Pedro rode into town

[AuburnWarrior]

I can see what you're saying Smiffy and I suppose it comes down to the individual. I guess most people on here would feel that they're better than their handicap. I feel that I am. I know that one day I'm going to shoot a super round and I hope that it's in a competition - I think Hywel's the same.
I played with him at the London Club - a super lad who I hope to play against again some day. He's also a very good striker of the ball and I said at the time that I expected him to have a very good 2010. I too see him getting down to 10/11 - maybe lower.
But then I also see JustOne as similar. An excellent swing, coupled with a pure strike - the ball goes exactly where he wants it to go. He's off 5 but could/should be lower. Why isn't he??? I know he was but he's got the ability to go there again. Maybe that's the point. Many players have the ability but when it matters their game goes missing.
I admire you for chasing your dreams of a lower handicap and you achieved your goal but I'll get my handicap lower by playing well in my club comps (which so far this year I've failed miserably.).
As an aside, I'm not saying HTL or JustOne are bandits, more that they're ability doesn't match their handicaps.
To me, a bandit is someone who's a 10 handicapper but turns up to a game and comes out with wibble like "I've not played for ten years - I'll play of 22." and then cleans up.

 

[Smiffy]

But then I also see JustOne as similar. An excellent swing, coupled with a pure strike - the ball goes exactly where he wants it to go. He's off 6 but could/should be lower. Why isn't he???

The difference is that in all the games I've played with James he has never played to 6. Sure, he can play a lot of holes like a 6 handicapper, he's got a lovely swing and hits the ball miles. But by the same token he can also play a lot of holes like a 14 handicapper. I have never seen him threaten 36 points in a round of golf, 31 I think is the best I've seen him score. By his own admission James knows that his short game isn't to 6 handicap standard. And like we all know, getting to low single figures requires a [****] hot short game.
If James were playing in the Ascot day in June and I was running a book?
I would give you 33/1 on him winning on the day.
Hywel? Books closed. I wouldn't give odds on him.
You asked for the difference. There it is

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Fortunately for all those already signed up for June 9th or thinking about it (places still available) HTL is NOT playing

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Fortunately for all those already signed up for June 9th or thinking about it (places still available) HTL is NOT playing

I would play but I've got to work... (my Wife's best mate's cat's uncle's Sister's bridesmaid works at Augusta and I'm playing there for £3.27 but don't tell anyone...I'll post a review of Augusta though...)

 

[bobmac]

Is that the Augusta in Scarborough?

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Is that the Augusta in Scarborough?

£3.27 for a course in Scarborough??? That'd be £3 too much...

 

[Smiffy]

Is that the Augusta in Scarborough?

£3.27 for a course in Scarborough??? That'd be £3 too much...

It did include sex too

 

[JustOne]

I'm not saying HTL or JustOne are bandits, more that they're ability doesn't match their handicaps.

Ha! Is that a new polite way of calling someone a bandit?

Now you've gone and dragged me into a discussion I was cleverly trying to avoid.....
6 more bad comps and I'm off 7!!




(note to self) Must try and get Smiffy's money before Winter sets in!

 

[RGDave]

So, el hombres, senor 4 nett 3 strikes back.

 

[Midnight]

Fortunately for all those already signed up for June 9th or thinking about it (places still available) HTL is NOT playing


I was looking forward to seeing him play again , as last year he was in my group and it would be good to see how much he has improved. Sounds like you had a cracking round today, well done mate.

Midnight...

 

[USER1999]

I haven't spoken to Hywel about this, but I would guess he is a bit like me. I didn't want to go begging the handicap secretary for a cut, I wanted to do it the proper way, by playing well in comps.

Unfortunately, comps screw with your brain, and it takes a while to get your head around them. This only comes with time, not putting yourself under so much pressure, and trying to get cut to scratch in one round.

Hywels day will come, but only if he can relax in the comps, and not let nerves or tightness creep in.

Til then, fine, I'll play him off 17. It's his handicap.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Unfortunately, comps screw with your brain, and it takes a while to get your head around them. This only comes with time, not putting yourself under so much pressure, and trying to get cut to scratch in one round.

This is so very true. From May 2006 to Feb this year, I hadn't had a single cut in a comp for all the reasons above. I've shot in the 70s in that time and won a multitude of society events playing off single figures but never done it in a comp. At one point last summer I went 7 weeks playing bounce games and my worst score was 81. The four comps I played in that time averaged 88. I've lost count of the number of times people have told me I've go the game to play to single figures which makes not doing it even more frustrating.

