Maximum Handicap For Men - Again...

[Imurg]

It makes more sense to me to start handicaps at 27 rather than 28 - where did 28 come from?
Having said that it also makes sense to allocate no higher than 28 as a start but be able to go up to 36.

Yes, in a perfect World nobody should need more than a shot a Hole - are you listening Fragger - and as much as I like winding Big Bro up about it it does mean we can compete. His FIL is not the best golfer in the World - his Society handicap is something like 47 and he still only got 18 points last week. But he competes.....

Take away that "buffer" of 2 shots on some holes and I think many would drift away from the game.

 

[chrisd]

We played the new course at Sunningdale last year as a 4 ball. One of the 4 was an 18 handicapper aged around 70. To be fair he loved the day out, but the course got progressively harder off the tee and after a while he couldn't clear the heather to reach the fairway. I do think over 18 handicappers, especially older ones, would be best keeping their dosh in their pocket and tend to agree with Snelly

 

[TheClaw]

Low handicappers complaining about lesser players kicking their ass in comps:

Kicking their ass? Do high handicappers really believe they have 'beat' the low handicapper??

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'm pretty sure the west course is 18 limit as well

 

[Five&One]

I play off 26. I am trying my damndest to get it down. I'd like to be mid teens. Not sure i can go below that as I only usually get 27 holes a week If I am lucky. I play against better players and I play in club medals because the handicap system gives the game the unique quality of being able to play on a level playing field against better players. The better players generally win the medals at my place. No one over 14 has won a medal at my club since CONGU was adopted.

Take away my ability to compete and improve through close competition against better players on a level playing field and you will either have to split the medals into ability groups or lose me and a whole raft of high handicap members for years to come.Todays high handicappers are tomorrows Cat 1's. Exclude them from getting that foothold in competitive club golf and you will kill club golf stone dead.

Top end box office golf clubs having a handicap restriction ? I see why they do and have no real problem with that to be honest. In most cases the courses are just too damn hard for us to get any benefit or enjoyment in playing them so its no real loss to be excluded. In fact you could say they are doing you a favour.

 

[TheClaw]

I play off 26. I am trying my damndest to get it down. I'd like to be mid teens. Not sure i can go below that as I only usually get 27 holes a week If I am lucky. I play against better players and I play in club medals because the handicap system gives the game the unique quality of being able to play on a level playing field against better players. The better players generally win the medals at my place. No one over 14 has won a medal at my club since CONGU was adopted.

Take away my ability to compete and improve through close competition against better players on a level playing field and you will either have to split the medals into ability groups or lose me and a whole raft of high handicap members for years to come.Todays high handicappers are tomorrows Cat 1's. Exclude them from geting that foothold in competitive club golf and you will kill club golf stone dead.

I like the idea of split ability groups, divisions like other sports. Promotion and relegation.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I play off 26. I am trying my damndest to get it down. I'd like to be mid teens. Not sure i can go below that as I only usually get 27 holes a week If I am lucky. I play against better players and I play in club medals because the handicap system gives the game the unique quality of being able to play on a level playing field against better players. The better players generally win the medals at my place. No one over 14 has won a medal at my club since CONGU was adopted.

Take away my ability to compete and improve through close competition against better players on a level playing field and you will either have to split the medals into ability groups or lose me and a whole raft of high handicap members for years to come.Todays high handicappers are tomorrows Cat 1's. Exclude them from geting that foothold in competitive club golf and you will kill club golf stone dead.

Top end box office golf clubs having a handicap restriction ? I see why they do and have no real problem with that to be honest.

The winner of your June medal was off of 17?

 

[Five&One]

The winner of your June medal was off of 17?

Apart from him obviously.:mmm:

(Who I didn't notice was off 17 and is now off 14 as a result of his rather out of the blue performance.........lol)

 

[adiemel]

I have only been playing the game for a year and a half. I am having lessons and playing as much as I can. I am hoping to get a handicap this year. I do not think I will get low enough to have a handicap of 18. would love to be good enough to play off this score. We all have to start some where. I know there are course that have their rules that only certain levels of handicap can play them. That's fine I would struggle to play these courses at present. But please don't limit my enjoyment of being able to compete in club competitions, I hope to play with better handicap players who hopefully can give me advice on how to improve my game.

 

[Siren]

I am not trying to wind anyone up. Just saying I agree with their policy.

The "you" who picked up a club for the first time would probably slap the "you" who wrote this.

 

[duncan mackie]

I have just booked a day at Sunningdale in August and on the form it states:

Please note: Sunningdale recommends handicaps do not exceed 18 and all golfers should demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence or may be asked to return to the Clubhouse.


