Receiving your first Handicap

[TLB]

What is the general consensus with handing your 3 cards in?

I've just got back into golf after deciding to take a break from cricket. My last handicap was 29 when Ii was 12 years old and 15 years later I have joined a new club and handed in my 3 cards. I had one decent round of +12, another of +18 and finally one of +19. As I wanted to get going and join in with all the competitions I handed the first 3 rounds I played, whether I played well or not and was awarded a handicap of 14, which I think is probably fair as my last 5 rounds have been, 13, 15, 10, 9 and 16 over.

Another of my friends who is probably a couple of shots better than me is now going through the same process. He has however picked and chosen his cards handing in cards which are 16, 18 over etc etc even though a couple of rounds ago he played the back 9 -1! His argument is that when you first get given your handicap is when you are at your most competitive. No doubt he will be given a handicap of 18 and shoot 6+ shots under it a midst shouts of 'bandit'.

I've taken a bit of stick for handing the +12 card in when I could have changed that for a +18 quite easily and had a handicap closer to that.

Long story short, who is right? what is the 'done thing'?

Look forward to your thoughts.

 

[fundy]

The done thing is not to pick and choose your cards at all!

You're supposed to declare you are playing the round for handicap before you head out. You do this 3 times, hand your scores in whatever they are and your handicap is usually allocated based upon your best round of 3.

Not sure how you got allocated 14 when you handed in a round of +12 (is SSS less than par at your course?)

As for your friend, he is plain out cheating, any victory he has should be very hollow. Its reasons like this why most clubs dont allow anyone to win the main handicap comps until theyve played a certain number of comps beforehand.

BTW for fair, your handicap is supposed to represent close to the best of your ability, 14 seems too high for the 5 scores you quote (9 or 10 looks more sensible to me)

 

[TLB]

Par 70 SSS 67

When looking at my cards the pro thought I would be allocated 16 but that didn't happen! Apparently they take my best front 9 and back 9 and do some sort of wizardry among other calculations.

I wasn't aware that your handicap is supposed to be the best of your ability. I played two rounds 6 over through the Winter but I normally shoot 10-14 over.

I feel as though I am improving every time Ii play as I'm playing much more and usually take to sports well, so I presume it will sort itself out soon.

 

[JackieD]

Going through the same thing as OP.

Playing 2 rounds at the weekend "for handicap" whatever I score I'll be putting in those cards! Your mate is (as has been said) a cheater.

Imagine playing against him knowing he has frigged his handicap?
:rant:

 

[NST]

Going through the same thing as OP.

Playing 2 rounds at the weekend "for handicap" whatever I score I'll be putting in those cards! Your mate is (as has been said) a cheater.

Imagine playing against him knowing he has frigged his handicap?
:rant:

Yes, his mate is cheating. Very simple. Improving and cheating are very different.

 

[TLB]

I wasn't aware that you had to declare before the round that you were using this towards your handicap, all news to me! I just used my next 3 rounds.

To be fair I think he will struggle as he is a little cavalier with the rules at some times, placing the ball in the rough is one of his favorites.

He used to be hard to play with as he would be 'playing mind games' which was mostly banter, but he would then be standing directly behind you as you tee off etc etc. Eventually I told another mate about it and he mentioned it in passing with him and the issue was pretty much resolved.

Ii'm not painting him as a great picture at the moment but he is actually a solid player and good friend to be fair.

 

[pbrown7582]

Par 70 SSS 67

When looking at my cards the pro thought I would be allocated 16 but that didn't happen! Apparently they take my best front 9 and back 9 and do some sort of wizardry among other calculations.

I wasn't aware that your handicap is supposed to be the best of your ability. I played two rounds 6 over through the Winter but I normally shoot 10-14 over.

I feel as though I am improving every time Ii play as I'm playing much more and usually take to sports well, so I presume it will sort itself out soon.

Oh dear you were wrongly advised.
You have done right by submitting your cards and getting on with it. Your friend being a bit cavilier will need to watch himself in comps or will soon get told, or talked about.

 

[SVB]

Your friend has, without wishing to be unkind, cheated the system.

Somehow, the spirit of golf being a self governing sport where players are really expected to govern themselves is at the heart of the game.

This is no better illustrated than by Darren Clarke a few years ago:

http://youtu.be/rdzS-kK_F9E

If I were you, I'd encourage your mate to speak to the club, explain his 'misunderstanding' and at least offer to re-submit a more representative set of cards.

 

[rosecott]

Ideally I would want the 3 cards played in a reasonably short period of time preferably with the cards marked by a member known to someone on the handicap committee with perhaps one round marked by an experienced committee member. That would get round the problem of attempts to "engineer" a starting handicap. It should be remembered that handicap committees have the power to re-assess initial allocations if they seem suspect.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You say you think he'll be given 18 or close so he hasn't handed all the cards in yet I assume. Tell him he's a cheat and that he should just put the next card in irrespective of what the score is and get assessed correctly. It is this sort of pot hunter that makes it a mockery for the majority who play week in week out, paying their money and off a fair handicap, just for this sort of guy to wander up of a false mark and clean up

 

[woody69]

I simply don't understand the mentality of that approach tbh. Why on earth would you want to give the impression you are not as good as you actually are for the sake of winning a few comps? It's like saying you can run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds but starting on the 40 metre line. Just doesn't make sense. You say he's potentially a few of shots better than you, so that puts him near single figures. Why on earth does he not want to show everyone that? Bizarre.

 

[Fyldewhite]

New members should be given minimum of 3 cards marked as "for Handicap". The player should do the rounds, witnessed and signed by another member, submit them and that's it. Best netted down score + possibly further information and away you go. How clubs allow new members to pick and choose like this is just beyond me and IMO another example of useless committees. If I were a member here I'd be screaming.

Presumably he has had cards marked by members and presumably must have asked "this is for handicap, please would you mark a card for me?" on the first tee? Suspect these members may have some input when his new handicap is posted???

 

[Break90]

Yes he's falsifying his starting handicap, but if he's as solid a player as you say he is, he might win some comps to begin with but his handicap will soon come down to where it should be.

More concerning to me, if he were my mate and we were joining the same club, would be the 'cavalier attitude' to the rules that you mentioned, this could quickly lead to issues with other members.

being labelled a bandit is bad enough, but being labelled a cheat is a whole different kettle of fish

 

[Coatsy79]

Hmmm I just put my first 3 cards in for mine

 

[patricks148]

Sound s like its a bit too lax at yur club with the rules.

When i did mine you had to declare before that a card was "for handicap" and you had to play and get it signed by a member with a handicap. I did of them in comps that i wasn't allowed to win ( well i didnt have a handicap anyway) andagain th cards were marked " for handicap only" and handed in to the comp organiser.

It looks like neither of you has followed the rules, its also your Responsibility to know the rules..

 

[TLB]

I played 3 rounds as soon as I had joined with a member who is also a friend in order to gain my handicap, so I didn't pick and choose.

I do believe it is a bit relaxed and maybe a better idea would be to play during a competition or with a member you don't know.

When he does get his handicap and we play together in comps I think it might be an idea to play alongside the captain or one of the more established members in order to iron out any teething issues shall we say!