Match play rules.

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Practice? I don't practice as in going to a range or down the practice ground and really never have. I have tried a bit going with mates - but it's always a bit of a disaster - so I just avoid it. I have never had a lesson and so don't know what to practice ... but I somehow got down to 6.

I was fortunate that I could play a lot - and so my practice was on the course.

hmmm...but I'd add - that having had 10 yrs off until about 4 years ago - it's been one hell of a struggle to get back playing half decent again - without lessons or practice. But hey - I knocked it round in 6 over a few weeks ago so I'm a happy bunny - and back to 11.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

But my stance is still the same, the advantage should lie with the lower handicap player because golf is a sport and I believe the advantage should lie with the one who puts the most work into their game.

(And before anyone says 'I'm a low handicapper and I never work on my game' well you are very fortunate and also the exception to the rule)

Bunkum. So what happens if are off 16 and so an average joe and playing a guy off 28 and the first hole is SI10. He gets a shot and neither of you have the time or inclination to work on your game (which may explain the handicap but its also a balance between playing and family/work). Is it still wrong to not give a shot. Where does the line get drawn

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Bunkum. So what happens if are off 16 and so an average joe and playing a guy off 28 and the first hole is SI10. He gets a shot and neither of you have the time or inclination to work on your game (which may explain the handicap but its also a balance between playing and family/work). Is it still wrong to not give a shot. Where does the line get drawn

The line gets drawn after 18 holes, I thought I'd made that clear?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

...the advantage should lie with the lower handicap player

Nope - sorry - IMO you are quite wrong in that thought...

You said it - it's a handicap game - so at the basics of the game as most of us play it there should be no advantage through being a lower or higher handicap player. He or she who succeeds is the player who plays better to their handicap on the day. Golf as it has developed is an egalitarian game - that is it's unusual beauty.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sorry but you are deluded. Check out the rule book. Until make a change deal with it

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Nope - sorry - IMO you are quite wrong in that thought...

You said it - it's a handicap game - so at the basics of the game as most of us play it there should be no advantage through being a lower or higher handicap player. He or she who succeeds is the player who plays better to their handicap on the day. Golf as it has developed is an egalitarian game - that is it's unusual beauty.

Golf is a competitive sport, the advantage should lie with the higher skilled player.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The line gets drawn after 18 holes, I thought I'd made that clear?

Why?? I'm sorry - but you are failing completely to understand handicap golf. After 18 holes you start again.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Sorry but you are deluded. Check out the rule book. Until make a change deal with it

I'm not deluded and I'm fully aware of the rule book. I just don't agree with it.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Golf is a competitive sport, the advantage should lie with the higher skilled player.

OK - play scratch golf...

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Why?? I'm sorry - but you are failing completely to understand handicap golf. After 18 holes you start again.

I fully understand the concept of handicap golf thank you very much. A match is played over 18 holes, the higher handicap player receives his shots and if after 18 holes he hasn't used that to his advantage then that is up to him.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

OK - play scratch golf...

I do

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I know a whole bunch of low handicap golfers that have stopped playing in their club's handicap knockout competitions since the rule was changed to full allowance. All that has done is devalue the competitions as the better players no longer participate.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

No. I've never seen or played in a competition that has those rules, all that I have played in are sudden death. And the handicap allowance is over 18 holes, what happens if you are receiving 1 shot and SI 1 happens to be on the first or second hole? (as it is at one of my former clubs)

How many courses have their first as SI 1 - even when it is the hardest on the course. Why are the first or second rarely designed to be the hardest pars on the course? Quite. Our 2nd is SI 2 - but even low low singles find it very hard to par so that is OK (474 yrs - first 320 yds uphill then dogleg right - so for everyone a blind second shot). SI and course design take into account extra holes in KO h/cap comps. If your track doesn't then...

Jeez mate - you are off 5 - you must understand this stuff.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I know a whole bunch of low handicap golfers that have stopped playing in their club's handicap knockout competitions since the rule was changed to full allowance. All that has done is devalue the competitions as the better players no longer participate.