Luckily for me, my 1st handicap was 9 so the cries of bandit never came up but if I was off 14 or 15 I suspect this conversation could have been about me. I can sympathise with HTL if he's struggling to score well in comps. What they say about 80% of golf being in the head is so very true and it wasn't until I conquered that that my golf started to improve under pressure.

I don't know HTL, I've never seen him hit a golf ball but from what I've read on here, I wouldn't say he was a bandit. It doesn't sound like he is protecting his handicap, just struggling to score well under pressure. Does this mean he has a false handicap? If you look at his comp results, probably not. If you look at the way he plays outside of comps or in pairs matches like today, maybe.

I would imagine HTL is frustrated by his inability to get his handicap cut, I know I was but for me that is the key difference between a bandit and the rest of us. A bandit wouldn't care if his handicap didn't get cut and would treasure today's pairs win with Homer and your name up on the board over playing off your proper handicap. I suspect however that HTL would swap today's board win with playing well in medals and getting down to single figures? Maybe I'm wrong but that's the feeling I get.

 

[USER1999]

From my experience, that is him to a tee.

You sure you haven't met him?

 

[slugger]

when are we going to hear Pedro's thoughts on all of this!!!

I for one would be seriously pissed off if there was a whole thread devoted to how much of a bandit i was!!!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Spoke to him by text this morning and he is seriously cheesed off. As murph and others have said its one thing being relaxed with forum mates or taking cash off me every weekend and another doing it in a competition. He struggled to replicate non-comp form even as a member of Leatherhead (before joining RA) and no-one seemed to care. He has one stellar day, albeit in a better ball comp, and now he's a bandit.

He played with the captain and the handicap secretary and both were happy that he's only a relatively new member but hasn't been hiding and is in all the comps so they see no issue with handicap protection. They both discussed his game, current form and handicap with him and I both during the round and in the bar. Most of the members were pleased for him and I got more stick than Hywel for having to rely on him so heavily (and rightly so). However in case anyone has a problem I do have a solution

 

[Sneds]

1,000 what? Turnips? x

 

[Smiffy]

He has one stellar day, albeit in a better ball comp, and now he's a bandit.

But Homer. You haven't really helped his cause with quotes like this have you????

As most of you know he's far better than a 17 handicapper and suffice to say his bandito reputation has now lept from the forum to the bar Well done Pedro but don't forget to take the sombrero off before you go to the bar.

You've played against HTL on numerous courses and know that 17 is a joke handicap

 

[Robobum]

Who is he seriously cheesed off with???

Is it you for the title of this thread??

Is it you for calling his handicap a joke??

 

[HTL]

Is winning a trophy with a moody handicap something to be proud of now??

Didn’t reply to this thread as some comments have pissed me right off, in no way am I a cheat and take great offence to anyone implying that I am. I’m all for friendly banter with mates, however, when sitting behind a computer screen lots of members on here suddenly become right knobs and say some things I seriously don’t think they would say to my face.

I have played in every comp this year and cocked up all bar 1 where I scored 36 points – 12 going out and 24 coming in!!! I have got way too stressed and couldn’t play for fear of not being cut in every comp. I almost gave up Golf as it really started to depress me and I use to take my bad mood home and have an argument with the Mrs etc.

I had 1 blinding round since being a member at Ascot and handed in cards when playing away games. I spoke with the handicap secretary yesterday and will continue to do so to find a way to get me cut, however, it don’t look likes its gonna happen until the end of the season review. Ill play all forum games from now on with whatever handicap you guys want to give me.

The plan for the rest of the season is to just play in as many comps as I can and try to enjoy it. And to also take some more cash off Smiffy in a match, Ill give you a shot Smiffy

Golf really is the most stupid game. You play well and you get called a cheat or people don’t like you. You play bad people like you and take the piss out of you. Cant some people just say well done, well played?

 

[Robobum]

HTL, I've no problem with whatever your handicap is or what it should be. If the comment upsets you, I apologise.

You may want to take the issue up with your playing partner as crowing about winning a trophy on the back of his partner's "joke" handicap (his words not anyone else's) is hardly in the spirit of any game.

BTW, if we were face to face and I had to listen to the same crowing about trophy winning with said "joke" handicap, then I would have asked the same question.