What’s the point of competing?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I’m playing in our Thursday rollup this morning…51 entered, forward tees and majority (36) HIs >13. I’d normally be thinking that I’ve got no chance of getting in the frame as I know one or two of the many higher guys will score 40+, and off our forward tees I’m off 5 (hard for me even when playing well…which I’m not).

But the course is playing tough..and recent stableford comps have seen much lower scoring. I don’t have great expectations but I’ll do my best…to at least post a decent score for my WHS record. And you never know…well I kinda do (40pts needs a one over gross…and I’ve never done that )

No matter…it’s a beautiful morning to be alive, kicking and playing golf in sunny Surrey

Well I was correct on both counts…with 50 competing the winning stableford score was 36pts (three scored that), and I scored rubbish…

Advice for OP? Sometimes even just playing to your handicap can be good enough to win.

 

[Captain_Black.]

In 10 years I've won about 3 or 4 big comps
Board comps with a 100 + entry
Even now, I enjoy competing
Knowing I have a card in my hand, challenging myself & keeping my handicap current
I know I have little chance of winning
But it's the same for 95% of the field
It's not all about the winning for me
Although it's nice when it happens
A chap at my course won his first board comp last week, he's been at the club 25 years!
He was very happy

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Nice to get a win, be it a monthly stableford or a club major but I know the chances each week are slim. The same for most of course so as long as I feel I've played well (or if not I had a few good shots) and ideally with a cut or two then I'm happy. Nothing like that feeling on the first tee in a competition with a card in the pocket

 

[IanM]

I read the opening post and assumed it was a wind up about the handicap system

On the basis it isn't, I hope you get to play some places where you stand on the tee, look at the view and say "wow!"

That's another reason to play golf. I hope you get to feel that. Numbers and scores tick one important box, but doesn’t feed the soul.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I read the opening post and assumed it was a wind up about the handicap system

On the basis it isn't, I hope you get to play some places where you stand on the tee, look at the view and say "wow!"

That's another reason to play golf. I hope you get to feel that. Numbers and scores tick one important box, but doesn’t feed the soul.

I was thinking this yesterday as I muddled my way around my track yesterday…and I reflected with my playing companions how fortunate we were on such a lovely day to be playing a great track in beautiful surroundings - with some stunning holes…holes that we members can become complacent about and often see through rather jaundiced eyes.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Every time you play it is you against the course.
If you score better than your handicap it is a "win". In my last 20 scores I've done that 4 times against my current HI of 5.2
4 wins in 20 games - yippee for me. I'm going to try again in tomorrow's board comp.
Equalling my handicap tomorrow will cause my HI to come down by 0.2. I will regard that as a win.

What the other players do on any day - I have no control over. I don't dwell on it. It would waste a lot of my brain energy if I did.

I abide by the player's rights and responsibilities as stated in the Rules Of Handicapping where it states that the player must,
"Attempt to make the best score possible at each hole."

12 years since I won an individual nett board comp. I won that same one 35 years earlier and 5 others in the intervening 33 years.

But tomorrow - there's always tomorrow.

 

[AussieKB]

On my recent trip to England I played 13 different courses, green fees would have cost me a fortune but because of contacts cost 100 pounds, but the courses were fantastic, the thrill of playing top 50 courses is something every golfer should experience.

This trip one of my hosts handicap had gone out 6 shots since last time we played in OZ, so had to give him 12 shots, in matchplay I did not stand a chance, plus he played very well, winning holes with nett eagles, what chance off a 5 handicap, a small price to pay for getting cheap golf.

So I still play in lot's of competitions but do not expect to win any prizes, where in the old days (pre WHS) I always thought I was a chance if I played well.

My advice is to play Opens and enjoy the course's and forget about winning, you might be surprised with the odd win.

 

[clubchamp98]

I was thinking this yesterday as I muddled my way around my track yesterday…and I reflected with my playing companions how fortunate we were on such a lovely day to be playing a great track in beautiful surroundings - with some stunning holes…holes that we members can become complacent about and often see through rather jaundiced eyes.

Yes we always say “ even when playing poorly there’s a lot worse places to be.”

 

[pokerjoke]

Seeing as the OP hasn’t responded perhaps he slept on his post and realised what a silly post he put up.

 

[WIL.I.AM]

Seeing as the OP hasn’t responded perhaps he slept on his post and realised what a silly post he put up.

No not a silly post at all, but thanks for yours and everyone’s feedback.
If it wasn’t for new comers to the sport posting “silly posts” this forum would be very dull!
Any way I've got it off my chest now and I’ll carry on as I'm doing in comps to try my best at all times.

 

[Voyager EMH]

No not a silly post at all, but thanks for yours and everyone’s feedback.
If it wasn’t for new comers to the sport posting “silly posts” this forum would be very dull!
Any way I've got it off my chest now and I’ll carry on as I'm doing in comps to try my best at all times.

 

[WirralC]

I don't understand the obsession some have with trying to win a relatively meaningless competition, I've won 1 years ago and can't remember anything other than the pretty dreadful prize I got (an umbrella with a handle that turned into a seat). Winning a board completion would be different, but personally golf is more a competition against myself, I want to get my handicap as low as possible to show I'm getting better. I'd rather win nothing off 8 than everything off 28

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don't understand the obsession some have with trying to win a relatively meaningless competition, I've won 1 years ago and can't remember anything other than the pretty dreadful prize I got (an umbrella with a handle that turned into a seat). Winning a board completion would be different, but personally golf is more a competition against myself, I want to get my handicap as low as possible to show I'm getting better. I'd rather win nothing off 8 than everything off 28

I’m not obsessive about winning golf comps, but because golf is so darned difficult, and even harder to be even vaguely consistent at over 18 holes…it is actually a pretty decent achievement to win a competition…no matter how ‘relatively meaningless’ it might seem to an outsider or to one who couldn’t care less.

