I've quit senior golf

[AussieKB]

That is exactly the point
I never enter a comp or a match with an expectation of winning or even being in the top 6.
But, I have to believe that if I play well, then maybe I have a chance.
Why enter anything when you know that even if you break the course record (never going to happen) you won't even get placed.

Have had two course records (1 in England and 1 in OZ) and did not win either, think I came 3rd in England and about 5th in OZ.

 

[bobmac]

How can it be fun when you might play your absolute best, but be nowhere near the top of the leaderboard.

Some, who have no competitive desire, might find some enjoyment from playing with no hope of winning. For most of us who are competitive, it's just a travesty entering a competition, paying the entry, knowing that there is basically no chance of winning.

I guess the answer could be to have no h/caps, all comps off scratch.
Oh no wait, that wouldn't work, you'd have all the mid to high handicappers complaining about paying to enter a comp with no chance of winning. Think how they'd feel if they were actually good players and they had no chance of winning.

 

[RichA]

I guess the answer could be to have no h/caps, all comps off scratch.
Oh no wait, that wouldn't work, you'd have all the mid to high handicappers complaining about paying to enter a comp with no chance of winning. Think how they'd feel if they were actually good players and they had no chance of winning.

No. The answer is for all you complaining lower HI guys to ditch your handicaps and only play each other in scratch comps.
Many of the stories on here are just daft; a scratch player against a 40+ handicap in matchplay. You seriously expect the very high handicap golfer to perform within the same tolerance range as you?
Your expectations of any handicap system consistently levelling the playing field are unreasonable.

 

[bobmac]

You seriously expect the very high handicap golfer to perform within the same tolerance range as you?

No

Your expectations of any handicap system consistently levelling the playing field are unreasonable.

No-one said that.

No. The answer is for all you complaining lower HI guys to ditch your handicaps and only play each other in scratch comps.

How many scratch comps do you have at your club?

 

[Swango1980]

Have had two course records (1 in England and 1 in OZ) and did not win either, think I came 3rd in England and about 5th in OZ.

Who cares where you placed in the random competitions. You got the course record. That is kudos enough. That is more memorable than a victory in some handicap competition.

Ultimately competitions will occasionally be won by a nett score that is under a course gross record, so clearly shooting a course record from a scratch or better golfer won't win.

That being said, there are low handicap guys at my place who do win competitions from time to time. They put themselves in the mix more often as they are consistent. As prizes are usually Top 5 or 6, they end up with more prize money in their club accounts over time. They typically get more 2's, so walk away with more of that pot over time. And as there is a lowest gross prize in many comps, they pretty much have the chance to go for that, where 90% of the field never stand a chance. Ohh, and they get the chance to represent the Club in scratch matches, perhaps even the County as well.

So, it isn't the biggest sob story when it comes to low handicappers. A bigger sob story is for the rest of us, who have to constantly listen to the self praise from the low handicappers. We get it, you're good at golf

 

[Lord Tyrion]

How many scratch comps do you have at your club?

If there was a demand for them, they would happen. If people want them, put in a request to your committee.

Run two separate comps, a scratch and a handicap. Money paid out has to come from the respective entrance fees though, one can not subsidise the other.

 

[bobmac]

If there was a demand for them, they would happen. If people want them, put in a request to your committee.

Run two separate comps, a scratch and a handicap. Money paid out has to come from the respective entrance fees though, one can not subsidise the other.

I was a member of a club that ran a net and gross comp. The problem was everyone had to enter the nett comp, if you wanted to enter the scratch you paid double.
I was also a member of a club that had no gross prize

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was a member of a club that ran a net and gross comp. The problem was everyone had to enter the nett comp, if you wanted to enter the scratch you paid double.
I was also a member of a club that had no gross prize

Mine doesn't have a gross prize, as far as I am aware, it's h/cap only apart from the club championship.

I think members should at least be asked if they want separate or combined h/cap or scratch. If the demand for scratch is low................then those people either have to suck it up or move clubs.

 

[bobmac]

Mine doesn't have a gross prize, as far as I am aware, it's h/cap only apart from the club championship.

I think members should at least be asked if they want separate or combined h/cap or scratch. If the demand for scratch is low................then those people either have to suck it up or move clubs.

