Would You Ask for a Handicap Increase

[GB72]

I was at the club at the weekend and there was a form on the notice board to put your name down if you feel that your handicap needs changing as part of the annual review. There were 2 sections, one for those who felt that a cut was in order and one for those who felt that an increase was needed. On the list there was one name asking to be considered for a cut (mine) and best part of a dozen names asking to be considered for an increase.

Am I alone in thinking that it is a bit odd asking for an increase. The aim of the game is to get your handicap down as low as you can so why on earth would you want it bumped up at the end of the year. May be just me but I felt it a bit disheartening that so many more members would be looking to up their handicap rather than look to get it as low as possible.

 

[TheJezster]

It's odd if you gauge the opinion of everyone here and use that as the barometer. What I mean by that is that the consensus view on here about most things golf, handicaps, custom fit etc is not indicative of most UK golfers from what I have seen.

Most of the members of my club are really good guys and into their golf, but most dont seem too bothered by much of what people on here really find important.

Not having much experience of different golf clubs, is it normal that they would ask people if they want to be considered? I dont think I would put my name on the list, I'd just let the committee do their thing..

 

[fundy]

Its an odd one, there may well be reasons behind it that arent visible. My Dad had to have knee surgery earlier this year and has struggled since coming back and is expecting to get a shot or two back in the AR. His take on it is that since the op he has lost distance and just cant play to his current handicap, asnd he'd rather have what he sees as a fair handicap that he can be competitive off, meaning he gets more enjoyment from the game (which ultimately should be the main objective for all us amateurs)

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Depends on the individual - do you aim to get better, get your handicap down & if that happens hopefully you may win some comp's. Or, do you play with the sole aim of winning comps?

Also of course there could be people who's circumstances have changed - injury, illness, play less often, age etc

 

[One Planer]

Personally, I find it odd that the club would ask in the first place.

Surely, the A/R is based on what the computer model deems as requiring reduction/increase, not what the individual feels they should get.

I'm sure you can ask for your handicap to be reviewed, but as I say, a general notice seems a little odd to me.

To answer the question. If I felt my handicap was inaccurate, then yes. Otherwise no.

 

[la_lucha]

I can only imagine if you were playing week after week andstruggling to score 36 points then you may be getting disheartened with the game and ask for an increase to at least give yourself a chance. Personally I think it should be a fluid thing that changes natrually, but at the end of the day we play this game for the fun of it.

 

[CMAC]

Interesting scenario, didnt know clubs did this.

Imagine asking for an increase then winning the next medal by 1

You should stand or fall by your gathered handicap and not by a committees opinion.

 

[Keeno]

If my handicap made me completely non competitive and I had no chance of playing to it, I would request an increase. It takes a long time to go up if your struggling.

 

[FairwayDodger]

My dad was forced to retire due to ill health and was unable even to play golf for a couple of years. He'd been a cat 1 golfer but was no longer able to play anywhere near his previous ability and as many of his residual symptoms were permanent he was never going to get back to his previous level. He stuck at it for a while but eventually requested, and was granted, a handicap increase. Otherwise it would have taken him years to get back to a representative handicap; years that he didn't have.

 

[patricks148]

its could be older members who are losing distance and just can't play to their handicap anymore.

We have quite a few guys like this at my club, who could do with an extra few shots on, as they just cn't compete on the Summer Championship course. In fact we get more guys playing in the winter Roll ups than in the summer medals, because they can't get round the longer course and like the winter set up as its 1500 yards shorter.

 

[Doh]

I've known several members ask for increases to their handicap when they have come back from serious illness, this is not uncommon. I have also known several others ask to be cut as well, mostly youngster's who are improving rapidly or people new to the game who again are improving quickly and don't want to get a bad name.?

