Putting my 3 cards in….

[HTL]

Well its come the time to get my first official handicap, and I don’t want to, well kind of, I do want to get it but not yet, I think its pointless when the weather is like this I am shooting way above what im capable of and don’t want a bandits handicap come the summer.

Playing on Saturday in the clubs weekend comp and will be expected to have a card marked and submitted (I think) what shall I do? Just go with it and get a handicap whatever it is or explain my situation to the people im playing with.

 

[DelB]

I'd say just go with it and get your card handed in. I'm taking my son out on saturday to get his third card done and that will give him his first official handicap. Realistically, everyone should be able to play better when the weather's warmer and the course is firmer - doesn't meant to say they will though!

 

[Twire]

I'm suprised you can play in the weekend comp without a handicap.

But I would sugest getting cards in quickly....so what if you win the first few comps the handicap will sort itself out before long.

 

[haplesshacker]

I got my h'cap at this time of year, last year. TBH I got creamed on it. Got given something way below my averge net double bogey score, because on a number of holes I demonstrated that I could play golf, apparently!

Since then my h'cap has gone up 0.1 after every round! Kinda proving that it was incorrect from the start.

 

[Parmo]

HTL I have the same problem, I played on Saturday and had my worst round since starting of 106 (SSS65), my mates said just put it in and take a high hcp and over the course of a 12-18 months it will balance out to your correct hcp. They said this because they had experience of putting in their lowest cards with no chance of playing to them week in and out, so they ended up winning nothing and losing interest in the game.

I need two more cards and if they are high, so be it. I might even get a few turkeys come the end of the year but I will summit all the cards I can to ajust it correctly over the year.

At the end of the day a high hcp is less pressure than a excellent three rounds and a low one, if that means being a slight bandit so be it, but the defination of a bandit is someone who protects their high hcp to win comps.

 

[jeffc]

just get your handicap, gotta start somewhere and if you do win a few comps come summer you have followed the rules of getting 3 signed cards. Thats what the system is there for !!

 

[Twire]

You must remember HTL that for H'cap purposes they won't count any hole more than a double bogey. so if you do get a few 7 8 9 10's etc they will only count as double bogeys.

 

[Robobum]

Realistically, everyone should be able to play better when the weather's warmer and the course is firmer - doesn't meant to say they will though!

Del, was hoping the courses won't get any firmer than they are now!!

Agree with the others, get your card in asap. If your h'cap is wildly higher than your capability it will plummit so quickly that by the time the "major" comps come round you will be in the right catergory.

On the other hand, hope you don't play out of your skin and get lumped in Cat 1 from the off!! Good Luck

 

[Parmo]

You must remember HTL that for H'cap purposes they won't count any hole more than a double bogey. so if you do get a few 7 8 9 10's etc they will only count as double bogeys.

I didnt know this, least that 9 I got should be a gonna!!

Also the com sec said he was going to take into consideration the weather as the course was like concrete last weekend, maybe you com sec will as well HTL?

 

[Twire]

You must remember HTL that for H'cap purposes they won't count any hole more than a double bogey. so if you do get a few 7 8 9 10's etc they will only count as double bogeys.

I didnt know this, least that 9 I got should be a gonna!!

Well it won't be a gonna, but it will be a 5 6 or 7, depending on the hole par.

 

[Twire]

You must remember HTL that for H'cap purposes they won't count any hole more than a double bogey. so if you do get a few 7 8 9 10's etc they will only count as double bogeys.

I didnt know this, least that 9 I got should be a gonna!!

Also the com sec said he was going to take into consideration the weather as the course was like concrete last weekend, maybe you com sec will as well HTL?

There you go Parmo, all you need to know about calculating handicaps.

http://golfclub.timesonline.co.uk/pages.php/my_handicap.html

 

[Fore]

Hi HTL,
my club allows you to put in 3 non competition cards, signed by another member, to get your handicap started and that allows you to take part in competitions but not to take the winnings for your first three competitions. Then once you have taken part in three proper competitions and handed those cards in they adjust your handicap under rule 19, after which you can then take any winnings.
Is your club similar to this?

 

[USER1999]

Good luck with the round (and the weather), and remember to play a nice relaxed game and take it as it comes. If you have a disaster hole, just accept that these happen, it will only be a double anyway, and don't let it get to you.

If you play within yourself, and score ok, it will be an honest h/cap, what ever it is.

Just remember, if it is more than 12, I am not giving you any shots next time we play.

 

[Parmo]

Thank you twiregolf

 

[OldWindy]

Get it sorted now - it'll soon balance itself out once playing conditions become a little less extreme.

 

[Herbie]

Well its come the time to get my first official handicap, and I don’t want to, well kind of, I do want to get it but not yet, I think its pointless when the weather is like this I am shooting way above what im capable of and don’t want a bandits handicap come the summer.

Playing on Saturday in the clubs weekend comp and will be expected to have a card marked and submitted (I think) what shall I do? Just go with it and get a handicap whatever it is or explain my situation to the people im playing with.

Get a h/c, if you shoot a significantly lower score at this time of year, then your course must be dramatically altered and greens far more playable than most clubs winter greens. I tend to play the same score or just a couple more this time of year as the greens are a nightmare to get on and stay on, and murder for putting, the advantage of a few shorter holes is often lost at the greens but not by a huge amount. I say get your h/c and go from there, you will find a calculation will be made taking winters into consideration.

Now, how are you entering a comp without a h/c? I find this unusual unless it is so casual that it is accepted by all players in the comp

 

[DCB]

Strike while the iron is hot ! You've just joined and you are dead keen. Just put the card in marked up at the top " For Handicap" let the competition convenor decide what he's giving you after all three cards are in. Getting your handicap before the main season starts will mean that you will be able to enter the hole & hole matchplay knockout competitions which usually start April time. It also gives you a chance to get to know the course and for people to get to know you!

I'm sure that from your rugby days at club level, you remember what a good going club can achieve on the social front. Golf clubs can be just the same if you want them to be. Get in there boy! Best of luck.

 

[DCB]

Parmo, my answer to htl goes for you as well. Get in there !

 

[Herbie]

Just realised what I put, I meant if you shoot significantly HIGHER not lower! doh!

 

[Imurg]

Get the cards in.

If you get a high one then play more and it shoudl settle by summer. Same if its low, play more and hopefully it'll sort itself before too long.