This is a new one on me!

[DaveM]

Just joined a new colf club today. As I have had a long lay off. I need to put 3 cards in for handicap. Now I have always understood its worked out on the stableford system, any high scoring holes reduced to 2 over and then the best of three count. Now in their bumph confermed by the club sec. You put in three cards. Ok so far. but this is where it seems to have changed. 2 of those card have to have a score of 100 or less, otherwise no handicap! Have any of you guys heard of this before?

 

[sweatysock41]

Our Handicap Secretary did state that they were entitled to ensure that a reasonable standard of golf was achieved before giving anyone a handicap. At our place I think he uses 100 as that sort of figure. When he was explaining it he said that under the regulations members did not have a right to a handicap unless they could play to an acceptable standard for competition entry - at least I think that's what he said.

 

[paul1874]

Surely if you pay your club fees you are entitled to the same service as all members no matter how badly you play, therefore you should get a handicap.

 

[rosecott]

The club can refuse to allocate the maximum 28 handicap until a minimum standard is demonstrated.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

My old club used to do the same and reject cards that were too high. Don't see an issue with it myself, what's the point having a handicap you can't get anywhere near playing to?

 

[DCB]

Sorry, but if you're unable to break 100 then are you really ready for playing competitive club golf ?

 

[chris661]

Sorry, but if you're unable to break 100 then are you really ready for playing competitive club golf ?

Is the best answer, surely if you are playing in comps then you must be at a decent enough standard.

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

Ok, so at what point do you hand in cards, I assume when you consistently hit somewhere between 95 to 105?

Seems a touch unfair to at least not be given a handicap, all that needs to be done is state the competition handicap is <28.0

So with forum meets and the likes is there a minimum standard that you need to be?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Ok, so at what point do you hand in cards, I assume when you consistently hit somewhere between 95 to 105?

Seems a touch unfair to at least not be given a handicap, all that needs to be done is state the competition handicap is <28.0

So with forum meets and the likes is there a minimum standard that you need to be?

If you're shooting between 95-105 on a par 72 then 28 h'cap is about right. If you can't get anywhere near 110 then there's no point having a 28 h'cap.

 

[Imurg]

Which begs the question as to why handicaps for us blokes are limited to 28....
Plenty of people can't break 100. Many never will.
How many times do we get the threads on here from those breaking 100 for the first time...?

IF you can't play to 28 how are you supposed to find out when you can? By playing. So they're uncompetitive for a while until they improve.... where's the issue.

To take it to an extreme - Joe B is crap - can't shoot 110 let alone 100. Wants to join a club and play.
Puts his 3 cards in 112, 117 and a miracle 99. Gets his 28 handicap. He may never play to it again. But he's got his handicap forever. Where's the difference between him and Fred C who shoots 105 every week...?
At the clubs concerned Joe can play but Fred can't.........

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

Does this apply to forum meets?

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

Which begs the question as to why handicaps for us blokes are limited to 28....
Plenty of people can't break 100. Many never will.
How many times do we get the threads on here from those breaking 100 for the first time...?

IF you can't play to 28 how are you supposed to find out when you can? By playing. So they're uncompetitive for a while until they improve.... where's the issue.

To take it to an extreme - Joe B is crap - can't shoot 110 let alone 100. Wants to join a club and play.
Puts his 3 cards in 112, 117 and a miracle 99. Gets his 28 handicap. He may never play to it again. But he's got his handicap forever. Where's the difference between him and Fred C who shoots 105 every week...?
At the clubs concerned Joe can play but Fred can't.........

Agree with this, to me membership and handicap are linked, I want to get better but this would mean its pointless to join a club as I'd be precluded from any competitions thus unable to get better. Or better put as unable to compare my standard of play against anybody.

 

[connor]

you can still shoot over a 100 and have a competative stableford score off 28. anything about 30points isnt bad and always about middle. as the boys with good handicaps only need a bad day and miss a few greens here and there and you go above them much to there dismay

 

[bladeplayer]

WOW .. cant say as i have ever heard of this before , can see both sides tho , can see why the club would want members to have an acceptable standard as we (well most ) would not like to be stuck behind someone who just cant hit a ball .. can also see the persons view wanting to join to improve , just wondering tho say someone is borderline & manages to shoot 99 twice & get the handicap , plays loadsa comps after this but keeps shooting over 100 in comps , does the committe review & retract the handicap or what ?

 

[DaveM]

I wont have a problem putting in cards well below the 100 score. I have only been playing between 9-12 holes at the moment. As the lay off was due to neck disc problems. Thought it would be best to come back softly softly. Have been shouting between 2-4 over. So see no problem. Just not seen it before and wonderd if there had been changes since I last played.

 

[rosecott]

WOW .. cant say as i have ever heard of this before , can see both sides tho , can see why the club would want members to have an acceptable standard as we (well most ) would not like to be stuck behind someone who just cant hit a ball .. can also see the persons view wanting to join to improve , just wondering tho say someone is borderline & manages to shoot 99 twice & get the handicap , plays loadsa comps after this but keeps shooting over 100 in comps , does the committe review & retract the handicap or what ?

Fully agree with both points of view but we all know that the quickest way to improve is to play competitive golf.

 

[Chris1980]

I agree with bladeplayer. Think most clubs have this is place to stop hackers getting a 28 handicap and then gets to play in all comps whilst annoying other members waiting on them hacking their way round. I certainly wouldnt want to be stuck behind someone struggling to play to 28 on a sat during a comp.

 

[Oddsocks]

i can see some logic in this. if you cant shoot 100 of the yellows (shorter course), how are you going to manage on competition white tee's. if you cant hit a 28hc off yellows, your never going to do it off whites, and off 28 you cant get any 0.1's back.

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

i can see some logic in this. if you cant shoot 100 of the yellows (shorter course), how are you going to manage on competition white tee's. if you cant hit a 28hc off yellows, your never going to do it off whites, and off 28 you cant get any 0.1's back.

Ok, but then your stuck aren't you? No real way to learn from better players unless you know them personnely and play social games with them.

I find it quite frustrating, although not in that exact position yet, its something I want to do next year, join a club and get a handicapp then try and get it down.

Looking at my own stats, I've got sod all chance of that happening.....

 

[NWJocko]

Ok, but then your stuck aren't you? No real way to learn from better players unless you know them personnely and play social games with them.

I find it quite frustrating, although not in that exact position yet, its something I want to do next year, join a club and get a handicapp then try and get it down.

Looking at my own stats, I've got sod all chance of that happening.....

To a degree I see the logic.

However, surely the post from Robbo illustrates perfectly why it shouldn't happen! In what situation would people advocate a policy that stops somebody playing and improving?

There may be a middle ground (i.e. in medal play NR holes after X shots, only play stableford so can pick up when out) but I think people should be able to play.

I played yesterday in a stableford with a 28 handicap who had a shocker. However he was a nice guy, new to the game, keen to learn and picked up when he couldn't score so wasn't holding anyone up at all.

Why is the handicap limit 28 for men?