I am not a Bandit - Honest

[njrose51]

So my official handicap is 25.1 but I do not have the swing of someone with that handicap. My game though does sometimes reflect that!

When I play well, I can score in the low 90’s which in a stableford comp can often give me quite a high score. Last Sunday for example I scored 41 points and won my roll up. I got loads of light hearted abuse about my play from my 2 PPs, and whilst they were joking, I could tell that there was an element of truth in it.

So here are the issues.

They can say “well how can you, with a 25 handicap, drive past my driver with your Ping crossover 4 iron?” (I don’t want to reply “its because you only hit your driver 200 yards!” so let it go.)

In Roll ups when on the green, they can say “take it away”, often from what seems like silly distances that could easily be missed! And I ask are you sure? Half the time, I will putt out anyway.

When I play badly though, I am topping it, missing greens, 2 shots out of bunkers, loosing balls and easily playing over 100 and 7-10 shots over my official handicap. (Last year’s Cooden meet was a prime example – played soooooo bad in the morning singles, but teamed up well with the Williams Clan in the afternoon and we won the team event)

I am also on a limited membership which means I can only play about 12 times a year, and cant enter all the comps so it is difficult to lower my handicap.

It has been mentioned to me several times I should go to club and ask them to reduce my handicap to make it fairer. But I don’t feel this is fair on me as I do not have great rounds every time I play and feel that I need to use my handicap shots. Yes, IF I was shooting low 90’s / high 80’s every time I play then that’s justified, but I don’t do that.

Anyone any thoughts? Should I change my handicap to reflect how I play on average, all time the time or to my potential?

Cheers,

Nick - Pancho Villa - Rose

 

[tsped83]

Yes, you sound like a 25hcp and unless officially cut, play off 25.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Your handicap should reflect your ability when playing well, not your average ability. If you are capable of shooting low 90's on a fairly regular basis then assuming the par of your course is around 72 then you should be playing off a lower handicap.

 

[Curls]

That's high handicap golf chap, you're just inconsistent, it'll come in time with play and practice, the length someone drives is not directly comparable to their handicap.

You can't just ask to have your handicap reduced, you have to do it in comp or by putting in a Supplementary, which is a good way of getting cut and not ruffling any feathers by winning the monies.

 

[jimjoachim]

I was in a similar boat to yourself and regularly play with a few guys like you. On their days they could play way below their handicap but when you add in the chunked chips, 3 putts and 3 off the tee they average out at 20+.

I suppose there are 2 type of 20+ handicappers -
Those who are good solid golfers but lack the distance to play lower (be that due to age) and;
Those that don't lack in distance but do lack in consistency (be that due to experience).

In my experience the first category will always moan about the second. If they moan tell them you just wish you were as consistent as they are and would love to get your handicap down.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yes, you sound like a 25hcp and unless officially cut, play off 25.

This. You can only go off what the cards say. As long as you are not throwing holes to artificially keep a high handicap then you are what you are. Increased consistency will drop your h/c pretty quickly from the sounds of it but at the moment you are playing like a classic h/capper. Laugh off the comments.

If we could just ask to reduce our handicaps then I'd be there like a shot. 15 please. I can't play to it but I'd get more respect when people ask what my h/c is

 

[Orikoru]

So my official handicap is 25.1 but I do not have the swing of someone with that handicap. My game though does sometimes reflect that!

When I play well, I can score in the low 90’s which in a stableford comp can often give me quite a high score. Last Sunday for example I scored 41 points and won my roll up. I got loads of light hearted abuse about my play from my 2 PPs, and whilst they were joking, I could tell that there was an element of truth in it.

Well, you sound fairly similar to me. My best scores have all been around 93, 94, and I recently joined a club for the first time and was given a handicap of 24. So yours is probably about right as well. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[patricks148]

if you can only play 12 times a year, just stick a card in 10 of those times you play..

 

[Coffey]

Sounds similar to me as well.

I was given 21 handicap when i started playing and that quickly went up to 22, yet when it all clicked I shot 45 points in a non qualifier and then 2 weeks later I shot 44 points in a qualifier and got cut to 16. Everyone saying I shouldn't have been 22. Yet for the rest of the season I was getting around 26-29 points every week.

