What's a blob?

[John_Findlay]

I can see exactly where you're coming from, Dave, and yes in the past I'd certainly like to know my gross score for the day as that's how I usually measure my performance.

However, I think the lesson I've learned over the years is to play the game you're playing that day and forget about the gross score if it's of no relevance to the format you're playing. That path usually leads to frustration. Is 36 points with a ten on your card any worse than 36 points with a 6 on your card? Is a 5&4 win with a gross 76 better than a 5&4 win with a gross 92.

I used to make the mistake of not being able to adjust to matchplay or texas scramble or whatever format because the gross score was always the measure of my game. Actually it's not. It's about enjoying the format for what it is.

Just mark down your gross score in strokeplay format. You'll end up much happier and less frustrated. Trust me. I've been there.

 

[USER1999]

Ditto.

 

[Region3]

Don't want to be pedantic but a gross double for a 27.6 wouldn't be a blob.

Is the red mist clouding your thought process?

I'm talking about MY gross double.....his idea of being a good playing opponent was to call my double a blob....

Sorry, misunderstood.

I thought they were trying to big their own game up, not put yours down.
100% agree with you.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think what J_F says makes sense. I tend to write the score for a completed hole irrespective of format as that was the way I did it from the beginning. However if someone picks up in stableford I'll put a line in the score and a 0 in the points. If they do it in a stroke I immediately note the card, sign it and leave it in my back pocket. I'm not overly fussed about how many blobs I have in a stableford in terms of not getting points. Its about getting to and beating 36 points first and foremost or battling all the way to get as close I can. In medal its about playing all eighteen and getting a score in however painful (well it is for me anyway). I'd rather put 100 in than N/R just because I'm hacking

 

[Region3]

If they do it in a stroke I immediately note the card, sign it and leave it in my back pocket.

Don't you have to keep marking it for handicap purposes?

 

[Screwback]

maybe the best thing would be not to have a blob

 

[jammydodger]

A blob to me is any hole where there wasn't any points scored in stableford. If I cant score on a hole I pick up , irrespective of where I am at the time (2" from hole or in the trees or chipped up to 4'). I dont give a monkeys what my oppo puts on the card , its still 0 points. The gross score is irrelevant ,if I cant score a point in stableford that to me is a blob.

The card i'm marking is a little different though , I will put them down for a 6/7 if theyve putted out and put a scratch line in the points column. If they pick up then its a scratch line in both columns

 

[John_Findlay]

Don't you have to keep marking it for handicap purposes?

No. In strokeplay once you've picked up it's immediately an NR. None of the rest of the holes count and you're classed as missing your buffer so your handicap will go up 0.1 regardless. No need to keep marking. Homer's doing the right thing.

 

[pigmeister]

If your playing stapleford and you cannot score you pick up, that hole will be a blob. Stapleford is not about gross scores, thats strokeplay, its about POINTS. Its a quick form of golf if played properly. If you or your partner can`t score you pick up and move on to the next hole.
No wonder it takes 5 and 6 hours to play rounds of golf.

 

[Region3]

Don't you have to keep marking it for handicap purposes?

No. In strokeplay once you've picked up it's immediately an NR. None of the rest of the holes count and you're classed as missing your buffer so your handicap will go up 0.1 regardless. No need to keep marking. Homer's doing the right thing.

Not saying you're wrong, but I just want to try to understand.

I was under the impression that strokeplay cards are adjusted to max nett double-bogeys for handicap purposes, so why won't the n/r hole be a double and the rest of the card taken into account?

If I play 17 holes to 6 under my h'cap but n/r the other then I can't get cut?

 

[John_Findlay]

I was under the impression that strokeplay cards are adjusted to max nett double-bogeys for handicap purposes, so why won't the n/r hole be a double and the rest of the card taken into account?

Because you haven't holed out. If you proceed to the next tee and tee off then you're disqualified. An NR'd hole means an NR'd round. It's just a polite way of pre-empting disqualification. There's no chance of you being cut. It's an automatic failure to play within your buffer zone.

