OpenPlay & iGolf not acceptable in opens

[IanM]

NO apology for repetition.

Clubs wouldn't have to prohibit players with the non club handicaps if they stopped offering big prize tables.

They wouldn't worry about Club members who massage their handicaps either!

If you can walk away with a couple of hundred quids worth of swag, you'll get cheats.

 

[rosecott]

We have had several EGi Golfers join us & transfer their H/caps which appear to be completely appropriate with their standard of play.

Our experience has been exactly the same. I have no qualms over iGolf handicaps. What I see is blind and ill-informed prejudice.

 

[IanM]

As in all walks of life, it's the scumbags who ruin it for the rest.

 

[SteveW86]

NO apology for repetition.

Clubs wouldn't have to prohibit players with the non club handicaps if they stopped offering big prize tables.

They wouldn't worry about Club members who massage their handicaps either!

If you can walk away with a couple of hundred quids worth of swag, you'll get cheats.

This is it for me.

I play golf for fun, the opportunity to play top courses at a good rate is enough of a draw for me.

 

[Banchory Buddha]

Sorry BB you just sound like a sore loser who's eaten all the sour grapes and is now talking out of your rear end...
I was leaning your way in some of these debates but you're on your own now....

Oh no, what will I do on my own

 

[Banchory Buddha]

NO apology for repetition.

Clubs wouldn't have to prohibit players with the non club handicaps if they stopped offering big prize tables.

They wouldn't worry about Club members who massage their handicaps either!

If you can walk away with a couple of hundred quids worth of swag, you'll get cheats.

You don't get a couple of hundred quid vouchers in Scotland, unless it's a very long week 5 day event or something.

To be clear, the screen grabs came from brora, a club that has no issues with gaining visitor numbers as some have laughably suggested

I'd counter suggest, allowing these uncontrolled handicaps entry to you event is likely to drive numbers down, making it this public that the governing authorities bypass of club management won't be tolerated is a plus not a minus

 

[Banchory Buddha]

Our experience has been exactly the same. I have no qualms over iGolf handicaps. What I see is blind and ill-informed prejudice.

Nope, it's informed based on results

 

[IanM]

You don't get a couple of hundred quid vouchers in Scotland, unless it's a very long week 5 day event or something.

To be clear, the screen grabs came from brora, a club that has no issues with gaining visitor numbers as some have laughably suggested

I'd counter suggest, allowing these uncontrolled handicaps entry to you event is likely to drive numbers down, making it this public that the governing authorities bypass of club management won't be tolerated is a plus not a minus

I was referring to prizes like bags, clubs and jackets.. Seen quite a few in Wales and England.

I am sure you're right about iffy scores potentially driving down numbers. Assuming folk enter to win! But I think that ship sailed a while ago.

 

[rosecott]

Nope, it's informed based on results

Results of what? Please explain.

 

[Banchory Buddha]

Results of what? Please explain.

Opens

 

[rulefan]

Opens

You have the detailed stats ?

 

[Banchory Buddha]

You have the detailed stats ?

I've seen from a very few entrants turning up in the vouchers a surprisingly often

 

[D-S]

If I wanted to have a ‘manipulated’ handicap I believe iGolf is the easiest way. The way on which a poster on here could enter scores attested by a variety of fictitious iPlay accounts showed how easily it can be done.

Their oversight of over 46,000 golfers is certainly nowhere near as good as most clubs with little or no peer review, gathering evidence of demonstrated ability is of course nigh on impossible.

My experience of their handicap committee suggest that they are far more unlikely to challenge questionable scores or contact their members than most regular clubs. Having said that there are some clubs out there who are very poor indeed.

The vast, vast majority of iGolfers are, I am sure, normal, honest, recreational golfers with legitimate handicaps, however it is extremely easy to manipulate your handicap and those who want to do it have been provided a simple route.

Given the choice between two similar Opens one accepting iPlayers and one not, I would probably opt for the one that didn’t accept them. This might or might not have an effect on numbers depending on popularity.

If I was running an Open and an iGolfer won with a ridiculous score I would expect, sadly, more complaints than a regular club member or members taking the money.

If it was an Open that filled up very quickly anyway I would probably take the simpler route and not accept iGolfer entries. If it is just about getting numbers and this is not easy, I would accept them.

 

[Crazyface]

There is no valid reason for clubs to reject entries from official independent golfer schemes, just as there is no reason for them to reject players from other jurisdictions. There are far better ways of managing misconceptions about (potential) handicap cheats being rife - which is all this is really about - such as having different prize tables for home club members, visiting club members, independent golfers, etc. There are probably far more handicap cheats who are members of traditional golf clubs than are members of the independent golfer schemes.

Also, opens are a good way of advertising the club - being overtly unwelcoming isn't the best way to come across to any prospective future members or society organisers.

The problem is, is that there is good money to be made at these. Anyone that has manipulated their handicap to win a few of these, that is a member of a club, can be reported, investigated and their handicaps adjusted. A player with these none club handicaps cannot.....I think.

 

[rosecott]

I've seen from a very few entrants turning up in the vouchers a surprisingly often

In other words, as is often the case, you do not have any actual facts.

 

[IanM]

The problem is, is that there is good money to be made at these. Anyone that has manipulated their handicap to win a few of these, that is a member of a club, can be reported, investigated and their handicaps adjusted. A player with these none club handicaps cannot.....I think.

They can, but the ratio of players to "committee" lessens the chances of anything happening

 

[rulefan]

I've seen from a very few entrants turning up in the vouchers a surprisingly often

Just your feeling then?

 

[Banchory Buddha]

In other words, as is often the case, you do not have any actual facts.

"As is often the case"?

So OpenPlay members are often in the vouchers? This is somehow not the same thing as I said?

 

[Banchory Buddha]

Just your feeling then?

No, it's from results. Not a feeling at all, something that happens, I don't "feel" results

 

[IanM]

I guess if the folk that run these schemes can demonstrate that they are policed effectively, Clubs have no reason to exclude their members.