NRs is there an alternative

[Yerman]

Having read Andy Caultons letter in this months GM I started thinking if there is a better way, perhaps taking a Stableford view for Medal play. I can rarely remember anyone I've played with going back to replay a shot, usually too embarrassed to hold up play. If there was a maximum number of shots for each par so instead of recording and NR you put 7 for par 3, 8 for a par 4 and 9 for a par 5. This would give a ceiling for beginners, perhaps speed up play and increase the number of returned cards. I'm sure Kevin Na would be keen.

Would you? :fore:

 

[wull]

the problem with doing it that way is you would be returning a score and would be included int he end results of the competition......ultimately you could still win.

i don't think that is fair,if you've picked up then you have nr'd on that hole.you can still continue for handicap purposes but for the comp itself your out.

 

[markyjee]

if not sure where a ball has gone play a provisional, will speed up play and if you find your first you have had a practice hit to sort original poor shot.

 

[chris661]

if not sure where a ball has gone play a provisional.

Is the correct answer.

 

[Val]

I've encountered issues where single figure guys have a stinker front 9, NR and walk off which is wrong as it I'm sure (someone could correct em) change the CSS of the course that competition. What I would like to see is a 1 shot handicap increase for every third NR or the increase changed to 0.3 for a NR. That would stop NR's for playing badly but granted you won't stop it for lost balls.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

There are already too many stablefords and not enough medals as it is so watering down medals is a no no in my book. Golf is supposed to be about how many shots you take so you should count all your shots. Provisionals should be used if your not sure where your first went, there should rarely be a need to return to the tee.

 

[MadAdey]

I think something has to be done to people who just NR a card and walk in. Some sort of punishment would be good. Never had the unfortunate pleasure of playing with someone who has just walked off after 9 without good reason, that is just rude towards the people you are playing with. Maybe anyone walking off the course and just doing an NR to their card should be banned from entering the next 2 qualifying competitions. If someone can submit a good reason to the competitions secretary as to why they walked in then they would obviously not get the ban. Things like my child has been rushed into hospital or another perfectly good excuse would be accepted.

 

[BTatHome]

Depends if you want the score to be counted for prizes, or just for handicap. Clearly to me, someone winning prizes after NR would not be nice. For handicap this is already done isn't it?

 

[Val]

Depends if you want the score to be counted for prizes, or just for handicap. Clearly to me, someone winning prizes after NR would not be nice. For handicap this is already done isn't it?

Just 0.1, I think if it was more then it may cut out needless NR's like walking because people play bad.

 

[RGDave]

I'm not sure if I have this right but is the question not "is it possible/could there be a way of putting down a number rather than n/r ing in stroke play"?
I can think of instances when this might be useful but it would have to be a high number to guarantee the player cannot win the comp. Trouble is high score or n/r makes no real difference.
I play in a society where blobs in stableford are not used, the players either finish the hole or pick up and record one stroke more than they would get a point for. It's something to do with adjusting the society handicaps....?!?!

 

[RGDave]

I think something has to be done to people who just NR a card and walk in. Some sort of punishment would be good. Never had the unfortunate pleasure of playing with someone who has just walked off after 9 without good reason, that is just rude towards the people you are playing with. Maybe anyone walking off the course and just doing an NR to their card should be banned from entering the next 2 qualifying competitions. If someone can submit a good reason to the competitions secretary as to why they walked in then they would obviously not get the ban. Things like my child has been rushed into hospital or another perfectly good excuse would be accepted.

Yes, there's some good ideas here.

 

[fundy]

Punishments are in place at ours if you walk off in a comp without a good reason (and NR isnt one of them).

As for those advising giving back more than 0.1 for an NR (ie 0.3etc) this will never happen as its far too open to abuse. Per se week before club champs im off 7.2, sign into the medal, drive it in the field off the first tee and walk off, bingo Im off 8 for club champs. Wouldnt be my approach but can guarantee some would.

As for walking back no one wants to do it but sometimes you just get unlucky, dont find a ball you expect to and have to. Even worse Ive had to walk back twice on the same hole twice before!!!!

 

[SocketRocket]

My club will ban someone for two medals if they walk off a comp and NR. It's wrong in that the person is normally marking someones card. OK, if theres a medical reason then it's acceptable (not sure if mental breakdowns after scoring 20 on a par 3 counts)

 

[daymond]

Why not score a NR hole as a double bogie in match play competitions for handicap purposes but bar any such NR from a competitor from the competition prizes. The card would be marked NR on the relevent hole. Only one being allowed for the round.
Better still PLAY A PROVISIONAL

 

[Ethan]

I play in a society where blobs in stableford are not used, the players either finish the hole or pick up and record one stroke more than they would get a point for. It's something to do with adjusting the society handicaps....?!?!

That is effectively what the stableford correction for adjusting handicap in medal scores does already.

You can do it the other way round. Adjust handicap based on points - SSS 37 points, CSS for today 38 points, reductions for every point above 38 etc. There are even clever machines available which will do all this if you tell them the hole scores.

 

[Val]

Punishments are in place at ours if you walk off in a comp without a good reason (and NR isnt one of them).

As for those advising giving back more than 0.1 for an NR (ie 0.3etc) this will never happen as its far too open to abuse. Per se week before club champs im off 7.2, sign into the medal, drive it in the field off the first tee and walk off, bingo Im off 8 for club champs. Wouldnt be my approach but can guarantee some would.

As for walking back no one wants to do it but sometimes you just get unlucky, dont find a ball you expect to and have to. Even worse Ive had to walk back twice on the same hole twice before!!!!

I agree it is open to abuse I suppose where the punishment is 0.3 for a NR, clubs need to get firmer with NR's I reckon with those that walk off.

 

[Marko77]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the current system (stableford adjustment). If a player is in a position where they want to NR it does not take much calculating to work out their stableford position and whether the round can be saved for handicap purposes.

As for people walking off after an NR. I have mixed views on this. Sometimes I'd be glad to see the back of them but it can be a pain for disrupting the flow of a round i.e. becoming a 2 ball amongst 3 balls, etc. I wouldn't ban them from playing the following week but possibly advise them their score would not count in the competition but would still for handicap.

As touched on here, I think one of the main contributors to NRs is people unwilling to go back to play another shot or hit a provisional at the time for fear of holding up play and being dubbed the slow player.

 

[Hobbit]

There's not much wrong with the system as it is. The danger of giving people 0.3 back is it makes it easier for those who "manage" their own handicaps to get shots back. In the summer I could get a full shot back every month...

As for walking in; our place bans people unless a limb has fallen off.

 

[Fyldewhite]

If I NR due to a lost ball etc (very rare) then I always try to just play the rest out as stableford and make the buffer zone. However, I still put in the odd NR when simply not playing well and not enjoying things out there. Rules are fine as they are. It's a free country. The day I am forced to stay out when I'm having a nightmare, it's slow, it starts raining and there's football on the telly is the day I'll stop playing. Change the rules and you will just have a succession of sprained wrists and bad backs which it's impossible to rule on.

That said, we play with mates most of the time, I'd never walk off in an important game or when playing with people I don't know. That's just basic manners. If we are all playing bad though I'm never last to suggest walking in.

Also, if you gave 0.3 back for an NR that would encourage them amongst certain factions at our place!!

 

[Val]

I have made buffer with an NR justbthisnlastbseason and personally would never walk on unless injured or in emergency.

It's a hard call, for me I hate the fact people NR when the play bad rather than when they lose a ball and provisional which can happen.