On the other hand if you hole out and take a 10 or a 15 or whatever then fine. That's treated as a nett double bogey and the handicap committee could still look at cutting you if the rest of your holes were much below your handicap. But you would have to hole out on every hole. It's a fundamental strokeplay rule. The most basic in fact.

No offence, but how did you get down to 11 not knowing this? I blame the parents, you know.

 

[Ethan]

Don't you have to keep marking it for handicap purposes?

No. In strokeplay once you've picked up it's immediately an NR. None of the rest of the holes count and you're classed as missing your buffer so your handicap will go up 0.1 regardless. No need to keep marking. Homer's doing the right thing.

I disagree. A no pointer is a no pointer, whether it is a 10 or a no score at that hole. If you have 40 points including a no score your handicap should go down. You are a NR with respect to the medal and will appear at the bottom of the results sheet.

 

[need_my_wedge]

A blob is a big red, slimy jelly thing that eats everything in its path

in all seriousness Dave, and without wanting to seem rude, I can't help thinking you're getting a bit worked up over it. For me, a blob has always been "nil point" on a stableford hole, I've never really used the term for an N/R.
When I played on Saturday, the guy scoring the card marked the number of strokes scored, whether it was 4 or 8, and then marked the points beside. A blob was indicated by a line in the points section. By the way, I scored my best for the year, 37 with 2 blobs .


I've played with others who mark the hole with a line once the ability to score points has evaporated, they don't record the score. It doesn't bother me either way, I can live with whatever the others want to call it/ write it. As far as tallying up my round, I can keep my own note on that .

 

[Region3]

No offence, but how did you get down to 11 not knowing this? I blame the parents, you know.

I've not 'got down' to 11, it's my first handicap since I started playing again.

It still makes no sense to me, so it's a good reason it doesn't have to

I'll take your word for it being true though, thanks for the explanation.

 

[Fyldewhite]

As far as I am concerned a "blob" refers to the big fat zero you enter in the points column of the card in a stableford. I don't know and have never heard of anyone even mention a blob in medal play.

Some of the posts above regarding NRs in Medals being an automatic 0.1 are simply wrong. Correct practice is to carry on completing the card. The score for the NR hole will count as a nett double bogey for handicap purposes. So, as far as the computer is concerned you have a valid total for adjustment and if the rest of the round is good you can certainly make the buffer zone and even get cut.

I had an 8 at a par 4 the other week and still made the buffer zone due to stableford adjustment. If this had been an NR (and if my third tee shot had gone OB it would have been !!) then the result would habe been exactly the same.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

In my book a blob is when you pick up during a stableford and/or get no points.

Or, when you NR in a medal.

 

[John_Findlay]

I disagree. A no pointer is a no pointer, whether it is a 10 or a no score at that hole. If you have 40 points including a no score your handicap should go down. You are a NR with respect to the medal and will appear at the bottom of the results sheet.

I think you're mixing up strokeplay matches with stableford ones, Ethan.I agree you can have a handicap cut in stableford with a blob. No need to hole out on every hole in that format (a blob). Every need in strokeplay otherwise your handicap can't be cut.

Rule 3-2. Failure to Hole Out in Strokeplay
If a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his
mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the
case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green,
he is disqualified

Rule 114 - Stableford
The marker is responsible for marking only the gross number of strokes
at each hole where the competitor’s net score earns one or more points.

 

[Parmo]

If I can't score I pick up to speed play up and mark the card (well if its my partner) with a N/S or N/R.

 

[John_Findlay]

I've just read Fyldewhite's post above and I have to say this is the first time I've ever heard this re medal rounds. I'm very sceptical personally.

I think we need Birdieman's take on that one as a handicap secretary. How can you get cut in Strokeplay when you haven't finished out a hole? You are either DQ'd or NR surely? Seems unfair to me to be honest.

 

[freddielong]

A blob is an unfinished hole and only applies to stableford IMO. If someone puts the ball in the hole thats a score not a blob and thats what goes on the card, if somone asks to put a blob down after holing out you are not doing your job (as Marker) properly and should refuse.