Hit with a double whammy

[HomerJSimpson]

Played in the December stableford on Sunday and scored 38 points. Nothing remarkable in that you might think, a good score but nothing to write home about. However I was the only person in a field of 66 to even play to my handicap. The next best score was 35 points.

As a result the CSS was increased from its normal 70 to a revised CSS of 73. Consequently I got cut from 15.3 to 13.8. Now while I'm glad to have won I feel I'm being penalised by being cut so many shots just because no-one else could play to their handicap.

The conditions were tricky. Most of the first 4 or 5 greens were frozen solid so you couldn't stop an approach on them and putting was a bit tricky (ok maybe even a lottery on a couple). However once you realised that even where the greens weren't white to look at they were still hard underneath, I just aimed for the front of the green and played for a hard first bounce to take it to the centre/back.

I admit a couple of single putts for birdie helped. The only part of the course I thought was difficult was playing out of bunkers purely because the sand was frozen and so the lie was not good and it was impossible to play a standard shot and slide the club through and under the ball. I just set up and played it like a normal chip shot for the 2 bunker shots I had.

My point is why punish me for making the best of a hard course. Has anyone else ever been hit in similar circumstances?

 

[brendy]

I can see your point, in reality you have been cut 1.5 shots but its still only leaving you one shot down, just thank your lucky stars you didnt hole a couple more putts!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thanks Brendy. I don't think the birdie putt on 18 from 10 foot in front of the clubhouse helped. Gave it the big celebration too thinking I'd be in for a chance of 2nd or 3rd. DOH!!! Could have taken six nett 5 and still won!!!

 

[brendy]

I always wondered why club weekly competitions never get a scoreboard up listing the top ten, be it digital or manual up front of the clubhouse. Ive only ever been in one local competition where there was a scoreboard and it was for the Ford home internationals in NI.

 

[RGuk]

Quite how you got cut 1.5 on 38 points is beyond me.
I don't know how the CSS could make it up to 73....crazy.
If I were you, I'd be pleased at the cut though!

Dave

 

[Dave3498]

CSS is CSS and you have to accept it. I believe it's worked out on what the cat' one players do in the conditions. Sounds like you handled it well. 38 points is a good score in the winter conditions - well done.

 

[John_Findlay]

What's the problem, Homer? Penalised for getting your handicap down? I thought that was the point of competition rounds.....or do you prefer to wear a sombrero for most of the year?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

J-F

My moustache and sombrero wearing days are long gone. I'm not upset about being cut, just the severity of it. In a normal comp I'd have only lost a little bit instead of the whopping 1.3 I got cut.

Beleive me I come up against a number of bandits at my club during the year (particularly match play events) and I have no wish to get such a reputation

 

[birdieman]

CSS can go one under SSS or up to 3 over SSS as in your case HomerJ, any higher than that and comp becomes non-qualifying.
1.5 is not much to get cut, you're a category 3 player so will get 0.3 x the difference between your net score and CSS. i.e. 5 x 0.3 = 1.5.
Personally I'd be delighted to get cut 1.5 but being a category 1 player I'd need to score net 15 under (0.1 x 15)what I'm supposed to = highly unlikely unless I sell my soul to the devil or something.

 

[John_Findlay]

I can see your point, Homer, but when you're getting your handicap cut when all around you are raising theirs then you're a player, man, you're a player. Cause for celebration.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Have to be honest and despite whinging about the severity it was worth it. Walked into the clubhouse and there were several single figure golfers (part of the our Hillman cup team that lost in the final) and a lot of golfers who reckon they are better than their handicap indicates.

My mate was first to pipe up with his 34 points (blobbed the last). He was surprised to find out that was 2nd (or would have been if he wasn't D/Q'd for putting down the wrong handicap). When they asked what I scored, drinks were put down on tables, there was much "so what did you really shoot" and lots of accusations about Mexican bandito parentage. Got even worse when I told them I shot 23 points for the back 9

I've never seen the bar bigots and big shots lost for words. Sat down with my pint of OJ and lemonade and smugly watched the end of the MAN U v Liverpool game.

SO J-F and others - definitely worth the pain. Now for single figures!!!