Moving clubs, changes in handicap?

[rosecott]

We had an extreme example of a change of club not working out. This guy came to us in a step down from one of the clubs claiming to be the premier club in Notts. He arrived towards the end of 2008 with a handicap of 6.5. By the end of 2009 he was off 9. He left us for 6 months in 2012 off 13, came back with his 13 re-instated and finally left us again at the end of 2013 with a handicap of 16. The course just did not suit his game but he did persevere and refused to give in until he left the area. After virtually every round he played, he would swear that "that's it, I've had enough, I'm not coming back, I hate this course". But he did keep coming back.

 

[cookelad]

We had an extreme example of a change of club not working out. This guy came to us in a step down from one of the clubs claiming to be the premier club in Notts. He arrived towards the end of 2008 with a handicap of 6.5. By the end of 2009 he was off 9. He left us for 6 months in 2012 off 13, came back with his 13 re-instated and finally left us again at the end of 2013 with a handicap of 16. The course just did not suit his game but he did persevere and refused to give in until he left the area. After virtually every round he played, he would swear that "that's it, I've had enough, I'm not coming back, I hate this course". But he did keep coming back.

Well that makes my tale of woe seem fairly insignificant!

Left Aldersey in March 2012 playing well and eager for the next comp to get down/closer to a playing 4 handicap, ended up not joining Shooters Hill until Sept 12 now playing off 7.1 - Winner! I'm hoping the guys are correct in saying that everybody who joins from elsewhere goes up 2 shots when they first arrive before they start whittling it back down again!

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I joined RAGC with a handicap of 11.6 and was off 9.3 at the end of the first year. At the end of the 2nd year I was up to 10 and by the end of the 3rd year which has just finished I'm down to 7.5.

This doesn't reflect on the course though. RAGC is harder than my old course but since joining I have been playing every week which I wasn't doing at my old Muni and I am a better player as a result.

 

[Foxholer]

I went from a year or so at a Links course in Scotland to a Parkland one in Surrey and was cut (Rule 19 as it was then) 2 shots. that seemed to be about right for that environment.

Several years later (off 9, having got down to 7 at one stage) went back up to Scotland for 18 months and it took 6 months to score '36 points' and was by now off 11. Got back down to 9. On return to the Surrey Parkland course (as guest) shot level Par!

Not sure what all that means - except Scottish Links handicaps seem to 'travel well'!