Golf Society Help - Unofficial Handicaps.

[Oddsocks]

OK, so im a bit confused of the fairess and easiest way to do this. I recently started a society with the main aim of just getting the boys together on a sunday once a month. thers 25 members in total ranging from complete novices who are now only on the second time on a course (who has the bug the most funny enough) to players who are very serious, with official handicaps etc...

the point is im trying to ensure its a fair as can be fore all players down the list.

what do you guys class as more than adequate points beofre a handicap should look to be adjusted. i used to play as part of a society last year when top 3 dropped a shot, bottom 3 gained a shot and anything over 40pts stableford was cut directly from your handicap too, this was ok but i found alot of players were noting their own points(on the markers section of the card, and the ammount that had a bad 14th / 15th / 16th to come in with 39pts was a bit fo a regular thing.

To me anything over 36 has always been questionable.

would like to here others views.

 

[muttleee]

When I did handicaps for a society, we had a straightforward rule that the winner lost 3 shots, the runner up 2 shots and third place, 1 shot. Winners of best front and back 9 lost half a shot. If anyone had scores in excess of 36 points, I cut them .4 per shot for cat 4, .3 for cat 3 etc. It may sound a bit harsh but the idea was to make sure winners got a reasonable cut, no matter what their actual score was.

 

[Oddsocks]

i like your style. we played recently at a very well knonw course and a guy off 21 (who played off 18 up to 2 years ago when he quit) posted 21 points on the front nine. i pulled out the kebab knife and this week he is off 18, hes not to impressed :lol:

Whats funny is off of 18 he shot 31 points in a game last night on a unplayed course with the last 3 holes being under very bad light, id say the 18 capper suits him better, he may go down even more yet

 

[Oddsocks]

at what point did you give shots back. we have it at the moment that anyone coming last would gain 1 shot back, but nothing in stone as in a set score of say less that 20 points?

 

[RGDave]

To me anything over 36 has always been questionable.

I'm not a big society player and when I do venture out onto the course I'd tell the organiser to naff off if he wanted to cut me (for society purposes) off 36-38 points.

I personally believe it is safest to leave the regular club players alone. Everyone else, I'd cut them according to the SSS for the tee used and players way off the mark (under 30?) I'd give a whole stroke to for a few games.

It's a hard one to call though. The chances of me scoring over 40 points is very, very small and I'd normally expect to "not win" on 38...there's always someone in the field who (mostly deservedly) will win the top spot.

One of the biggest problems with doing things fairly is putts being given in stableford society games. I think the games should be played in a friendly and relaxed way, so giving putts is AOK with me.....If a player in my group made 40 points, won the prize and I knew we'd given him 3 or 4 he might well have missed, then a cut could be considered harsh.

Just my thoughts.

 

[USER1999]

This is always a thorny issue. We had a rethink last year in my society, as every one had been cut so much that the winning score had come down to low 20s. This meant anyone joining would automatically win. I was off 2, actual handicap 12.
I think it is easy to get carried away, cut alot of people, and then they won't turn up.

 

[Fyldewhite]

In our society all players start the season off their club or society handicap. Club members can go up and down and always play off their club handicap. Society handicaps are reduced and put up depending on performance in much the same way as the club system works. The sec works out a CSS and adjusts accordingly.

In addition, the winner of each event (club or society handicap) gets penalised 1, 2 or 3 shots depending on category for the rest of that season. If they win again they get another penalty etc. So, if someone off 24 scores 40 points and wins they may end up off 22.4 and next time out would play off 19 as a 3 shot reduction would apply. Next time they may score 40 points again but not win resulting in their handicap going to 20.8 and playing the next comp off 18 etc.

The next season everyone reverts to their club or society handicap so in the example above (assuming a few 0.1's) the guy would play off about 21.

 

[Smiffy]

We just used to dock the winner of our events thus
Handicap 20+ 3 shots
Handicap 11 - 19 2 shots
Handicap 10 or below 1 shot

 

[funkyfred]

OK, so im a bit confused of the fairess and easiest way to do this. I recently started a society with the main aim of just getting the boys together on a sunday once a month. thers 25 members in total ranging from complete novices who are now only on the second time on a course (who has the bug the most funny enough) to players who are very serious, with official handicaps etc...

the point is im trying to ensure its a fair as can be fore all players down the list.

what do you guys class as more than adequate points beofre a handicap should look to be adjusted. i used to play as part of a society last year when top 3 dropped a shot, bottom 3 gained a shot and anything over 40pts stableford was cut directly from your handicap too, this was ok but i found alot of players were noting their own points(on the markers section of the card, and the ammount that had a bad 14th / 15th / 16th to come in with 39pts was a bit fo a regular thing.

To me anything over 36 has always been questionable.

would like to here others views.

Society handicaps are very difficult to sort out at the best of times. I am the handicap secretary of our society and I have been trying for a couple of years to change how we manage our scores as 75% of our players are playing of a h/c to low, but i keep being over-ruled by the other two officers of our society.
Presently we use a reduction of 3,2and 1 for the first three and adding 1,2 and 3 to the bottom three players. What I did manage to get approved was raising the highest h/c from 28 to 36, this has proven very successful to our society players who only play 3 or 4 times a year. as now they can publish a score that is reasonable and stops them finishing in the bottom 3 every meeting.

Its a diffcult subject, good luck.

 

[Oddsocks]

hmm looks like this may have to have a major rethink. im leaning towards the raise to 36 max as a couple of players are completely new in as low as one has only played a course twice, with maybe 500 range balls under he's belt.

 

[Fyldewhite]

hmm looks like this may have to have a major rethink. im leaning towards the raise to 36 max as a couple of players are completely new in as low as one has only played a course twice, with maybe 500 range balls under he's belt.

Count the number of arms and number of legs. If the answer is 4 then 18, otherwise negotiate. Over 28? OK if wearing a skirt.....maybe

 

[evahakool]

As others have said this can be tricky to work out with some players on official h/cs and some not.Which can lead to disputes, ive been h/c sec. for a few years now and the fairest way i found was to download Handicap Master keep all the cards and enter and this works the h/cs for you which should elimanate any disputes.

 

[HRC99]

Have an AGM (excuse for a piss up) and take views on how to set up handicaps. Then whichever system you adopt, just make sure that everyone gets it in writing and understands it before you start.

A society is for fun and you don't want to end up with a load of hassle for doing something for enjoyment.

 

[rgs]

I have been secreary of a society for the past 12 years or so and handicaps are the most difficult aspect to get right. We deduct the overall winner 1.6 or 10% which ever is the lowest, class winners lose 1.1 or 5%, class runner ups lose 0.6 or 2.5%. Score less than 30 pts you get 0.2 back. Score 38 pts or more and you lose an additional 5%. We also allow a few players play off 36. This allows them to win the odd prize in their class and enjoy their golf.
The only sure thing is you will never pleas all the members.

 

[muttleee]

at what point did you give shots back.

I should have said...I would look at the spread of scores and judge the mid-point. Anyone scoring less than that would get a shot back.

 

[Oddsocks]

its a good thread as it seems alot of societies are running different views on this, and with that in mind open up alot of options were a mix of everyones feedback could be perfect for our gang.

The thing is as mentioned some are just lads that play once a month, some are serious 3 times a week players, so to try and please such a broad spectrum is going to be a nightmere. HRC99 has a good plan AGM pissup to discuss,.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Whatever you do decide make sure you write it down once it's agreed. Otherwise, by the time a couple of months have passed everyone's got a slightly different interpretation and every outing will consist of a big discussion about the handicaps when you could be arguing about something else

 

[Oddsocks]

isnt that the truth....