The club that had nett and gross comps, also had a drawn roll up at the weekends when no comps were on...
All scratch and included the pro. It was popular.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The club that had nett and gross comps, also had a drawn roll up at the weekends when no comps were on...
All scratch and included the pro. It was popular.

Each club should do what it's members want. That is only logical. If they don't, they will lose members.

 

[bobmac]

Each club should do what it's members want. That is only logical. If they don't, they will lose members.

Totally agree

 

[jim8flog]

I was a member of a club that ran a net and gross comp. The problem was everyone had to enter the nett comp, if you wanted to enter the scratch you paid double.
I was also a member of a club that had no gross prize

Ours dropped the best gross score prize some years ago (sadly).

I won one comp with the best gross as well one year and got a total of £75
I won the same comp a few years later with the best gross as well and got £30
( club had started taking a big chunk out of the entry fee hence some of the difference)

 

[Neilds]

We have divisions and a best gross (usually £10) so, hopefully, this keeps most people happy. And as most comps are full, then I suspect it is working.

 

[KenL]

You seriously expect the very high handicap golfer to perform within the same tolerance range as you?
Your expectations of any handicap system consistently levelling the playing field are unreasonable.

The whole point of the handicap system is to provide a level playing field.

It doesn’t, sorry for being unreasonable.

 

[Mandofred]

The whole point of the handicap system is to provide a level playing field.

It doesn’t, sorry for being unreasonable.

Obviously it doesn't since I don't win everything I enter. Just unfair.

 

[KenL]

Obviously it doesn't since I don't win everything I enter. Just unfair.

Poor wee you.

I’ve been a member at my club since 2009. Entered hundreds of comps, never won one.

Thought I was going to late last year. Best ever score, nett 7 under par. But, I was beaten on a better back 9 despite being just 1 over par overall.

 

[Backache]

Poor wee you.

I’ve been a member at my club since 2009. Entered hundreds of comps, never won one.

Thought I was going to late last year. Best ever score, nett 7 under par. But, I was beaten on a better back 9 despite being just 1 over par overall.

I actually think the new WHS has made it easier to win competitions at our club. There has been a large fall off in entrants to competitions since the 'cheats charter' was introduced which has certainly resulted in me winning more.
Maybe it's got some benefits.

 

[clubchamp98]

But in reality...........

I think the point about different tees is spot on in this discussion. I know that at my club the difference in shots I received doesn't make enough of a difference. I can compete well off our yellows, I am hanging on at best off whites. The difference in length makes all the difference on some courses, more than the 1-2 extra shots you receive.

I have said this for ages off our yellows I can reach all the bunkers off the tees and I lose 2 shots.
Off the whites I can’t reach most of the bunkers it makes a difference.
If I lay up short of the bunkers off yellows I have the same shots to the green but lose a quarter of my handicap.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

For me it’s about the possibility of par 4 GIRs and distances on Par 3’s.
Only 2 of 8 par 4’s are reachable GIR off medal tees, that changes to 5/8 moving one tee forward. That’s my CH stroke diff more than used up just getting the ball to the green on those 3 holes. That still leaves another 15 more holes I’m able to use a shorter club to play into the greens

As touched on in an earlier post, these seniors are kinda between a rock/hard place. If Senior A plays lots off the medal and the handicap reflects same then move forward for a roll-up they could easily clean up (course dependent) Equally if the index is made up from yellows and comp dictates medal tees, they just cant compete

I believe there's a whole group of players (probably shorter hitting older if not senior) where CR/SR and the stroke difference calculation just doesn't reflect reality

I have said this for ages off our yellows I can reach all the bunkers off the tees and I lose 2 shots.
Off the whites I can’t reach most of the bunkers it makes a difference.
If I lay up short of the bunkers off yellows I have the same shots to the green but lose a quarter of my handicap.

Be brave and hit to the side of the fairway that doesn't have bunkers. If your course has every par 4 and par 5 with bunkers all the way across the fairway then you need to get in touch with the raters

 

[Swango1980]

I have said this for ages off our yellows I can reach all the bunkers off the tees and I lose 2 shots.
Off the whites I can’t reach most of the bunkers it makes a difference.
If I lay up short of the bunkers off yellows I have the same shots to the green but lose a quarter of my handicap.

Awful design of a course if all, or most, of your Par 4's and 5's give you this same issue