 

[pokerjoke]

I find it quite surprising that a club needs to ask.
However I do believe there could be exeptions,illness or serious injury.
In my experience too many people think they can play once a week and improve or stay
the same.
This is a tough game and it needs to be worked on.
So on that basis less time on the forum and more time on the course or range might help

 

[hovis]

I've always thought the handicap ways are a bit out of touch. So easy to go down but only a max 0.1 increase the other way. My pal who was off 28 shot a 47 pointer. He struck the ball badly, got lucky bounces and even bladed one across the green and it hit the flag and went it. He got a cut to 19 with exeptional scoring. He will or never will play to that again. With a 0.1 Increase he would have to play 90 comps to get back to his "should be handicap"

 

[CMAC]

I find it quite surprising that a club needs to ask.
However I do believe there could be exceptions,illness or serious injury.
In my experience too many people think they can play once a week and improve or stay
the same.
This is a tough game and it needs to be worked on.
So on that basis less time on the forum and more time on the course or range might help

hadn't thought of that, in these circumstances then the club should be pro-active, at the very least at the annual review.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I've always thought the handicap ways are a bit out of touch. So easy to go down but only a max 0.1 increase the other way. My pal who was off 28 shot a 47 pointer. He struck the ball badly, got lucky bounces and even bladed one across the green and it hit the flag and went it. He got a cut to 19 with exeptional scoring. He will or never will play to that again. With a 0.1 Increase he would have to play 90 comps to get back to his "should be handicap"

Golf is a game of luck - but a lot of time you make your own luck. Your mate will play to 19 handicap again if he wants - and besides your handicap is an indication of your stretch ability, not a precise measure of your 'run of the mill' score. So for instance my understanding is that your 'run of the mill' stableford points is 32 - not 36 as you might imagine. And I bet that even off his new handicap he can shoot 32 points.

 

[garyinderry]

My dad was forced to retire due to ill health and was unable even to play golf for a couple of years. He'd been a cat 1 golfer but was no longer able to play anywhere near his previous ability and as many of his residual symptoms were permanent he was never going to get back to his previous level. He stuck at it for a while but eventually requested, and was granted, a handicap increase. Otherwise it would have taken him years to get back to a representative handicap; years that he didn't have.

could he not have done 3 new cards as his handicap would be inactive after a couple of years out. this would give a true reflection of his current ability.

 

[FairwayDodger]

could he not have done 3 new cards as his handicap would be inactive after a couple of years out. this would give a true reflection of his current ability.

I'm not sure of the details or exactly how long he was unable to play but, yes, I think it went down the three card route again. This was all years ago, before he passed away.

 

[pbrown7582]

Golf is a game of luck - but a lot of time you make your own luck. Your mate will play to 19 handicap again if he wants - and besides your handicap is an indication of your stretch ability, not a precise measure of your 'run of the mill' score. So for instance my understanding is that your 'run of the mill' stableford points is 32 - not 36 as you might imagine. And I bet that even off his new handicap he can shoot 32 points.

spot on and this is where there is a split in thoughts on handicaps, there is the congu view as you have posted and then the general view of members who think not hitting 36 points is a bad day.

I assume the list in the OP is to aid the handicap commitee on borderline flags during the annual review. I wouldnt and dont want the increase i think i am in line for but the computer will say yeah or nay.

 

[duncan mackie]

a couple of points for those that think the AR handles everything!

if a player hasn't played 4 Q comps/scores the AR will ignore him/her
even then these won't be time weighted in the case of subsequent injury etc ie a player scoring buffer in Jan 13 followed by 3 v poor scores late in the year when they start again (with 1 leg - I exagerate to make a point)

most clubs have a surprisingly high percentage of players with (i) or non (c) handicaps - which doesn't matter to the rest but there's an increasing number of players playing 3 to keep one, and in the events they play they can distort the CSS calculation to the detriment of everyone else (over the long term).

there's a strong argument that the system should compromise on the statistical accuracy inherent in 4 scores in favour of picking up everyone with an active, competing, handicap by using 3 - at least in the context of creating a review item - but then there's the counter view that without detailed knowledge of the individual outside any Q scores there really shouldn't be any adjustment applied!

short version - good on the committee here for taking the wider issues on board, together with the work associated with it!

as a seperate point the injured golfers really aren't the issue here in practice - they should be dealt with as and when rather than considered at an arbitrary point in their recovery period.

 

[hovis]

Golf is a game of luck - but a lot of time you make your own luck. Your mate will play to 19 handicap again if he wants - and besides your handicap is an indication of your stretch ability, not a precise measure of your 'run of the mill' score. So for instance my understanding is that your 'run of the mill' stableford points is 32 - not 36 as you might imagine. And I bet that even off his new handicap he can shoot 32 points.

Nope. He is a dreadfull golfer and shoots in the 105/110 everytime we play. I dont expect to hit 36 points everytime but do expect to hit my buffer