My playing partner's handicap...

[Canary_Yellow]

My playing partner is a true beginner. He has put together 3 cards, but they are all around the 120 mark.

Will he be given a handicap? Or could the club tell him to wait until he's improved a bit and then submit some more cards before allocating?

 

[connor]

i cant see no harm in giving him a 28.

 

[Neddy]

i cant see no harm in giving him a 28.

I do. He is nowhere near playing to it. This is exactly the reason I would want to be consistently in the 90's before joining anywhere....

 

[connor]

i only play off 27 and i regulary hit anywhere between 95-110 depending what kind of day im having. why would it do any harm? ok if he plays slow but he will soon get to grips with it. Perhaps he just needs a few lessons

 

[Canary_Yellow]

He does need lessons, no doubt about that. He's only had 4 in his entire life!

He's not a slow player though so no need for concerns there. I'm interested primarily as I need someone to sign my cards in comps so need him to get a handicap!

 

[louise_a]

My Ladies section wants at least one card to be under 120 to get a handicap, so maybe there is a similar rule in place at your club.

 

[connor]

He does need lessons, no doubt about that. He's only had 4 in his entire life!

He's not a slow player though so no need for concerns there. I'm interested primarily as I need someone to sign my cards in comps so need him to get a handicap!

snap but to be fair i played for 18months -2years before i had one but in hindsight i wish i had them from the word go

 

[duncan mackie]

one of the fastest ways to improve is to get a handicap and paly in competitions.....

having said that, it's also one way to gt put off if things go wrong all round! if you can play together, on in a compfortable environment for the first few comps, then things should go positively all round.

many 28's won't beat 120 on some courses, and on many days - stableford adjustment may well still bring them 30 points

sounds like you have good reason to go ahead and get him on the ladder - go for it.

 

[Neddy]

snap but to be fair i played for 18months -2years before i had one but in hindsight i wish i had them from the word go

Ain't that the truth!!

Canary Yellow, were his 120 ish rounds the norm or has he gone lower than that? If he is capable of shooting around the 100 mark then 28 is about right, if he is nowhere near that there is almost no point of him competing just yet...in my opinion!

 

[pbrown7582]

I cant see any harm putting the cards in and letting them go through the system if the handicap committee are concerned they will speak to your friend and explain there concerns. Can't ne any different to a lady having a max 36 or junior 48 we all have to start somewhere.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

120 is the norm I'd say. The course we play at is quite tricky (the SSS is 72, don't know what a typical CSS is), I'd say he's capable of 105 - 110, although I'm yet to see him achieve that. Don't think he's quite capable of a 100.

I'd say you're right that there's no point him competing in the sense that he's not going to trouble the prizes, but it's another way of keeping things interesting for him I think and also to benchmark his improvement in the conditions that he'll be assessed under when eventually he is in with a chance of troubling the prizes.

I'm fortunate in that I had a lot of lessons when I was young (12 - 15) and even though I'm not much of a golfer yet (hadn't played much golf on the course until this year and didn't play at all between the age of 19 and 27) I think I've got the fundamentals, with the aid of a few more lessons and a lot of practice to get my handicap down. When I have kids, they'll definitely be having lessons early and getting a solid basic technique!

 

[Hendo007]

I'd say get him in there and get him a H/C, he's got to start somewhere.

 

[shivas irons]

i cant see no harm in giving him a 28.

Why would you want to give the guy a 28 when he cant play to it??.My advice would be for you mate to start breaking 100 before he puts he`s cards in.

 

[Birchy]

I joined my first golf club last winter on an 18 months for 12 offer. I put in two cards over 100 and a 98 iirc and got a 20 handicap. When i got the handicap i didnt have a hope in hell of playing to it but playing in the comps with other competent players really helped me out and learn from them. Ive had a few lessons and invested in some new irons and my scores have steadily improved an im easily playing to 20 and will probably get a healthy cut starting this weekend.

Had i not had the experience of playing in competitons i doubt i would of improved as much as i have. As long as he doesnt hold anybody up he should be given a 28 so he can learn.

 

[Imurg]

I spent a whole Winter practicing on the range getting "good enough" to join the club.
Eventually I thought I was ok enough to not disgrace myself.

Put my cards in and got a handicap of 15..............

Straight to Division 1 (only 2 at that club) and straight into competition.

Put the cards in - let the Handicap Committee decide what to so.
But I say give his handicap and get him playing.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

It also depends on the make up of the cards.
Say there were three or four really bad holes on each card, that would effect the way the comittee look at it.

It is surprising how quickly some folk can improve once they get over the initial three or four rounds and settle down.
Good to hear that he keeps pace with the course that is more important than poor scoring.

 

[goldenbare]

When I have kids, they'll definitely be having lessons early and getting a solid basic technique!

Lets hope you have a sympathetic wife, Canary, you may find you'll have to take another few years off!

I was interested to see your point about him marking your card. If you want to improve yourself you're better off playing in some drawn comps and hopefully mixing with some better players.
But he should certainly stick his cards in and get on the course, I've come across numerous guys who are nowhere near 28 but still don't get in the way and enjoy their round whatever the score.

 

[papyt]

the question you should ask is does your friend want a h/c yet? i know you would like him to mark your card but that is a bit selfish,by all means play social golf with him and help him along but to expect him to play in comps. that could put him off playing doesn't seem right,give him another 6 months to improve then put his cards in why have the added stress of trying to achieve something he cant do at present.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why would you want to give the guy a 28 when he cant play to it??.My advice would be for you mate to start breaking 100 before he puts he`s cards in.

Unless the club has specific rules on playing ability why be so elitist. It gives him the opportunity to compete in comps, play with new members who may be a lot more encouraging than you and it may help him. If he can learn some course management then his scores will drop anyway. We have some high handicappers (25-27) in our Saturday roll up. They don't hold anyone up. It is some of their shot selections that cost them rather than their ability to hit it.

I guess the other side would be help him get his cards and then "persuade" him to get a lesson or two and brush up the basics. Im sure a refresher on grip, posture and address would help. After that its short game and putting that will help

 

[Canary_Yellow]

the question you should ask is does your friend want a h/c yet? i know you would like him to mark your card but that is a bit selfish,by all means play social golf with him and help him along but to expect him to play in comps. that could put him off playing doesn't seem right,give him another 6 months to improve then put his cards in why have the added stress of trying to achieve something he cant do at present.

He wants a handicap; he's put two cards in already, just one to go. We were just discussing it at the weekend and wondering whether congu had any minimum requirements or if 28 really is a catch all.