WHS - current GM article

clubchamp98

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
18,178
Location
Liverpool
Visit site
With respect to the 95% adjustment only making sense for fields 30 or more, then does anyone know if that figure is based on assumed %s of low and high handicaps?

Logically, it will be more required if you have,say, 1 scratch golfer and 29 x 20 handicap golfers than 29 x scratch golfers and 1 x 20 handicap golfer.

Or, making same assumption on handicap spread that leads to the figure of 30, what field size would lead to 90% providing equity?

Maybe we should let the computer decide what % is appropriate for any given comp based on the number and handicaps of those entering?
Yes the 95% should be variable depending on the field make up.

But the way it’s going we would all need a math degree to work it out.
 

clubchamp98

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
18,178
Location
Liverpool
Visit site
Nobody has work out or understand anything. Just type in your score.
This is what I mainly do.
But you must concede that some people take their golf handicap seriously and therefore might want to understand it.
Thats not to much to ask for is it.?

Keeping it a secret just fuels the scepticism.
 

Voyager EMH

Slipper Wearing Plucker of Pheasants
Joined
Mar 14, 2021
Messages
6,358
Location
Leicestershire
Visit site
I don't hand in any general play scores.
My observation (anecdotal, sorry) of those that do has made me realise one important difference for the very low handicappers that do so.

For general play scores they have a choice. Weather and course conditions both good - hand in a score. Conditions unfavourable - don't register for a general play score.

For elite competition play - Compulsory to play whatever the weather and course conditions.

It would not surprise me to see a lower average to their general play scores.
How to assess when this difference is "unreasonable" ? Yet again, I feel, no perfect way of doing so.

This is not a fault of WHS.
 

Backsticks

Assistant Pro
Banned
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3,852
Visit site
I don't hand in any general play scores.
My observation (anecdotal, sorry) of those that do has made me realise one important difference for the very low handicappers that do so.

For general play scores they have a choice. Weather and course conditions both good - hand in a score. Conditions unfavourable - don't register for a general play score.

For elite competition play - Compulsory to play whatever the weather and course conditions.

It would not surprise me to see a lower average to their general play scores.
How to assess when this difference is "unreasonable" ? Yet again, I feel, no perfect way of doing so.

This is not a fault of WHS.
Yes, I am suggesting the same, thats why I would consider many low HIs are vanity-lite ones.
 

Captain_Black.

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 13, 2022
Messages
455
Visit site
It's obvious to everyone (with the exception of a very few) that WHS has major flaws & heavily favours higher handicappers.
Regardless of claims by some that the (hidden) data says otherwise, we can all see with our own eyes the issue.

I have no doubt that the authorities are fully aware (as we are) of the issues & they will in time have to address it.
But, there is no way back unfortunately & they are being very slow to react to the problems.
I have no doubt that they are being deluged with complaints, it cannot be right that any system is skewed against better players.

Some have said, just introduce divisions.
But that only elevates the problem to a degree, it doesn't solve the problem when a board comp is concerned.

Another temporary fix, which I think some clubs will have to look at, is to run comps with a cut limit.
We run 2 or 3 of these per year.
The club champs usually have a cut limit of 12 & they also run a Senior Stableford with a cut limit of 13.
Until the authorities come up with a viable fix to the issues, this is probably the way forward, as at the moment we are getting into a situation whereby the lower handicappers just aren't competing, which is a shame for them & not really what club golf should be about.
 

Backsticks

Assistant Pro
Banned
Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3,852
Visit site
This is what I mainly do.
But you must concede that some people take their golf handicap seriously and therefore might want to understand it.
Thats not to much to ask for is it.?

Keeping it a secret just fuels the scepticism.
Not really. Any sceptics are an insignificantly miniscule portion of golfers. You could get most golfers to take an interest in handicap calculation, PCC, the statistics of handicap adjustment for field equality, etc, even if you paid them.
 

clubchamp98

Journeyman Pro
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
18,178
Location
Liverpool
Visit site
I don't hand in any general play scores.
My observation (anecdotal, sorry) of those that do has made me realise one important difference for the very low handicappers that do so.

For general play scores they have a choice. Weather and course conditions both good - hand in a score. Conditions unfavourable - don't register for a general play score.

For elite competition play - Compulsory to play whatever the weather and course conditions.

It would not surprise me to see a lower average to their general play scores.
How to assess when this difference is "unreasonable" ? Yet again, I feel, no perfect way of doing so.

This is not a fault of WHS.
Yes it is. Imo.
It facilitates unlimited GP cards.
Didnt the old system have a limit on them to cat1 players
That was there for a reason , I wonder why that was changed?
 

cliveb

Head Pro
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,787
Visit site
IMHO WHS is actually a pretty good way to track your current form, certainly better than UHS was. The thrust of this thread seems to be that people are concerned that handicaps are being manipulated. Perhaps the way WHS works makes it easier to manipulate one's HI. But let's be realistic - any handicapping system that isn't rigourously enforced by official observers accompanying players on all counting rounds will be vulnerable to manipulation. But of course that's not feasible. So some players will choose to manipulate it. Therefore "fair competition" in handicapped events is pretty much unachievable.
I'm not a good golfer (currently 14.9) and I treat this game as me against the course. I use HI as a moderately objective way to measure my own progress (or lack thereof). I don't care what others' HI is. When I enter comps, getting in the prizes is not the goal (although I'll admit it's a nice bonus). And when someone comes in with a ridiculous score, the inevitable chorus of "bandit" around the clubhouse is just good natured banter. Nobody is genuinely outraged - not at my club, anyway.
If serious golfers want fair competition, just enter scratch events.
 

Depreston

Club Champion
Joined
Feb 25, 2017
Messages
999
Visit site
Two of my mates both off 3 played in a pairs open better ball and they were about 7 under between them

Think they finished 5th

I’m not sure what the answer is for low handicappers at club level think the only comps won by a low capper this year were the handicap 2 rounder and club champs
 

wjemather

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2020
Messages
3,925
Location
Bristol
Visit site
Yes you did but you still think balloting out players with to many GP cards in a ballot is still not the policy.
That is because that is not the policy.
The policy is to refuse entries to players whose handicap records show a significant discrepancy between their gp and comp score differentials. It is not a limit on the number of gp scores a player can have. In the absence of any significant discrepancy, 4 (or more) gp scores is acceptable for entry.
 
Top