Heres a thought..about handicaps maxing at 18 for comps

[duncan mackie]

Some major work has been carried out by the powers to be and there findings where sent to clubs 3/4 years ago and it seems that in the majority of match plays were the lower handicapper is playing to or near their handicap they end up winning. I have been at several matches were the lower handicapper makes the, "how many shots, I haven't got a chance" statement and true enough, they haven't because they have lost it on the first tee.

The aim of the game is to get more people playing and by restricting those with a legitimate handicap will soon reduce comp entries. Have 2/3 divisions and comps which cater for all handicaps.

As the majority of club players are off handicaps above 16 perhaps England Golf/Counties and clubs should start looking at some decent comps in the higher bracket.

finally some sensible rational observations.

there are a huge number of club players who will never get down to 18, despite playing 3 times a week for 30 years

many clubs don't even have divisions for their monthly/weekly events because they see no reason for it

many clubs don't get anyone shooting 40+ points twice in 10 years

etc etc

either you are playing handicap golf or you aren't; messing around with it is irrational.

 

[fundy]

We know the handicap system is dodgy at times, but I guess we have to go with it.

At mine, the higher handicaps win almost nothing; that's a peculiarity of my course - it simply isn't possible to "get lucky" and shoot the lights out. However, at the other two local courses, the comps often get bandit winners.

As my new pro/coach says. Playing off 24 is dodgy around ********, because you can hit the ball anywhere you like, chip it out and make a 6 or 7 at worse (and also sometimes with two shots in stableford).

We have some 12-16 yard fairways at mine. Miss those in the wrong place, and it's reload, 3 off the tee. Our medals go to players mostly off 6-16.

Think Id be off more than 18 round your place!

 

[williamalex1]

There's lots of open away comps i play that have different h/c limits, some max 18 , 12, 11, 10 or 8.

Most have 3 categories , with a best scratch prize.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Surely being a member of a club is to be able to play comps irrespective of your ability (subject to an active handicap)? If I joined somewhere put my cards in and got say an arbitrary 23 and told sorry but you're off 18 and therefore immediately at a huge disadvantage I'd feel distinctly second class. With the exception of honour board events, everything is played in divisions anyway so surely golfers of similar ability ultimately compete with similar abilities.

 

[RGDave]

Think Id be off more than 18 round your place!

It IS tough. What I do know is that if a higher h'cap player comes in with net par round (medal) or better (36 points up) chances are they have played very well, so fair play.

There is no easy answer. I like to see beginners win comps (those that are improving) and established (read long-time) members do well, but mostly they don't.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Would be a no for me

Said before that the best thing about golf is the fact everyone can compete against each other with the use of the HC system - to then limit that to a certain level is unfair on people above that level - some people will be 20 handicappers all their lives - why should they have to give up shots ?

 

[Foxholer]

Would be a no for me

Said before that the best thing about golf is the fact everyone can compete against each other with the use of the HC system - to then limit that to a certain level is unfair on people above that level - some people will be 20 handicappers all their lives - why should they have to give up shots ?

Spot on Phil!

If you want to 'segregate' them, simply use Divisions! They make sense!

 

[Iaing]

Heard it a hundred times from the low boys.

Dry your eyes and get on with it.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I think for stroke play handicaps just are what they are and we should get on with it.

Match play is a different matter, there are an unbelievable number of golfers out there who seem able to play well under their handicap but say "I just can't do it with a card in my hand". The only practical change I'd suggest, however, would not be to limit handicaps to 18 but to limit the number of shots given to a maximum of 18. Once you start giving people two shots on a hole (esp a par 3 as at my course) it gets a bit farcical.

 

[patricks148]

I think for stroke play handicaps just are what they are and we should get on with it.

Match play is a different matter, there are an unbelievable number of golfers out there who seem able to play well under their handicap but say "I just can't do it with a card in my hand". The only practical change I'd suggest, however, would not be to limit handicaps to 18 but to limit the number of shots given to a maximum of 18. Once you start giving people two shots on a hole (esp a par 3 as at my course) it gets a bit farcical.

I imagine, its worse in match play for Ladies, how about giving 31 shots

 

[the smiling assassin]

Making handicap adjustments based on your gross stableford score rather than your nett stableford score would help keep higher handicaps slightly lower and more realistic imo (more adjusted scores into buffer zones and a few more 0.4 cuts) and also reward good play a little more. The stroke index system is to aid matchplay not stroke play so don't know why it's used for handicap calcs. This would also help for matchplay as 'nett double bogeys' are utterly irrelevant in matchplay (as are double bogeys imo)

 

[Bobirdie]

14 handicapper came in with a +4 for a 55 at my club a few weeks ago

 

[Richuk123]

In my humble opinion, max 18 hcp comps are set up by distrugtled handicap secretaries in order to wean out "bandits" as most think they are above that handicap.

