Taboo subject - handicaps and the annual club comp.

haplesshacker

haplesshacker

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It's understood that we all want to reduce our h'caps, but bearing in mind how quickly they can reduce, and how long it takes to go back up by 0.1 at a time. Do golfers looking to get a result at the annual club champs 'protect' their h'cap until the club comp by throwing a good (handicap reducing) round away?

I think I know what the answer would be. But my main goal this year is not coming last at the club champs, again. But reducing my handicap as well. And the two just seem at odds with each other.

I wouldn't throw any pre champ rounds as I'll take any small victory at the moment. But it must cross other golfers minds.

Thoughts?
 
It is bound to fella, some unscrupulous folk out there are only interested in big wins.
Im into long term improvement where I aim to get as low as possible. What sounds better, winning a club championship with a high handicap or winning more gross competitions? I know what Id rather have.
 
H/C's are there to help, but as golfers we all strive to get better and get them cut, and as they get cut we get better therefore challenging for the major competitions.

So for me its a win win situation H/C cut-better golfer-win comps :D
 
All seems rather unlikely....

Imagine you are off 20, say. To get to 24 you'd have to play badly once a week for most of the year.....

If you turned up for the club championships in the hope of winning by playing to 20, you'd have to be a serious head-case....4 under nett, ain't gonna win much.

Do some players throw away decent cards with a few holes to go? not normally.

There is however a theory that a small group of players knowingly blow up on the last mysteriously once they know 36 points is out of the question and want to come in under the buffer....this I can believe.....
 
There are definately golfers out there who do protect their handicaps for the big comps. I played a guy last year in the matchplay singles who more or less admitted that he has when having a good round in a basic weekend stableford not bothered handing his card in. Thankfully I beat him 3&2.

I, and I believe about 95% of other golfers are more interested in getting their own handicap down as low as possible for a feeling of personal acheivment but Im afraid there are now and always will be plenty of bandits around.
 
Undoubtably some try their best to protect, but I beleive most of us are motivated more by H/C cuts than increases, or winning Comps.

I can say without reservation, pause or hesitation, that I have never played in a H/C qualifying medal or stableford with anything other than the intention of reducing my H/Cap. If I win too, that would be a bonus, but its secondary.

Anyone reading this thread who does protect their H/C, - shame on you, for you have won nothing, you have cheated to win, and cheated yourself mostly.
 
I do hope that nobody ever calls me a bandit, as all I ever want to do is to bring down my handicap, currently at 25.
I'd like to come down to 18 which I think is realistic.
That's the beauty of golf, it strives you to always improve your game and relish the challenge.

Golfmmad.
 
I used to have the tedious task of having to go through medal cards! seperate them into hcp brackets then place them all in order collect all the Nancy's and collate all the scores using the amazingly complicated Course SS to Comp SS adjust as applicable apply buffers etc etc!

One thing I can say is "Every card is scanned for nett double bogeys" as far as Hcps are concerned you can not score higher than a nett double! no point shooting 10-8 on the last 2 par 4's they'll still count as 6-6 also if a high hcp player has a card looking unlike a high hcp players card barr a few bad holes this is also picked up! and hcp adjustments under rule 19 are put in place.

Don't think that the club officials take the cards under par and bin the rest! EVERY!! card is looked at in detail! even if you don't finish the round! trust me it's boring as hell but it is done.

JollysH1
 
I am more interested in reducing my handicap than winning major comps.If i win some monthly medals or qualifiers along the way that would be great.But overall i am looking to get my h/c as low as possible.
 
Played yesterdays midweek medal and came to the last right on the buffer and my oppo said 'bogey for .1 back mate'. I said 'no flipping way , that is not going to happen' , did put 2nd in trees but got out for a par and was pleased with that.

H/c protectors are all knobbers and should be banned if proved
 
This is an interesting debate - and I would like to add another angle.

At my club the better golfers (5 Handicap and under) tend NOT to play any of the Stableford competitions to protect their handicap.

The reasoning is that in Stableford competitions, higher hadicap players are able to post good scores (even with the odd blob) which in turn lowers the SS for the day. This means that the buffer zone moves and it is easy to lose 0.1 handicap for an OK round.

In medal play the statistics show the course plays harder and in fact in a lot of cases the SS rises. Therefore the medal round favours the lower handicap player. Don't get me wrong I am not suggesting they are protecting to win anything, just protecting in general.

In truth, I can understand them.
 
I'm pretty sure there are some people out there who protect their handicaps. But I don't understand them. My aim is to achieve a handicap I find it very difficult to play to. This way I know I have played to my potential over my golfing life.
If it means being cut on general play then bring it on!
 
As most posts say, you can only try your hardest on every shot and if that gets a 62 or 102 then so be it.

Hollow victories with a cushy h'cap....no ta
 
I think its pretty hard to protect your handicap and then know you'll be able to turn a winning perfomance in the big event anyway. Granted you may have a few extra shots to play with but it is reliant on a) being able to produce a guaranteed winning score, b) no-one else in the field having a career day, c) variables like poor weather

If good, mid or even high handicappers feel that they can protect their handicap to such a degree and then perform on the day then they are more talented than most pros who turn up thinking they might have a chance but acknowledging the fact that 10-20 guys every week have a real good chance of winning
 
At my club we have 3 sections of the championship. The Club Championship is open to anyone who can post the two necessary qualifying scores. There is a B Championship for 8-14 handicapers and a C Championship for 15 and over. All the qualifying places (16) in each section are decided by a two round strokeplay event in early June with the best 16 scratch scores in each section taking the places.

No need for handicap shenanigans here ! ;)
 
There are in most clubs players who well try to protect their handicap--this is totally against the spirit of this game.

I strive to reduce my handicap and i try to produce the best shot on every shot, it does not always work out but no effort is spared.
 
At my club we have 3 sections of the championship. The Club Championship is open to anyone who can post the two necessary qualifying scores. There is a B Championship for 8-14 handicapers and a C Championship for 15 and over. All the qualifying places (16) in each section are decided by a two round strokeplay event in early June with the best 16 scratch scores in each section taking the places.

No need for handicap shenanigans here ! ;)
Click to expand...

I like this idea , you really have to earn your spot in the main comp. It wont clog up the course on finals day with people who really shouldnt be there for various reasons.
 
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