of HandicapMaster Ltd

 

[The_Tech_Golfer11]

Hi to all who posted in this thread, we're working on trying to solve this problem with a much more modern solution and would welcome any feedback to help inform some of our decision making.

If anyone has time to complete this very short survey that would be super!

Survey Link: Golf Society and Groups App Feedback