Handicaps – qualifying competitions/games

[balaclava]

Then there’s the winter when everything goes on hold.

You don't play in the winter then either....fairweather jessie!!

I play during the winter, the HC system doesn't!

Is that because your club choose not to follow the 'system' then?

The Club are supposed to allow you as a member with a handicap as many opportunities to play in qualifying competitions as possible (in order that you can play as much as possible to establish and maintain a correct handicap) which they are clearly not doing....

The course can be altered up to 100 (or is it more?) yards from it's measured length and all tees are given SSS so a CSS can be calculated. Preferred lies are covered in the Rules of Golf as is allowing for balls plugging if need be.

So why doesn't your club have competitions in the winter....?

I presume that playing off 'winter tees' disqualifies the game as a 'qualifying ' competition.

 

[balaclava]

We don't have qualifiers during the winter because we go to a winter course, which is shorter.

I used to put in 50 odd cards a year, and played off 11/12 h/cap. I now put in 12 cards a year, and play off a 11/12 h/cap.

I can't see what the problem is. It all averages out.

Your h/cap is based on stableford and not medal too, so there is no fixation on strokeplay, which apparently favours single figure golfers.

Tosh.

Your game might be consistently steady and never vary from 11/12. I suggest that most golfers are in the HC range 14-24 and they are less consistent and the current system has no way to reflect their current performance and that's in the summer, I presume CONGU believes we don't play during the winter or that we're all playing on courses with conditions expeceted by the top pros. I know Tiger doesn't play off temporary tees but we do.

 

[Golfmmad]

We don't have qualifiers during the winter because we go to a winter course, which is shorter.

I used to put in 50 odd cards a year, and played off 11/12 h/cap. I now put in 12 cards a year, and play off a 11/12 h/cap.

I can't see what the problem is. It all averages out.

Your h/cap is based on stableford and not medal too, so there is no fixation on strokeplay, which apparently favours single figure golfers.

Tosh.

Your game might be consistently steady and never vary from 11/12. I suggest that most golfers are in the HC range 14-24 and they are less consistent and the current system has no way to reflect their current performance and that's in the summer, I presume CONGU believes we don't play during the winter or that we're all playing on courses with conditions expeceted by the top pros. I know Tiger doesn't play off temporary tees but we do.

As I said earlier, I play in qualifying comps all year, but forgot to say, there are no temporary tees or greens - same as is in summer. So I reckon my CONGU handicap is as true as it can be, and it's just up to me to improve and reduce it over time.

Golfmmad.

 

[DCB]

Balaclava,

Do you drive on the left hand side of the road or do you moan about that as well. You've had a real bee in your bonnet about the CONGU handicap system since you came on here. That's what is in use in this country. Deal with it, get on with your game and enjoy it.

Why write to the R & A about handicapping ? It's not their pigeon it's the local Golf Union that administers the CONGU system .

Just don't try driving on the right hand side of the road

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Balaclava,

I'm sorry but I fail to see your point. You've come back (welcome back btw) and launch into a contentious post castigating the CONGU handicap system and saying it is out of step and tantamount to a cheats charter. Most clubs I know, private and public give their members plenty of opprtunities via monthly stableford and medals, midweek events and more prestigious gold letter board events. If you can't supply three qualifying cards per year then to be honest there is no real point in being a member.

I don't see how putting every card in a la the US system is any better. All I can see happening is some guys rushing to get lots of over par cards in very quickly to get a few shots back in time for the big events and so escuing their handicap falsely

CONGU is not perfect. I think most competitive club golfers realise it has faults but its a reasonably fair and arbitary way fo dealing with handicap calculations and takes into account conditions and performance (CSS).

 

[shottoff]

I'm with Region3 on this one.My season is now finished as far as handicap is concerned,but I would much prefer to play some sort of competition every weekend.Having to wait 'til April next year before the "real" golf starts again is very frustrating.
Having said that,playing the winter course(at least where I am)is not a true reflection of how well I'm actually playing.I would think that by the end of the winter most players will be playing about 5-7 shots less than their true handicap,but come 1st April and we're suddenley 100yds further back off the whites,reality kicks in and we remember how good we really are

 

[viscount17]

I can see the logic of returning every score but I can also see drawbacks.

You would get a handicap than more accurately reflects the current game but you would also instil volatility. Too you would create a greater likelihood of high handicaps ('honestly' earned after a shaky spell - and we all know those!) taking comps with big scores.

I think you just have to accept that neither CONGU nor the US system is ideal, come up with a new and better system (that you can get universally accepted - good luck) or live with it.

 

[USER1999]

I wouldn't want to put every card in. Sometimes golf is meant to be fun, a quick knock with your mates, and a bit of banter. If every card counted, it would be dull.

Comps are good. A bit of adrenalin with your name in the book.

But every game? No.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I'm with Murph on that one.
Sometimes I go up to the club and try new things (carrying water, shaping drives etc) which I don't want to experiment with when handicaps may be adversely affected.