Unpopular opinions

[Crow]

Modern golf is crap. Obsessed with distance and making the game easy.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

So no picking up if you cannot score a point a'la Stableford. Everyone, no matter how good or bad need to hole out to get a score. Now we're talking some serious slow play.

Perhaps golf isn't the game for those people?

 

[Bxm Foxy]

"Better" players are the slowest golfers!

 

[Deleted member 25172]

Perhaps golf isn't the game for those people?

Ha, I'm absolutely certain you're right, but I'm not sure they would take note anyway should this hypothetical new make over be followed through.

 

[AmandaJR]

So no picking up if you cannot score a point a'la Stableford. Everyone, no matter how good or bad need to hole out to get a score. Now we're talking some serious slow play.

Pick up when you've hit double bogey gross?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not sure if it's unpopular but think it is! Remove handicaps altogether. Play your best, try to beat your previous best and may the best, most skilled, proficient golfer win.

Before I get the "it's about participation" then, also possibly unpopular, I call foul on that much held belief. Look at participation in running and cycling and triathlon. Do the slow athletes get a few miles head start to give them a chance of winning? No. Does that stop them competing. No.

I'd argue in fact that participation would increase as there would be no penalty (ie handicap increase) for playing poorly or playing in poor scoring conditions.

This thread is all about posts like this so no wish to derail. However, I would still turn up and play golf but would not enter comps. Why pay a fee into a pot that I am guaranteed not to win? The prize pot for the winner would drop to a feeble amount very quickly. No issue with this but there would be a consequence that low h/c may not like.

 

[AmandaJR]

This thread is all about posts like this so no wish to derail. However, I would still turn up and play golf but would not enter comps. Why pay a fee into a pot that I am guaranteed not to win? The prize pot for the winner would drop to a feeble amount very quickly. No issue with this but there would be a consequence that low h/c may not like.

I'm not sure overall that would be the case once mindsets changed. Entry into road races and tris etc is really expensive and yet the slow-boats still enter for the experience and opportunity to try to beat their pb...

Anyone know why we have handicaps in golf? Apart from horse racing is there anything similar in other sports?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Right, I've had enough of these people agreeing with each other:

- Parkland courses are better than Links

- Parkland courses are more difficult because the swirling wind has more of an impact

- Mark Roe is a great commentator

 

[jim8flog]

Over 65s should not have to read all these posts in 1 day to keep up.

 

[duncan mackie]

Gross events at club level are really a pointless sop to the lower handicap players - the 'best' golfer at any club is already posted on a board (called the master handicap list) for everyone to see, at any time - give them a prize each year.

For everyone else there are handicap competitions where players try to play better than their proven underlying capability.

 

[Bxm Foxy]

Over 65s should not have to read all these posts in 1 day to keep up.

Over 65's shouldn't be allowed to play golf

 

[Deleted member 1147]

...
C) Which side of the draw you are on plays way too much of a part in decicdkng the winner of the Open

Didn't Speith comment on this by stating that the Open becomes the easiest major to win, due to the fact that half the field can be blown away in the first 2 days as a result of the weather.

 

[jim8flog]

Over 65's shouldn't be allowed to play golf

Over 65s should not be forced to play with young uns who think a 4 hour round is playing quickly.

 

[MendieGK]

Didn't Speith comment on this by stating that the Open becomes the easiest major to win, due to the fact that half the field can be blown away in the first 2 days as a result of the weather.

In last few years, Rory (and often tiger) get screwed relentlessly with the draw.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm not sure overall that would be the case once mindsets changed. Entry into road races and tris etc is really expensive and yet the slow-boats still enter for the experience and opportunity to try to beat their pb...

Anyone know why we have handicaps in golf? Apart from horse racing is there anything similar in other sports?

I agree, it is pretty unique in human only sports.

I am not sure people would change. Most people at our place don't bother entering the club championship, a scratch event, for example. I can arrange to play golf with people and not enter comps, it is still fun. Runners can run on their own but running in a race is collectively nicer and the route is laid out for you, it would not be normally (my wife does park runs, runs in a womens group). A golf course is always laid out so I don't need to enter a comp to play it. I guess my point is, by all means remove h/c and have the best golfer win. Just don't expect many people to chuck money into the pot for the 4-5 who will clean up every week. The novelty of that will soon wear off.

(I have no issue with gross and net prizes by the way. I won a Saturday comp last year and found it embarrassing that my score, in reality, was worse than 10 others. My sporting head says that is wrong so I can see where you are coming from. Anyway, I don't want to derail the thread, it is good fun . It is like The Purge but golf related)

 

[Deleted member 25172]

I'm not sure overall that would be the case once mindsets changed. Entry into road races and tris etc is really expensive and yet the slow-boats still enter for the experience and opportunity to try to beat their pb...

Anyone know why we have handicaps in golf? Apart from horse racing is there anything similar in other sports?

As a gambling man, I'd be happy to go with what @Lord Tyrion says. I'd keep on playing as well, but wouldn't enter any comps if I knew before it's even started that I cannot win. I've no idea why we have handicaps in golf, but I'm very glad we do, and my only argument is that this is the only game that I could enjoy together with friends/family that are no where near the same ability than me, no matter if that means that I'm the better one or not in the ball.

And this being written in the least confrontational way possible! I'm not trying to stir things up!

 

[MendieGK]

This is a popular thread!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Right, I've had enough of these people agreeing with each other:

- Parkland courses are better than Links

- Parkland courses are more difficult because the swirling wind has more of an impact

- Mark Roe is a great commentator

Now you're talking.......!!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 25172]

It certainly is a topic that divides on this forum at least...

I enjoy watching some of Mark Crossfields videos...

 

[Bxm Foxy]

In last few years, Rory (and often tiger) get screwed relentlessly with the draw.

Good.