Is your handicap important to you?

[la_lucha]

It's important to me for two reasons, I want to be the best golfer I can be and I want to be lower than my mate . I lost a shot last week without coming anywhere in the comp I was playing in. It was put to me in a "bandit your getting cut" style, but I was absolutely chuffed to be coming down and people recognising my improvement.

 

[cookelad]

In a comp I want to play well, lower my handicap and win - in that order.

This for me, just wish the first part would lead to the second part a bit more often, not really that fussed about winning the comp I'm only playing against myself anyway!

 

[Val]

Yes and no, it's important to me as I want to get as low as I can HOWEVER it will be what it will be and I won't lose sleep over it's number.

 

[bluewolf]

Nope.. Since the (re)injury, it's become a giant weight around my neck. I may never play to it again and it's gonna take a lot of work to get back to where I was... So, I'm going to ignore it as much as possible and try to learn how to swing again...

 

[Birchy]

Nope.. Since the (re)injury, it's become a giant weight around my neck. I may never play to it again and it's gonna take a lot of work to get back to where I was... So, I'm going to ignore it as much as possible and try to learn how to swing again...

Move clubs and get a new one. You might get lucky and they will give you 5 :thup:

 

[bluewolf]

Move clubs and get a new one. You might get lucky and they will give you 5 :thup:

I've worked out that with only 7 more club moves, I could turn Pro!!!

 

[Kraxx68]

Started off the year with a 16 handicap, had a forced 2 months off July/August and played golf almost everyday, now playing 11 handicap. I've also changed my Irons & putter, which has also given me that little extra, especially on the greens... For me although I've won twice in those 2 months is to beat myself and get to single handicap before H4H day (my goal) - for me the lower handicap is important to better ones self, but without the sacrifice of enjoyment.

 

[pendodave]

Not a big thing for me. It's solidly mid table enough to raise no eyebrows in all but the most exalted company which suits me just fine.

For better or worse I think more on a short term basis. I'm happy with my game if I'm striking the ball well (for me) and putting ok. If the last round was somewhere in low to mid 80's then that'll do.

acquiring the skill to play badly while genuinely feeling cheerful would be a far better thing than knocking a couple of shots off...

 

[mcbroon]

Mine's important to me because it allows me to judge whether I'm as good as I want to be.

My priorities are to hit it well, then putt well, then score well and then reduce the h/c. I couldn't give a toss about winning.

 

[Loz1607]

It is important to me, as I want to be as good as I can be, and handicap is a clear measure of ability and improvement.

I would love to get to cat 1 to enable me to play in bigger and better events. I will happily admit I like winning and have a very competitive side and golf enables me to compete and always have a chance of winning.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Mine's important to me because it allows me to judge whether I'm as good as I want to be.

My priorities are to hit it well, then putt well, then score well and then reduce the h/c. I couldn't give a toss about winning.

Pretty much sums it up. Play well and the handicap drops and if you can pick up a top three or even a win along the way then happy days but if not, as long as you're enjoying the journey, does it matter?

 

[Liverbirdie]

Yes. When I got down to 6 last year, my putting went south and really struggled, so wasn't too bothered now it has crept back up to 7, as at least feel that more able to compete.

I did enjoy being able to say I'm off 6 and was hoping that category 1 was within reach, and hopefully it may be again in the future.

I wouldn't want an absolute vanity handicap though of 3-4 better than I am. If I go to a tougher course in the next few years, will have no problem if my handicap goes up, as long as I stay competitive.

Some people may say no, but ask the golfer who has been higher and got down to 5.5/9.5/17.5 and I bet they are itching for that extra cut.

 

[JCW]

Cat 1 golfer , yes its important but its not that i lose sleep over it worrying about my golf

 

[rickg]

Cat 1 golfer , yes its important but its not that i lose sleep over it worrying about my golf

You've done well to get down to 4.6 Will :thup:.....was it gradual or a Big Bang round?

 

[MashieNiblick]

Yes in so much as it serves as a benchmark of my ability although there are other things which I use to measure my performance - best gross score and average gross score and even annual eclectic.

Reducing your handicap and particular numbers such as getting to single figures or below 18 provide tangible goals that add to the challenge of the game.

However I do see there is a danger though that it can become a bit of an obsession and we can forget that golf is about a lot more the result of a bit of CONGU mathematics.

 

[chellie]

Being still relatively new to golf and a female high handicapper I'm pleased that I've had my first two cuts but all that's really important to me at the moment is seeing my gross scores come down and not being bottom in any competitions. Results on both those counts so far.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I've certainly never obsessed about it. Lowest I got was 4.9 and quickly realised that I'm just not consistent enough to stay in Cat 1 or get low. That doesn't bother me at all.....it's just a fact. To do so would mean an awful lot of hours that I'm just not prepared to put in. So my handicap does what it does.