When it all clicks you have the ability to shoot low for your handicap but your average round is probably about right

 

[Canary_Yellow]

If you're not able to play in comps, stick your cards in as supplementary scores.

I would normally say just play all the comps you can and let your handicap take care of itself, but doesn't sound like that would really work for you.

Although you're inconsistent, being able to shoot a round of 90 suggests you should be more like an 18 handicap. If you're sticking all of your cards in there's nothing anyone can say (but they still will...).

When I first got given a handicap it was 20 and the best I could put together was 93. Took quite a while for my handicap to come down at all. But it soon came down very quickly with a couple of good scores in a row.

 

[Region3]

Your handicap should reflect your ability when playing well, not your average ability. If you are capable of shooting low 90's on a fairly regular basis then assuming the par of your course is around 72 then you should be playing off a lower handicap.

This.

If our handicap was supposed to represent our average round I'd be about 4-5 shots higher.

 

[Scoobiesnax]

You remind me of me! I will always start fairly solid but have so many inconsistencies in my game that I will always shoot mid 90s +. I have worldy shots in me and always get the banter, "you are not a 23 hcer"; my reply is, "wait til further on in the round! You'll see the high handicapper very soon!"

I shot 91 last week at my course in a knock around with my usually PPs; but this week I could easily shoot 99.

Someone mentioned it earlier but I do always say, and mean, that I want to be a lower handicapper. Would love to be mid teens.

I played a very high standard of cricket but by god, golf is one bloody difficult game...... I am a very competitive person within myself, in such that I want to be the best at everything I do but golf is beating me at the moment!!

Edit: My handicap is a reflection of me playing a high number of comps last year, so I am trying my best - also only took on golf properly last October.

 

[Parsaregood]

I felt the need to register to reply to this post as I find it quite ridiculous. I play alot of qualifiers and play off 2, I am capable of shooting 4/5 under par on a good day and usually do so a few times a year, does this mean my handicap should be plus 4 or 5. I play with playing partners with handicaps ranging from 5 to plus 2 and they all are capable of shooting scores under their competition handicap. If handicap was a reflection of your ability on a good day how would you ever get cut or should you not go up . 1 when you play badly? Of course handicap should be a reflection of the average score you post in a qualifier and to say differently just because somebody is improving or plays good is taking away from the achievement.

 

[Fish]

The bottom line is you have an official handicap and that is based on how you play in any of the club qualifiers you enter, if your roll-up is so concerned they should adopt a society handicap like our Sunday crew does where anyone who scores better than their buffer allowance irrelevant of them winning or not gets cut 2 shots, they then get 1 shot back each time they don't play to it which means after 2-weeks of not playing better it goes back to your official handicap. They'd soon witness the inconsistency and except your a 25 handicapper.

 

[graham64]

I'm the same as you hc of 23 but the last two weeks have shot 87 and 90 but could easily shot 100 this week. Hoping not to and hoping to get some cards in and my hc down

 

[GreggerKBR]

So my official handicap is 25.1 but I do not have the swing of someone with that handicap. My game though does sometimes reflect that!

When I play well, I can score in the low 90’s which in a stableford comp can often give me quite a high score. Last Sunday for example I scored 41 points and won my roll up. I got loads of light hearted abuse about my play from my 2 PPs, and whilst they were joking, I could tell that there was an element of truth in it.

So here are the issues.

They can say “well how can you, with a 25 handicap, drive past my driver with your Ping crossover 4 iron?” (I don’t want to reply “its because you only hit your driver 200 yards!” so let it go.)

In Roll ups when on the green, they can say “take it away”, often from what seems like silly distances that could easily be missed! And I ask are you sure? Half the time, I will putt out anyway.

When I play badly though, I am topping it, missing greens, 2 shots out of bunkers, loosing balls and easily playing over 100 and 7-10 shots over my official handicap. (Last year’s Cooden meet was a prime example – played soooooo bad in the morning singles, but teamed up well with the Williams Clan in the afternoon and we won the team event)

I am also on a limited membership which means I can only play about 12 times a year, and cant enter all the comps so it is difficult to lower my handicap.

