Junior playing with adults

[Rlburnside]

We have our annual family/friends golf day shortly this year for the first time we have a 15 year old playing with us.

Do we simply play him off the junior tees and deduct his h/c as per normal?

He’s been playing for 3 months and has no h/c yet so trying to think what h/c would be fair for him, he’s scored 110 last time out, I was thinking of 36h/c would this seem fair?

 

[Voyager EMH]

I would ask him what he would like to do and what handicap he would think to be fair.

Maybe explain that a player can only expect to play to or below handicap 20% of the time.

 

[Backache]

I guess it depends on what course length etc the 110 was scored on, but as there were probably some blow up holes 36 sounds a little generous to me.

 

[Neilds]

Make him play off scratch - high handicaps are for cheats and bandits who just want to win all the prizes. No-one should get more than 1 shot a hole!


Or maybe I have been listening to some of the views on here too much

 

[wjemather]

I would ask him what he would like to do and what handicap he would think to be fair.

Maybe explain that a player can only expect to play to or below handicap 20% of the time.

Probably rather optimistic to expect a new-to-golf 15 year old to understand this, given people who have been playing golf for decades never will!!

 

[wjemather]

We have our annual family/friends golf day shortly this year for the first time we have a 15 year old playing with us.

Do we simply play him off the junior tees and deduct his h/c as per normal?

He’s been playing for 3 months and has no h/c yet so trying to think what h/c would be fair for him, he’s scored 110 last time out, I was thinking of 36h/c would this seem fair?

Everyone should play from tees most appropriate for their length and ability.

Start with his best ever score. Take a few off; and then base a handicap on that.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Probably rather optimistic to expect a new-to-golf 15 year old to understand this, given people who have been playing golf for decades never will!!

A young bright mind can grasp new concepts often more easily than older people who need to change their perceptions.
This is not "rather optimistic". It was the learned experience when decimalisation of our currency occurred.

 

[clubchamp98]

We have our annual family/friends golf day shortly this year for the first time we have a 15 year old playing with us.

Do we simply play him off the junior tees and deduct his h/c as per normal?

He’s been playing for 3 months and has no h/c yet so trying to think what h/c would be fair for him, he’s scored 110 last time out, I was thinking of 36h/c would this seem fair?

36 sounds ok to me.
Gives him a chance to win and maybe a golfer of the future.

If he does win make him buy lunch that will teach him.

 

[Rlburnside]

I would ask him what he would like to do and what handicap he would think to be fair.

Maybe explain that a player can only expect to play to or below handicap 20% of the time.

The lad won’t have a clue about h/cs and I don’t suppose he knows much about the rules.
I’ll see what his next score is like and try and assess what h/c to give him.

 

[clubchamp98]

The lad won’t have a clue about h/cs and I don’t suppose he knows much about the rules.
I’ll see what his next score is like and try and assess what h/c to give him.

If you start giving him to many things to think about he might be put off.

Just let him enjoy the golf and have a nice time with the family.

 

[Rlburnside]

I guess it depends on what course length etc the 110 was scored on, but as there were probably some blow up holes 36 sounds a little generous to me.

He’s joined Reddlibetts in Kent don’t know much about the course, I’ll look into it.

 

[Rlburnside]

If you start giving him to many things to think about he might be put off.

Just let him enjoy the golf and have a nice time with the family.

That’s what we will be doing ultimately it’s just a fun day to meet up with family and friends, so won’t bombared him with to much information.
I just wanted to try and be fair to the lad and him a realistic h/c so he can compete with us.

 

[Rlburnside]

If you start giving him to many things to think about he might be put off.

Just let him enjoy the golf and have a nice time with the family.

I marked my 16 year old nephews card last night in his first 9 hole medal

He scored 84 it was a long 2 hours

We start juniors off 54 h/c hence my 36h/c for the other lad seems reasonable to me.