Now this is a different argument - and in fact one that I am in agreement with you on.

And in the same vein you could add allowing juniors to play in front line (or however you refer to them) club comps. Lots of unhappiness abounds around that.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

How many courses have their first as SI 1 - even when it is the hardest on the course. Why are the first or second rarely designed to be the hardest pars on the course? Quite. Our 2nd is SI 2 - but even low low singles find it very hard to par so that is OK (474 yrs - first 320 yds uphill then dogleg right - so for everyone a blind second shot). SI and course design take into account extra holes in KO h/cap comps. If your track doesn't then...

Jeez mate - you are off 5 - you must understand this stuff.

I used to play at Southampton, SI1 is the 2nd hole. Hardly conducive to matchplay golf but it is the hardest hole on the course.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I used to play at Southampton, SI1 is the 2nd hole. Hardly conducive to matchplay golf but it is the hardest hole on the course.

Exactly - if it is actually a really hard hole then the low handicapper should be able to get a 4 many more times than the higher. I bet the higher handicap screws up hugely a lot of time - you will get a 5 most of time and 4 a lot. The fact it is a difficult SI 1 will work to your advantage if you play your opponent rather than the hole.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

But we digress from the original argument.

In my mind, an 18 hole match is played over 18 holes and the handicap difference applies over 18 holes, not over however many holes it takes to settle the match.

If other people see it differently then fine, that is up to them but whatever arguments they put forward, it won't change my point of view. That is my final word on the subject.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

But we digress from the original argument.

In my mind, an 18 hole match is played over 18 holes and the handicap difference applies over 18 holes, not over however many holes it takes to settle the match.

If other people see it differently then fine, that is up to them but whatever arguments they put forward, it won't change my point of view. That is my final word on the subject.

Oh well - you are quite right about 18 hole matches/comps being played over 18 holes - you only have to find such matches - and there are plenty I'll grant you.

However in general - I think that you'll find that there is no stipulation on the number of holes other than (usually) they should be over 18, plus however many are accommodated by the rules of that competition - and I think that again you will find that there is no upper limit to the number of holes that can be played to decide the outcome of a match.

And that would seem to make a nonsense of handicap stroke allowance only applying to 18 holes if we could play on until the cows came home.

 

[Imurg]

If a match is played over 18 holes and after 18 you're level then it should be declared a draw or the tie decided by the toss of a coin....

It isn't because the tie should be decided by Golf.

Therefore you continue down the 19th etc etc until somone wins.
So a Match isn't over 18 holes - it is over a minimum of 18 holes.
And if you have to go round again - all 18 if necessary - then handicaps have to be taken into account.

You say that if the high handicapper can't take advantage and win with all the shots he has, why can't a 5 handicapper take advantage and win playing better golf over 18 holes...?

If it's a HANDICAP competition then handicaps have to be taken into account.

If it's a scratch comp then fill yer boots...

I'm afraid you're wrong on this one.....

 

[Twire]

If a player works hard on his game to improve and get his handicap down, why should he give that all away to someone who isn't prepared to work as hard on their game?

I don't have an issue with people of all abilities being able to compete against each other but it's only fair that the advantage should lie with those that put more effort into their games.

That is all very well and good but you haven't even considered the other side of the argument where I may be the higher handicapper who is receiving the shots. If you care to read back to one of my first posts on this thread, I stated quite clearly that the current system has worked both for and against me in the past. But my stance is still the same, the advantage should lie with the lower handicap player because golf is a sport and I believe the advantage should lie with the one who puts the most work into their game.

(And before anyone says 'I'm a low handicapper and I never work on my game' well you are very fortunate and also the exception to the rule)

Your assuming that the high handicapper doesn't put in as much practice as the low person and I find that insulting. I work hard on my game, and have regular lessons. Unfortunately, I'm still 9 shots off your handicap, but it's nothing to do with lack of practice and hard work.