It has been mentioned to me several times I should go to club and ask them to reduce my handicap to make it fairer. But I don’t feel this is fair on me as I do not have great rounds every time I play and feel that I need to use my handicap shots. Yes, IF I was shooting low 90’s / high 80’s every time I play then that’s justified, but I don’t do that.

Anyone any thoughts? Should I change my handicap to reflect how I play on average, all time the time or to my potential?

Cheers,

Nick - Pancho Villa - Rose

Hey Nick

If you have a proper handicap and have put in sufficient cards then NEVER worry about what others say when you win.

If you think you might have progressed further than your handicap so that your actual playing ability is better than your handicap
then you should perhaps consider putting in some cards - consult your handicap secretary for how your club wants that done.

However, I would recommend NOT to do it unless you are talking about stroke play rounds, from the plate (usually white) tees, to normal greens.
And NOT with preferred lies etc.
We're seeing >5 players with scores >40 points at our club quite regularly at the moment.
But come Spring/Summer qualifiers that just never happens...

The handicap committee can make an general adjustment upon review. Read Congu Rules on handicap adjustments.
http://www.englandgolf.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=563&sitesectiontitle=Handicapping


Good luck!

 

[rosecott]

Hey Nick

If you have a proper handicap and have put in sufficient cards then NEVER worry about what others say when you win.

If you think you might have progressed further than your handicap so that your actual playing ability is better than your handicap
then you should perhaps consider putting in some cards - consult your handicap secretary for how your club wants that done.

However, I would recommend NOT to do it unless you are talking about stroke play rounds, from the plate (usually white) tees, to normal greens.
And NOT with preferred lies etc.
We're seeing >5 players with scores >40 points at our club quite regularly at the moment.
But come Spring/Summer qualifiers that just never happens...

The handicap committee can make an general adjustment upon review. Read Congu Rules on handicap adjustments.
http://www.englandgolf.org/page.aspx?sitesectionid=563&sitesectiontitle=Handicapping


Good luck!

But don't hold your breath:

In exceptional circumstances the Handicap Committee may adjust the handicap of a player in the period between Annual Reviews if there is compelling evidence that his Exact Handicap does not reflect his current playing ability. Appendix M should be consulted for guidance.

 

[Ross61]

You sound like me 12 months ago. I was playing well last spring but all our comps were non-q due to playing off winter tees. Once we got back on the grass tees I went through a poorer patch but my consistency was better and never scored lower than 32 points. My problem was our SSS is 2 lower than par and CSS was normally the same so I needed to score 39 Pts to get any cut at all.
I regularly got "that's not a drive of a 25 handicapper!" comments.
when my form did get better I still struggled to get my handicap down as even 41 points was only 1.2 cut for basically scoring nett 5 under par.

 

[Region3]

I felt the need to register to reply to this post as I find it quite ridiculous. I play alot of qualifiers and play off 2, I am capable of shooting 4/5 under par on a good day and usually do so a few times a year, does this mean my handicap should be plus 4 or 5. I play with playing partners with handicaps ranging from 5 to plus 2 and they all are capable of shooting scores under their competition handicap. If handicap was a reflection of your ability on a good day how would you ever get cut or should you not go up . 1 when you play badly? Of course handicap should be a reflection of the average score you post in a qualifier and to say differently just because somebody is improving or plays good is taking away from the achievement.

If handicap was meant to represent an average day the handicap system would adjust your handicap up or down by the same amount if you were either x under or over your handicap, and the initial 3 cards would be averaged rather than taking the best one.

I don't think anyone is saying your hc should be your absolute Sunday best, but you should have to play well to score 36pts.

 

[Parsaregood]

If handicap was meant to represent an average day the handicap system would adjust your handicap up or down by the same amount if you were either x under or over your handicap, and the initial 3 cards would be averaged rather than taking the best one.

I don't think anyone is saying your hc should be your absolute Sunday best, but you should have to play well to score 36pts.

If you play every week in a qualifier your handicap will be a true reflection of your ability, if I shoot 2 over par ie making 36 points I feel I have played no better than ok as I will not get a cut and that's just an 'average' round for myself also having the ability to shoot below par why would I be happy shooting 2 over? Most cat 1 golfers don't feel they have played well if they have 36 stableford points and that's a fact