handicap advice needed

[ianmc]

i am in the process of joining my local course just waiting for the formalitys and my best round on this course is 72 against a par of seventy although ive only played here about ten times so they is room for a little improvement.my question is when you guys joined your clubs did you hold a few shots back to give a slightly higher handicap im thinking about this should i go as low as i can to get a single figure handicap or hold back a bit and get a higher one so i have a great chance of winning medals or is this viewed apon as cheating by you lot let me know how you went about this when joining your course or previous courses. thanks ian mc

 

[Toad]

Ian,
very silly question, of course this is the same as cheating, if you go down this route of holding back shots you will find after a while nobody will be prepared to have a round with you as it will get noticed.

When I went for my handicap I tried to get it as low as possible, never once did I think about throwing shots away just so I would have a better chance in medal's.

Last year I won no medals on my home course but did improve my handicap by 1.8 over the year that to me was better than winning any medal.

 

[viscount17]

for me, that's a definite no-no. you could find it awfully lonely out there.

 

[StuartD]

Ian,

I would say honesty is the best policy. I would be happier with a low handicap not winning very much than being a bit of a bandit.

My advice is go out and do your best to get a low handicap as possible

 

[USER1999]

Essentially your h'cap is what it is. If you start trying to rig it, is this any different from cheating on the course? I don't think so.

They will probably throw the highest of your three cards in the bin, and average the other two. If one card is noticeably better than the other two, they will probably use just that one.

Would you feel good, winning off a dodgy handicap?

 

[brendy]

When I joined my club I had 2 rounds of +6 and one of +8 (bad weather) and got my handicap of 6, I thought it was fair at the time, I didnt even think about going for a higher score as I want to get my handicap as low as possible without being over ambitious.

 

[Dave3498]

Ian, this is a game between you and the golf course. Nothing and nobody else is involved. You should always be playing against the course and doing your best to beat it at all times, consequently you should want to reduce your handicap to the lowest possible, until hopefully, you and your golf course are playing eachother on equal terms. It's amatter of pride and self respect. Don't falsify your handicap under any circumstances.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

What they said.

 

[ianmc]

thanks for this guys didnt mean to get anyones back up i will certainly do my best all it was i know quite few members at my course and most of them said they all did this when they first got there handicaps was just wondering if it was a common thing.ian mc

 

[Gasp]

Ian, you've shot 2 over par on this course yet you ask a questian like this? Where have you been to reach such a high standard in playing, yet so low a standard in etiquette.

Yes it's cheating. I can only reiterate what Dave and the others have so elaquantly put. The answers they've given show not only the knowledge this Forum has but also their tolerance.

 

[ianmc]

hey i dont think i show a low standard of etiquette i havent done anything wrong here i just asked a question i always replace divots repair pitch marks etc i am currently playing nomad until my membership comes though i have reached this standard by working my arse off practising so get off your high horse mate like i said i havent done anything wrong here

 

[viscount17]

i know quite few members at my course and most of them said they all did this

then don't play them! you'll never know if you're getting an honest game (bit like Man U's extra extra time

 

[USER1999]

A fair question to ask, but I think you have your answer. Maybe the people you spoke to were pulling your leg? Most golfers I know might joke about 'getting a shot back', but inside, most are gutted when they go up.

 

[birdieman]

Ian
I think your question was innocent enough but I wouldn't even ask that question out loud, honesty and integrity is everything in golf. As soon as you win that first medal or cup they'll cut you anyway so just get the handicap right from the off by going as low as you can.
If I was given the choice of cutting my handicap by 2 or winning 5 cups I'd go for the handicap cut...honestly... I still dream of one day being a scratch golfer, until I reach that I won't be satisfied with the game, no matter how many cups I might win. Golf is about the lowest number of shots...period.

p.s. the thing that annoys me the most in golf is when you ask someone what they scored and they give you their net score, drives me mad. The whole handicap thing, although a great leveller, is at times very contentious, there are too many bandits out there already...don't go down that route!

 

[Gasp]

ian what answer did you really expect when you posted this, did you really think people would advise you to submit an unrealistic score just so you had a chance to win a few pots??

I'm sorry if I seemed bullish but I was surprised by the post.

 

[ianmc]

no problem george i just wondered what other people views were on this.after all this is a forum

 

[Gasp]

You are of course right and I appologise for my priggishness

 

[RGuk]

ian....you are thinking along the same lines as me. when I was "booking" my three rounds to play with a member or two for my card I considered if I should practice or not the day before, and whether i should get to the course early and do the 30 minutes putting etc. that i'd do before a serious game. i think this could make a big difference to my score, certainly going to the range the day before helps a great deal and avoids the "disaster" shots, that happen on the first few holes if unprepared.
if you have gone round in 72, but feel there is room for improvement, then a h'cap based on that score (of 2, roughly) would seem ok, not too hard to play to, if you have played a few "bad rounds" then (in the case of a potential catagory 1 player) these should be taken into consideration. deliberately leaving a few shots out on the course would be a poor idea, since single figure players have to accpet that their handicap is their "prize" for being so good, and not many competitions are likely to come their way.
play your normal game, don't under or over prepare and see what comes. certainly don't throw a shot or two, even if you get towards the end and are heading for a "too good" round. if you had a hot one (say a level par) and 2 cards at 3 or 4 over, they're not going to put you off scratch are they???

Dave

 

[happyhacker]

As someone who's handicap is currently wrong, let me assure you, you want yours to be at the correct level. I never fudged my 3 cards when I came back to the game, but they were not great numbers and I got a handicap of 28. (Honestly feel the handicap secretary made a bit of an ar$e of it tbh).

Now as a result of much play and practise my scores have tumbled but I am still lumbered with a high handicap. It has got no end of members backs up that I am walking the winter league at a canter.

My own personal solution to my problem will come in spring, when I get my handicap cut and donate my winnings to the bar for the members to drink.

Happy golfing.

 

[ianmc]

thanks dave i will try my upmost for the lowest handicap possible.my best is 72 and worst is 80 so if i play to close to my best ill be off single figures and ill be happy with that.buthaving read your post several weeks back you found it quite intimadating playing for your hanicap and didnt do as well as you could have is this the case or have i got you mixed up with someone else?ian mc