Utter rubbish.

It alienates people taking up the game who want to play competitive golf and have fun. By pre cutting a members handicap before they play is just wrong and makes them feel "what should I bother playing?" . That is just wrong.

3/4 handicap events should also be a thing of the past, full allowance should be the norm. I am all for "golf for everyone" . There are prizes for nett and gross in every event I play and this gives everyone a chance.

Rant over. Sorry everyone if you disagree but it's just my view, rightly or wrongly.

 

[FairwayDodger]

I imagine, its worse in match play for Ladies, how about giving 31 shots

Haven't had that dubious pleasure yet. I think 23 is the most I've had to give. Not fun at all.

 

[Old Skier]

In my humble opinion, max 18 hcp comps are set up by distrugtled handicap secretaries in order to wean out "bandits" as most think they are above that handicap.

Utter rubbish.

It alienates people taking up the game who want to play competitive golf and have fun. By pre cutting a members handicap before they play is just wrong and makes them feel "what should I bother playing?" . That is just wrong.

3/4 handicap events should also be a thing of the past, full allowance should be the norm. I am all for "golf for everyone" . There are prizes for nett and gross in every event I play and this gives everyone a chance.

Rant over. Sorry everyone if you disagree but it's just my view, rightly or wrongly.

Most of the above I agree and apart from BB comps I thought 3/4 were a thing of the past. Don't think if they are doing things properly it's handicap secretaries, it's more likely disgruntled members who are unable to play to or near their handicap that are the problem.

Today I won a board comp,which was also a Q. One member asked if I was going to give myself a further cut on top of the official cut given by the system as he felt that it wasn't enough. My response was unprintable.

 

[Richuk123]

Most of the above I agree and apart from BB comps I thought 3/4 were a thing of the past. Don't think if they are doing things properly it's handicap secretaries, it's more likely disgruntled members who are unable to play to or near their handicap that are the problem.

Today I won a board comp,which was also a Q. One member asked if I was going to give myself a further cut on top of the official cut given by the system as he felt that it wasn't enough. My response was unprintable.

I'm the opposite. My 6 handicap should have been 3, but he (hcp sec) couldn't be arsed to get the union chd code to put me in cat1. Course is currently non Q due to work, but still cutting people on GP , using the cards as supplementary. I've shot 66 (60) last week and 69 (63) yesterday.......still not cut, as per the reason above. A few members are moaning . I've asked again to be cut, not having any of it. Given up caring, I will continue to rack up ££ on my pro shop account.

 

[CMAC]

I'm the opposite. My 6 handicap should have been 3, but he (hcp sec) couldn't be arsed to get the union chd code to put me in cat1. Course is currently non Q due to work, but still cutting people on GP , using the cards as supplementary. I've shot 66 (60) last week and 69 (63) yesterday.......still not cut, as per the reason above. A few members are moaning . I've asked again to be cut, not having any of it. Given up caring, I will continue to rack up ££ on my pro shop account.

Bandit

 

[Old Skier]

I'm the opposite. My 6 handicap should have been 3, but he (hcp sec) couldn't be arsed to get the union chd code to put me in cat1. Course is currently non Q due to work, but still cutting people on GP , using the cards as supplementary. I've shot 66 (60) last week and 69 (63) yesterday.......still not cut, as per the reason above. A few members are moaning . I've asked again to be cut, not having any of it. Given up caring, I will continue to rack up ££ on my pro shop account.

Not sure that if course is deemed not fit for Q that the sec has any option as my understanding the only authority for you to be Cat 1 under these conditions would be your county and I suspect they wouldn't change you.

As to cutting players on general play, I'm not sure this should be happening either.

 

[Richuk123]

Bandit

All comps should be full handicaps, that's the whole reason why we have Divisions in Medals and Stablefords, separate comps for gross and nett and so on....

You could argue on 3/4 for matchplay still, but again, why not just keep it simple?

Love golf and enjoy it. It's not the clicky sport it once was (although some seem to think it is)

 

[patricks148]

In my humble opinion, max 18 hcp comps are set up by distrugtled handicap secretaries in order to wean out "bandits" as most think they are above that handicap.

Utter rubbish.

It alienates people taking up the game who want to play competitive golf and have fun. By pre cutting a members handicap before they play is just wrong and makes them feel "what should I bother playing?" . That is just wrong.

3/4 handicap events should also be a thing of the past, full allowance should be the norm. I am all for "golf for everyone" . There are prizes for nett and gross in every event I play and this gives everyone a chance.

Rant over. Sorry everyone if you disagree but it's just my view, rightly or wrongly.

how does losing a few shots alienate anyone its a comp and 18 shots is not exactly the end of the world is it.. if you are worried about losing a few shots of your handicap, how is it spoiling you enjoyment?

When i started playing in 2006 i didn't even know anything about handicaps, i would still have played even if there were none.