Would golf be better without handicaps?

[scubascuba3]

I'm coming round to the idea of golf being played with no handicaps. No other sports have handicaps and they flourish. Instead leagues perhaps. Then its genuinely the best player on the day wins. Handicapping isn't a bad system but it does encourage some people to keep a cushty handicap even if by a shot or 2 only.

Anyone thought about an alternative system with no handicap?

 

[Pin-seeker]

No definitely not.
Golf would be better without bandits/cheats.

 

[Coffey]

I think youd have a similar issue with bandits in leagues. Handicaps is what makes golf unique, all levels and abilities can play against each other. As pin-seeker says, remove the bandits and it would be a lot better!

 

[jim8flog]

My mate thinks every body should play off scratch but as low single figure player he would say that.

It does get very 'boring' when the kitty nearly always gets won by players whose handicaps can be a little suss.

If we all played off scratch it would soon become only the scratch and near scratch players that would bother to enter the comps.

I think the division system works reasonably well but only if you have enough players to have at least 3 divisions.

 

[Old Skier]

It's pretty sad that so many off you belong to clubs were you feel banditry and cheating is rif.

 

[scubascuba3]

I think youd have a similar issue with bandits in leagues. Handicaps is what makes golf unique, all levels and abilities can play against each other. As pin-seeker says, remove the bandits and it would be a lot better!

In leagues people wouldn't have handicaps so no bandits. I used to play at a squash club with 17 leagues, no discussion of bandit or similar ever came up. People move up and down monthly

 

[ScienceBoy]

10 pin bowling has handicaps.

It share with golf the ability to quantify someone's ability in a way that easily relates to scores.

It's very hard to put a number on my snooker/badminton/football ability as those games don't work like golf and bowling do.

Handicaps in bowling allowed our family to compete evenly against each other quite often. I was off about 20 something, the wife 40' the mother in law was near 60 and my father in law was about 10 better than me.

Same thing works very well in golf.

Of course for major competitions scratch golf works best.

Would be no point of week in week out games if you lost by 50 shots, far better to use handicaps to even things out to add some fun.

In the end you can lose a competition to someone who teed off 7 hours before you and is tucking into their dinner at home while you putt out on 18, you may never have even met them, ever.

If that person decided they would rather go shopping that day instead you might have won the competition instead of coming 2nd.

Things are pretty good as they are, we only play against the course and our own handicaps, everything else on top is a bonus.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I like the fact that handicaps can in theory allow the likes of me to compete with pros. Of course there are those that cheat and manipulate their handicaps but it's down to clubs and governing bodies to police it as strictly as they can

 

[Canary_Yellow]

10 pin bowling has handicaps.

It share with golf the ability to quantify someone's ability in a way that easily relates to scores.

It's very hard to put a number on my snooker/badminton/football ability as those games don't work like golf and bowling do.

Handicaps in bowling allowed our family to compete evenly against each other quite often. I was off about 20 something, the wife 40' the mother in law was near 60 and my father in law was about 10 better than me.

Same thing works very well in golf.

Of course for major competitions scratch golf works best.

Would be no point of week in week out games if you lost by 50 shots, far better to use handicaps to even things out to add some fun.

In the end you can lose a competition to someone who teed off 7 hours before you and is tucking into their dinner at home while you putt out on 18, you may never have even met them, ever.

If that person decided they would rather go shopping that day instead you might have won the competition instead of coming 2nd.

Things are pretty good as they are, we only play against the course and our own handicaps, everything else on top is a bonus.

Snooker obviously can be played with a handicap.

I agree with what you're saying re golf though. I like comps because it's a test of my ability to do it when it matters. Not so bothered about winning the prizes, just like putting a good score in.

 

[the_coach]

think a whole bunch of mid to higher index players would soon start to get a deal more frustrated with the game if the amateur game was structured like the Pro's

the index allows players of different skill levels still to have meaningful games both against the course & in competition

down to the club officials & all golfers to call out & weed out those who are wrongfully manipulating their games & the systems

.... with humor ..... from a personal point of view .... it would be a storming idea !! .... be terrific not to have to add shots to my gross return :whoo:

 

[clubchamp98]

Snooker obviously can be played with a handicap.

I agree with what you're saying re golf though. I like comps because it's a test of my ability to do it when it matters. Not so bothered about winning the prizes, just like putting a good score in.

Not snooker where you can break then not get another shot.
In golf your opponents can't touch or use your ball in snooker you both use the same balls.
If your op is good enough to snooker you all the time you will soon lose the will to play.

 

[MendieGK]

For me it's more that a club should always have a scratch prize in every event. Would give us lower handicappers something to aim for every event other than just a handicap cut.

 

[Crow]

Slightly off topic.

Because I've played so crap over the last two and a half years (going up four shots) I've kind of lost interest in my handicap.

But, I feel that now my play is getting close to being reasonable again (although I'm probably just deluded) and am seriously thinking of playing only old persimmons and blades, even in comps.
If I can play to my current 12 using old gear then I'd like to drop the modern gear completely.

 

[fundy]

For me it's more that a club should always have a scratch prize in every event. Would give us lower handicappers something to aim for every event other than just a handicap cut.

Agree with this, certainly used to be like this at clubs i was at previously.

The usual argument against is that only a handful of players can win it (well no, anyone who is good enough can win it)

 

[Neilds]

No definitely not.
Golf would be better without bandits/cheats.

Why do lower handicap golfers always assume that when they get beaten by a high handicapper then they are a bandit/cheat (obviously assuming poster is low handicap)😀
I played in an event last week and the winning player in the morning got 41 points. I had played with him in that round and he struck the ball really well, hardly missed a fairway and putted really well. He played off 13 so no-pne mentioned his score or used the b word, would that have been the same if he played off 24?

 

[jusme]

I've seen some interesting discussions as to why golf is struggling across some regions/countries. At least a move like this would be the end of many a golf club.

 

[Yant]

The handicap system is what makes golf the great game it is, in my humble opinion.

No other sport (that i can think of) can you compete and enjoy a match against someone else of lesser or greater ability than you.

 

[Orikoru]

Handicap system is one of the best things about golf. It means anyone who has a good day for their level has a chance of winning. At my level why would I ever enter a competition if it was gross only?? I'd never get close. Most clubs will still have competitions where gross and net winners are both rewarded anyway, i.e. club championships etc.

 

[Old Skier]

No definitely not.
Golf would be better without bandits/cheats.

Who are these cheats, why don't you report them. If you have and nothing has happened, go to your county.

 

[scubascuba3]

I've seen some interesting discussions as to why golf is struggling across some regions/countries. At least a move like this would be the end of many a golf club.

Why would it be end of a club, it could be a shot in the arm golf clubs need, something fresh. Change can be good, even the tour golf is considering changing from 4 to 3 day events