Just posting to say I agree with this as a rule of thumb. A shot a hole is enough for anyone and a limit of 18 would stop winning scores of 45+ points - a good thing in my view -

Sunningdale has absolutley no interest in who wins a golf day played on their course, only the speed with which they get round - faster = more money.

This is not meant as a 'high handicaps must be slower' observation; it's not the case. However, put heather carries and lots of shots into the equation and it does become a reality in many cases.

 

[Five&One]

I like the idea of split ability groups, divisions like other sports. Promotion and relegation.

I think a few clubs divisionalise the medals as an additional layer of competition but everyone is competing in the global medal as a whole. I would rather finish top 20 in my global club medal than be excluded from the global and win Division 4 (I think)

 

[Five&One]

The "you" who picked up a club for the first time would probably slap the "you" who wrote this.

You're a perfect example of why high handicappers should be fully included and able to compete, unless you think that competing on a level playing field at 23.9 wasn't a factor in you getting down to 18.

 

[Foxholer]

Please note: Sunningdale recommends handicaps do not exceed 18 and all golfers should demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence or may be asked to return to the Clubhouse.

Just posting to say I agree with this as a rule of thumb. A shot a hole is enough for anyone and a limit of 18 would stop winning scores of 45+ points - a good thing in my view - and I suspect would also focus the minds of players with higher handicaps and encourage them to improve to a moderate standard of play.

I appreciate that this might cause some consternation with those who do have handicaps higher than this and I don't mean to offend. I just think that Sunningdale have got this absolutely spot on.

That may or may not stop the >40 point scores (I doubt it - I've played in a Scottish event where an 18-capper shot 3 over in both morning and afternoon rounds!) but that's not the reason. Sunningdale - and quite a few others - require golfing 'competence'. It's for pace of play and enjoyment by all! 18 is a semi-random but reasonable level that seems a 'popular' cut-off point.

 

[Foxholer]

I'm pretty sure the west course is 18 limit as well

It is indeed - except on Corporate Days where anything goes! Ladies 24 I believe.

Muirfield is 18 (for Men) not sure about Ladies.

 

[SaintHacker]

I have just booked a day at Sunningdale in August and on the form it states:

Please note: Sunningdale recommends handicaps do not exceed 18 and all golfers should demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence or may be asked to return to the Clubhouse.


Just posting to say I agree with this as a rule of thumb. A shot a hole is enough for anyone and a limit of 18 would stop winning scores of 45+ points - a good thing in my view - and I suspect would also focus the minds of players with higher handicaps and encourage them to improve to a moderate standard of play.

I appreciate that this might cause some consternation with those who do have handicaps higher than this and I don't mean to offend. I just think that Sunningdale have got this absolutely spot on.

So what happens if a 15 'capper turns up and has a nightmare? Is that OK or will he/she be asked to return to the clubhouse?

 

[Foxholer]

So what happens if a 15 'capper turns up and has a nightmare? Is that OK or will he/she be asked to return to the clubhouse?

Loosing 3 balls OB right off the 1st of The Old might raise a warning flag and the group may be monitored. Not me btw - I birdied it from heather!

Similar distance right on 1st of The New - onto 18th is apparently a good line in for Par! This was me!

 

[Slab]

I have just booked a day at Sunningdale in August and on the form it states:

Please note: Sunningdale recommends handicaps do not exceed 18 and all golfers should demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence or may be asked to return to the Clubhouse.


Just posting to say I agree with this as a rule of thumb. A shot a hole is enough for anyone and a limit of 18 would stop winning scores of 45+ points - a good thing in my view - and I suspect would also focus the minds of players with higher handicaps and encourage them to improve to a moderate standard of play.

I appreciate that this might cause some consternation with those who do have handicaps higher than this and I don't mean to offend. I just think that Sunningdale have got this absolutely spot on.

My bold: seriously flawed logic, surely that only works if the guy off 18 isn't in fact 10 handicapper, he's still going to come in with 45pts

Doesn't matter what number someone plays off if its wrong!

 

[gryffindor]

I wonder if they chuck Brucie Forsyth off the course? Perhaps the "Price is Right" after a "Brucie bonus" in the back pocket and he's allowed to continue hacking around...

The max handicap on the West is 18 - higher on the East and Edinburgh. Bruce recently admitted that he doesn't play the West anymore since it is too much of a challenge for him. Having a max handicap for a course makes sense to me IF it is because the course will be too much of a challange, and therefore unenjoyable, for a higher handicapper.

It does also act as a target - my lad was totally made up when a couple of years ago he got to sub 18 and could finally play his friend on the West.

 

[garyinderry]

the shine has been taken off big scores. if you heard that someone scored 47 points the first thing to spring to mind is bandit, not well done!