drdel
Tour Rookie
I say the current handicap system is overly managed and a barrier to new players; it should be one driven and maintained by self-administration. Pro-shops should be able to issue a handicap to members as frequently as member wants it created or revised without need for committees and all the faffying about that entails.
This wonderful game is often held up as a sport based on the highest levels of conduct because of the paragons of virtue who play do so with etiquette, honesty and integrity – the sporting ladies and gentlemen honourably imposing penalties upon themselves and always ‘playing their ball as it lies’, taking the rub of the green - unless prevented by enormous odds.
We even have the handicap system to ensure equity across personal skill levels and equalise the chance of winning a game or two.
However we don’t trust these same people to keep their own score or maintain their own handicaps. To gain the handicap we must first play at least 3 games with a ‘more’ honourable club member who has already cleared the hurdle and has an ‘official’ handicap. We must then pay a fee to keep this sacred record and keep supplementing the score and keep it current.
Why?
Surely if we are honourable enough to keep ourselves to the Rule of Golf, unmonitored, we should be trustworthy enough to hand in score cards as and when our scoring changes. This could easily and cheaply be maintained at the ‘home’ club. The handicap number is irrelevant as any golfer artificially maintaining a false handicap would soon be detected after a few club/competitive events and revealed for the cheats they were the odd ‘bandit’ would soon come to light when important match results are published.
There is no need to set any upper limits because that defeats the aim of equity across the range of golfer competency. Competitive events could easily set criteria/classes for any prizes or awards.
Golf clubs that are financially willing to restrict playing to golfers below a certain handicap could easily do so and enforce the rule they publish rather than making a stipulation that is then ignored.
New players would find entry to the game easier and less daunting and would undoubtedly be motivated to see their handicaps fall as their skill level increases.
Bullet proof jacket now donned !!
This wonderful game is often held up as a sport based on the highest levels of conduct because of the paragons of virtue who play do so with etiquette, honesty and integrity – the sporting ladies and gentlemen honourably imposing penalties upon themselves and always ‘playing their ball as it lies’, taking the rub of the green - unless prevented by enormous odds.
We even have the handicap system to ensure equity across personal skill levels and equalise the chance of winning a game or two.
However we don’t trust these same people to keep their own score or maintain their own handicaps. To gain the handicap we must first play at least 3 games with a ‘more’ honourable club member who has already cleared the hurdle and has an ‘official’ handicap. We must then pay a fee to keep this sacred record and keep supplementing the score and keep it current.
Why?
Surely if we are honourable enough to keep ourselves to the Rule of Golf, unmonitored, we should be trustworthy enough to hand in score cards as and when our scoring changes. This could easily and cheaply be maintained at the ‘home’ club. The handicap number is irrelevant as any golfer artificially maintaining a false handicap would soon be detected after a few club/competitive events and revealed for the cheats they were the odd ‘bandit’ would soon come to light when important match results are published.
There is no need to set any upper limits because that defeats the aim of equity across the range of golfer competency. Competitive events could easily set criteria/classes for any prizes or awards.
Golf clubs that are financially willing to restrict playing to golfers below a certain handicap could easily do so and enforce the rule they publish rather than making a stipulation that is then ignored.
New players would find entry to the game easier and less daunting and would undoubtedly be motivated to see their handicaps fall as their skill level increases.
Bullet proof jacket now donned !!