Besides…the only point of the handicap system is to enable golfers of different capabilities to compete in equity…it’s not there to provide us with an ego trip.

 

[WirralC]

I’m not obsessive about winning golf comps, but because golf is so darned difficult, and even harder to be even vaguely consistent at over 18 holes…it is actually a pretty decent achievement to win a competition…no matter how ‘relatively meaningless’ it might seem to an outsider or to one who couldn’t care less.

Besides…the only point of the handicap system is to enable golfers of different capabilities to compete in equity…it’s not there to provide us with an ego trip.

It is an achievement to win a comp, but is winning a comp off 36 a bigger achievement than getting to scratch and never winning anything? I don't think so. The main point of the handicap system may well be to ensure a fair competition, but personally I think it's used as much to gauge the standard you've reached. Almost everyone you talk to will ask what you play off when they know you're a golfer, nobody has ever asked me if I've ever won a £20 pro shop voucher for winning a midweek stableford.

Seems a bit odd to thow out the 'ego trip' comment when you're whinging about not be able to win a comp. If wanting to become a better player is an ego trip then guilty as charged

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It is an achievement to win a comp, but is winning a comp off 36 a bigger achievement than getting to scratch and never winning anything? I don't think so. The main point of the handicap system may well be to ensure a fair competition, but personally I think it's used as much to gauge the standard you've reached. Almost everyone you talk to will ask what you play off when they know you're a golfer, nobody has ever asked me if I've ever won a £20 pro shop voucher for winning a midweek stableford.

Seems a bit odd to thow out the 'ego trip' comment when you're whinging about not be able to win a comp. If wanting to become a better player is an ego trip then guilty as charged

When asked if I’m any good i simply say that I’m pretty good - not great but not bad..only if pressed do I say my handicap index or bother trying to explain that my current handicap is only roughly indicative of how well I’m scoring at the moment rather than how good I can be. Under the old system my handicap was more reflecting of how well I could play. No longer.

 

[williamalex1]

So now ive been playing golf for around a year and a half my handicap started out at about 38, ive won plenty of comps since then but its been increasingly harder now as im playing off 18.
Ive not yet shot under 90 but if my calculations are correct I’d have to shoot mid 80’s to score in the low 40’s in stableford to get anywhere near the top on our comps in our club.
So what is the point really to have a lower handicap and even entering comps?

Pride, ambition, improving, competing, boasting but most of all enjoyment.
Where's the joy or pride in winning a few quid in a 100 race if you're getting a 50 yard start.
When I started playing, handicaps were a maximum of 18. If you broke the course par you would be reduced by 3 strokes and that couldn't go back up until the next season. I'm glad that has changed now.
Personally I think the maximum handicap allowance is far too high, 24 would be just about right
Golf is the only sport where beginners can compete against top players, but there has to be a limit.

 

[3 jabber]

So now ive been playing golf for around a year and a half my handicap started out at about 38, ive won plenty of comps since then but its been increasingly harder now as im playing off 18.
Ive not yet shot under 90 but if my calculations are correct I’d have to shoot mid 80’s to score in the low 40’s in stableford to get anywhere near the top on our comps in our club.
So what is the point really to have a lower handicap and even entering comps?

So you are basically whining about the person you've been for the last 2 years. Oh the irony

 

[Slab]

I’ve just effectively ruled myself out of winning any comp for the foreseeable future and I couldn’t be happier

I’ve been playing most of my social golf one tee forward from the comp tees (the course length suits my capabilities far better and the round is far more enjoyable when I’m faced with at least a chance of a GIR on some holes, there's still about 5 holes I don't have a shot at a GIR even using one tee forward)
As a result my handicap index is very heavily set from one tee forward of the medal tees

From medal tees there's 8 or 9 of the 13 par 4/5's I have no chance of reaching (by a fair distance) so my handicap is pretty much used up just getting to these greens, with very little left for the odd 3-putt or wayward shot, no penalty strokes, bunkers, reloads or double bogey's

Despite just 3 shots diff in PH between the two tees the reality is that (for me) its more like a 10-12 shot actual difference, meaning I’ve nae chance in any comp I enter... but I’ll still enter comps as often as I can for the social aspect and supporting the club

 

[Voyager EMH]

Later this week I shall be competing in the County Seniors (55 and over) Championship. This is 18 holes off scratch.
There are 80 competitors and we are allocated tee times in handicap order, lowest off last.
I am ranked 30th out of the 80.
Lowest two chaps are +1.3 and +1.9. Both former County Champions. Both had periods as a pro in their younger days.
That means that I am 6.8 shots away from the favourite in a scratch event.
So why do I bother? Why do the other 50 above me bother?
I do it to see how much above 30th place I could finish.
Last year I tied 7th place.
I tied 2nd place in the 60-64 age group.

That is what I call competing. I love it.
I might not do as well as last year, but I will compete all the same.

I have the same mentality in club nett events.
In Saturday's club board comp I finished 26th place out of 114 and got a 0.3 cut to the HI. That's a win for me.

If I did not think this way, I would probably not play golf at all.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Turn up, play your best and then see what happens. Nothing else you can do and if someone has a better day then what can you do