Matchplay is great

[connor]

I had second round of matchplay knockout today. I play off 21 and really been struggling lately in a big way. Chap I was playing was off 5 so gave me 15shots (big comps are limited to 20)
I lost on the 18th but felt I played my best golf in ages and really had to step up my game to compete with him. I made 5 pars which is rare for me one was on a none shot hole to win it as well. I didn’t realise how many pars I made until after the match and we was chatting about it. My PP said if he’d of lost he couldn’t of complained as I played great golf for someone of my level. He won a few holes with birdies and I won some on gross scores alone so it wasn’t a case of my shots nicking holes from him.
Match was 1dwn, half, AS, 1down, AS, 1up, AS, half, 1down, AS, 1 down, 2down, 3down, 2down, 1down, AS, 1down, half

A really back and forth contest to which I felt dead and buried on the 14th when 3down. He said he was worried I was going to win as I kept coming back at him every time he won a hole. Never thought I’d be happy to of lost, but can’t complain with the way I played especially as of late. Plus I’m proud I didn’t throw the towel in at 3down so late on. Just a shame my driving went AWOL and I was nobbling then off the tee for a few holes.
I know a lot of lower HC players complain about giving a load of shots but he was very sporting throughout and good company. I was worried pre match about getting a hiding but just proves handicap system works well and is a great leveller. Shame I have to wait 12 months to give it another go

 

[Grant85]

I had second round of matchplay knockout today. I play off 21 and really been struggling lately in a big way. Chap I was playing was off 5 so gave me 15shots (big comps are limited to 20)
I lost on the 18th but felt I played my best golf in ages and really had to step up my game to compete with him. I made 5 pars which is rare for me one was on a none shot hole to win it as well. I didn’t realise how many pars I made until after the match and we was chatting about it. My PP said if he’d of lost he couldn’t of complained as I played great golf for someone of my level. He won a few holes with birdies and I won some on gross scores alone so it wasn’t a case of my shots nicking holes from him.
Match was 1dwn, half, AS, 1down, AS, 1up, AS, half, 1down, AS, 1 down, 2down, 3down, 2down, 1down, AS, 1down, half

A really back and forth contest to which I felt dead and buried on the 14th when 3down. He said he was worried I was going to win as I kept coming back at him every time he won a hole. Never thought I’d be happy to of lost, but can’t complain with the way I played especially as of late. Plus I’m proud I didn’t throw the towel in at 3down so late on. Just a shame my driving went AWOL and I was nobbling then off the tee for a few holes.
I know a lot of lower HC players complain about giving a load of shots but he was very sporting throughout and good company. I was worried pre match about getting a hiding but just proves handicap system works well and is a great leveller. Shame I have to wait 12 months to give it another go

Well played. Absolutely love matchplay for similar reasons. And ultimately the handicapping has done a reasonable job here in providing a close match - something virtually impossible in other sports.

Completely different from medal play where no doubt a few bad drives would have crucified you and had you struggling to cobble a score together.

 

[rulefan]

I play off 21 and really been struggling lately in a big way. Chap I was playing was off 5 so gave me 15shots (big comps are limited to 20)

Perhaps your club should be aware of the directive issued by England Golf a few months ago.
.............. for a match play competition, it is important to note that all players must be allowed to play off their full CONGU handicap, with the full difference between players given. ............ Players must NOT be asked to compete off a handicap lower than that to which they are entitled.
It is important to ensure that all players have the opportunity to compete in competitions, and that higher handicaps are not discriminated against. Maintaining player interest in the sport is of crucial importance; both for the declining or improving high handicap golfer. If the player is correctly handicapped, there should be no advantage to holding a Cat 5 or 6 handicap over a Cat 1 handicap.

They can of course restrict entry or split a competition into divisions.

 

[PJ87]

I love match play aswell. Played one last week against the organiser of our society

I got 8 shots

Started poorly 1 down.. but got to 2 up at the turn.. including winning a hole with a pen shot as I chipped in afterwards 😂

Then the rain hit and we both played poorly, match went back to all square by the 15th

I managed to find some form on the next 2. won 2 and 1 , would have had a shot on the 18th aswell so only needed 7 of my 8 shots.. lol but looking at the card if we had played off same handicap it would have been all square until 18th then I would have won.. (not that u can tell how you would play a hole without the shots etc)

 

[Orikoru]

Well played. Only played my first proper match play game at the weekend, in pairs - me and my partner won 6 & 5 as we both played very well (partner was off 7 though so playing well is probably more common for him than me ). A mate and I have entered our club's fourball matchplay this year too, so looking forward to that.

 

[howbow88]

Matchplay is by far my favourite format of golf. Quick, straightforward and fun.

 

[connor]

Perhaps your club should be aware of the directive issued by England Golf a few months ago.
.............. for a match play competition, it is important to note that all players must be allowed to play off their full CONGU handicap, with the full difference between players given. ............ Players must NOT be asked to compete off a handicap lower than that to which they are entitled.
It is important to ensure that all players have the opportunity to compete in competitions, and that higher handicaps are not discriminated against. Maintaining player interest in the sport is of crucial importance; both for the declining or improving high handicap golfer. If the player is correctly handicapped, there should be no advantage to holding a Cat 5 or 6 handicap over a Cat 1 handicap.

They can of course restrict entry or split a competition into divisions.

All the bigger cups etc they limit to a 20hc and always have done. I can see why it’s done and to be honest it’s not a problem. Last round I played a 26 hc felt a bit bad for him as he was losing 6 shots as we had to basically play each other off scratch. Us hackers get our chance later in the year if we haven’t won anything during the year we get our own comp where you have to be 12 and above to play

 

[connor]

Well played. Absolutely love matchplay for similar reasons. And ultimately the handicapping has done a reasonable job here in providing a close match - something virtually impossible in other sports.

Completely different from medal play where no doubt a few bad drives would have crucified you and had you struggling to cobble a score together.

Ah without a doubt medal golf I would of been dead an buried. That’s why I enjoy this format if I blow up I lose a hole rather than then trying to chase the score and making things worse

 

[Scozzy]

Mano V Mano ...the oldest and best form of the game, well played,any tie going down 18 suggests a good match one way or another

 

[rulefan]

All the bigger cups etc they limit to a 20hc and always have done.

The regulation was only introduced last year. Perhaps your club haven't caught up yet.