 

[Mel Smooth]

36 off the red tees - I'd take a guess he's still a bit wayward off the tee at only 3 months into the game - bear in mind you don't want him to feel like he's burdening the group if there's a few ball searches on his behalf going on through the round.

It's a family fun day - give the kid a chance to get in the prizes - it'll spur him on to play more golf.

 

[Rlburnside]

36 off the red tees - I'd take a guess he's still a bit wayward off the tee at only 3 months into the game - bear in mind you don't want him to feel like he's burdening the group if there's a few ball searches on his behalf going on through the round.

It's a family fun day - give the kid a chance to get in the prizes - it'll spur him on to play more golf.

Yes I’m thinking 36 is about right, he’s my brothers grandson, my brother sadly passed away and it was him that got the lad interested in golf, so I would be delighted if he could get in the prizes

 

[irip]

If it’s a team game play him off the reds with a 36 handicap.
If you’re playing against him it’s scratch handicap off the whites for £20 .
Seriously speak with him and ask what he would be most comfortable with. If he has no idea explain it to him.
Including him in the decision making and discussing with him after will help him going forward

 

[The Squirrel]

It may well be that the very last thing he wants to think about is handicaps and competitions.

If he is new to the game and has never played a "formal" round, just chopped round with a mate or relative, then he is likely very nervous about playing in a "proper" competition with other people. I know I would have been if I was a beginner at that age and would have been much more so if most other people seemed to know what they were doing. He most likely just wants to get round without people laughing or being annoyed at him.

Handicaps are irrelevant and he probably won't have even considered being competitive in the competition - it's always worth remembering that to non-golfers the idea that you might "win" when you are very obviously one of the weakest players in the field is just bonkers and absurd. It's only those playing long enough to have normalised the silliness of golf's handicap system that would think otherwise.

Does he even want to keep score? Might be more fun just to go round not counting shots on blow-up holes but seeing if he can get a proper par on a hole at some point to keep some competition, and if a ball goes into the bowels of the course then forget 3 minutes (will seem like 20 to him) just lob another one down on the edge of the fairway and let him carry on.

 

[Rlburnside]

It may well be that the very last thing he wants to think about is handicaps and competitions.

If he is new to the game and has never played a "formal" round, just chopped round with a mate or relative, then he is likely very nervous about playing in a "proper" competition with other people. I know I would have been if I was a beginner at that age and would have been much more so if most other people seemed to know what they were doing. He most likely just wants to get round without people laughing or being annoyed at him.

Handicaps are irrelevant and he probably won't have even considered being competitive in the competition - it's always worth remembering that to non-golfers the idea that you might "win" when you are very obviously one of the weakest players in the field is just bonkers and absurd. It's only those playing long enough to have normalised the silliness of golf's handicap system that would think otherwise.

Does he even want to keep score? Might be more fun just to go round not counting shots on blow-up holes but seeing if he can get a proper par on a hole at some point to keep some competition, and if a ball goes into the bowels of the course then forget 3 minutes (will seem like 20 to him) just lob another one down on the edge of the fairway and let him carry on.

He will be playing with relatives that he’s met before so I think it will be a good introduction to competitive golf for him, I don’t want to start him off bending rules as he’s got to learn the basics if he goes on to play competitions as I think he will.

But we will make it as relaxed as possible for him.

 

[Golfmmad]

He will be playing with relatives that he’s met before so I think it will be a good introduction to competitive golf for him, I don’t want to start him off bending rules as he’s got to learn the basics if he goes on to play competitions as I think he will.

But we will make it as relaxed as possible for him.

Just to add to this,I've played Redlibbets golf course and have to say it's one of the hardest courses around the area.
Don't know what tees he played off but to shoot 110 is a fantastic effort!
Rest assured, as my brother has indicated, we will give him all the help and support he needs. Also I think it's going to be rather emotional for all his uncles and friends.
To see his name on the trophy will be very fitting to the occasion.