is there any point in entering a tournament as a high handicapper?

[itsamomentintime]

I dont mean at your local club, i mean any of these:

http://www.golfempire.co.uk/category/individual.htm

I see 'handicap limit: 24' which is fair enough but if its judged on gross scores, a 24 HC would have little chance against a 5 HC.

I would like to enter and COMPETE in a tournament - maybe a stableford event would be better?

 

[brendy]

If they mention handicapping then chances are it'll be either stroke or stableford and handicap inclusive rather than scratch/ (no handicap allowance) gross scores. You might have gross and stroke confused though.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I dont mean at your local club, i mean any of these:

http://www.golfempire.co.uk/category/individual.htm

I see 'handicap limit: 24' which is fair enough but if its judged on gross scores, a 24 HC would have little chance against a 5 HC.

I would like to enter and COMPETE in a tournament - maybe a stableford event would be better?

Maybe just enjoy a different course at a good price and play to beat your handicap and let the comp take care of itself.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Yes there is as it is a chance to get cut and become a low handicapper :thup:

 

[MendieGK]

I dont mean at your local club, i mean any of these:

http://www.golfempire.co.uk/category/individual.htm

I see 'handicap limit: 24' which is fair enough but if its judged on gross scores, a 24 HC would have little chance against a 5 HC.

I would like to enter and COMPETE in a tournament - maybe a stableford event would be better?

very few opens (outside of the elite amateur events) will not have prizes for nett & gross. Even scratch opens I enter usually have a nett prize

 

[williamalex1]

It's a handicap competition therefore your own handicap will be deducted from your gross score, to a max of 24. SOME ! clubs do have 3 or 4 h/c divisions, something like= 0 to 5, 6 to 12, 13 to 18, 19 to 24.
Most clubs in Scotland will ask what is your home club and to produce your SGU card [ Scottish golf union ].

 

[njrose51]

100% YES!

If you want to lower your handicap, this will really help you. Also, just imagine if you have a good day and par a few holes in regulation - that's good points for Stableford! Also, with a high handicap, you have a few chances, those with lower handicap don't - obvious I know but any mistakes on their part and you might beat them. So what have you got to loose? You'll play new courses, meet new people, practise in competition environments.

A 24H DOES have a chance against a 5H. That's why you have extra shots. I play in a monthly league and I must have one of the highest handicaps of 19.7 (Started the year at 25.1!) and if you have a good game you can score well in Stableford comps. I've had a 2nd, 4th and 7th and regularly come in the top 20. Everyone has bad days, misses putts, does a Speith etc. If this is a low handicapper then that's possibly their hole blobbed. So go for it.

 

[Curls]

My regular PP is off 24 and has entered a few opens this year, he's really enjoying them! So much so I think I'll join him for a few next summer if my work schedule isn't as brutal as it has been this year. Yep, handicap counts. He's finished everywhere from 4th to last and enjoyed the experiences the same. He also said CSS is usually up these days so you have to be way above your H/C not to buffer in Cat 4.

Go for it, what have you got to lose?!

 

[itsamomentintime]

Go for it, what have you got to lose?!

thanks for the replies chaps, really interesting

theres nothing to lose, I agree that the tournaments are a great way to experience new courses and play with people that you usually dont play with - I didnt realise that the tournaments may well have a GROSS and NET format.

I'm going to enter a few :thup:

 

[njrose51]

I think what I have learnt with these events is to just play your own game. don't worry about your score, use your shots where you can, don't worry about your playing partners who maybe bombing their drives or walking off with a par. If they don't get a shot on a hole, its 2 points. You get a par in regulation and its a stroke index hole giving you 2 shots, well that's 4 points thank you very much! even if you double bogey it, its still two points! let us know how you get on.

 

[MendieGK]

thanks for the replies chaps, really interesting

theres nothing to lose, I agree that the tournaments are a great way to experience new courses and play with people that you usually dont play with - I didnt realise that the tournaments may well have a GROSS and NET format.

I'm going to enter a few :thup:

they are great way to play new golf courses at a great rate. the course is often in its best condition too as they rightfully want to show it off the visitors.

 

[lukeysafc100]

A point to add if you are a high handicap golfer - there will probably be a cut off point for the scratch competitions (normally 5) - most competitions on there have a max handicap limit. So if 24 is the limit then you'll play off 24 for the day - make it a challenge - try and beat it.
There are plenty of tournaments on there to compete in.

 

[OnTour]

Get involved the CSS is normally 3-4 shots higher for visitors over club members on the day, ideal if you want cutting fast not if your Bandicapper.

 

[Jamesbrown]

Watch out for the comps run by golfingdays. They look to be played of the yellow tees and could be non qualifying.
I was about to drop £90 for Hollinwell till I read it was off the yellows.

Not sure if if that's something for you to factor in.

 

[Hosel Fade]

I dont mean at your local club, i mean any of these:

http://www.golfempire.co.uk/category/individual.htm

I see 'handicap limit: 24' which is fair enough but if its judged on gross scores, a 24 HC would have little chance against a 5 HC.

I would like to enter and COMPETE in a tournament - maybe a stableford event would be better?

They normally have net and gross prizes (At least the ones with a hcp limit higher than 9 will). Scratch only county order of merit type opens will typically have a limit near 5.

Just have a look at a few and they will have written out what the prizes are. Typically just see them as a chance to play xyz course in near enough the best condition of the year (bc its open day) and at a lower fee (sometimes by a lot) than the normal one

 

[jim8flog]

A lot of opens I play at have prizes set for visiting players.


As a single figure handicap player I find the chances of winning the prizes less than when I play at home simply because I tend to drop shots on the greens from not knowing them or taking too many holes to adjust to local pace.


I still play opens as simply a way of playing other courses for a relatively small fee.

As to handicap adjustments it is a Congu requirement that separate CSS is calculated for the home and the away players.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Enter and enjoy. Very good way of playing some decent courses at a good price (and sometimes include food as well). It gives you a chance to get your handicap down and to be honest if you play well and use your shots wisely then of course you can compete with a 5 handicapper

 

[Dasit]

huh is op bit confused?

For a low handicapper to win big field tournaments they often have to beat the course record to stand a chance.

A high handicapper flies in with a 49 point stableford or a net 59, while shooting in the high 70s which anyone is capable on a given day