Traveling Handicap

[David Ober]

WHEW!  That wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.  And I concur with the last sentence completely.

The rest need not be argued yet again.  Our system works here, theirs works there, the rest matters not.

TH

But our system DOESN'T work here!! It's a travesty, and I hate it!!!

Let's argue some more!!!  

[W.H. Cosgrove]

I must believe that at least one round needs to be played at a more difficult course before I have any expectation to play to my handicap.  

Using Bandon as the example:  there are drives that simply don't make sense the first time around, #4, # 7 and #2 at Pacific come to mind immediatley.  A good caddie might help but they simply can't make up for the uncertainty in my mind on a truly deceptive driving hole.  In addition, putting surfaces must be seen at least once to get a clear idea of where to place a shot, not to mention reading the darn things.  

I have played #8 at Sandpines a number of times and have yet to figure out the left side.  These are the types of issues that a local figures out from pure repetition.

[THuckaby2]

David:

You as a plus handicap have a very tough road to hoe, giving strokes to the world as you do.  But I have to believe you play VERY few if any net events, so again, just rest easy in the fact that at gross none of this matters.

I do believe our system works far, far more often than it doesn't.  Oh, the instances of abuse are many, and easy to find and point out.  But what about the millions who do have legit handicaps, and the many net events that don't have any abuse?

In any case, the bottom line does remain also that if the rules are followed, the system works wonderfully.  There's not much one can do if the rules aren't followed.  Strong peer review is the only mechanism.  The good news is many clubs do have this.

TH

[A.G._Crockett]

I like JohnV's post: you should only play to your handicap 25% of the time anyway, so you are less likely to do that at an unfamiliar course.  (Which club to hit? Which way does this putt break? What's on the other side of that mound?  How deep is this sand? How far to that water?)

I would guess that the higher the % of your total rounds that is played at a single course, the less well your handicap would tend to travel because of extreme familiarity factoring into the handicap in the first place.

[Matthew MacKay]

Tom,

Don't forget the role that index reduction for Exceptional Tournament Scores plays in preventing sandbagging.

If a player posts at least two Tournament Scores (they must be designated as such when posting, that is key) in the space of 12 months, that are 3 or more strokes better than their Index, an automatic reduction of their Index occurs.  This reduction can be fairly significant.

I agree that Peer Review is necessary to ensure that these Tournament Scores are recorded as such by the player.

 

[THuckaby2]

Tom,

Don't forget the role that index reduction for Exceptional Tournament Scores plays in preventing sandbagging.

If a player posts at least two Tournament Scores (they must be designated as such when posting, that is key) in the space of 12 months, that are 3 or more strokes better than their Index, an automatic reduction of their Index occurs.  This reduction can be fairly significant.

I agree that Peer Review is necessary to ensure that these Tournament Scores are recorded as such by the player.

 

VERY good point Matt - thanks.  Yes, that is another worthwhile feature of our system.  And our local association (NCGA) is getting very vigorous in enforcement of it.

TH

[JohnV]

If your association is on GHIN, the Tournament Score reduction happens automatically.  I assume the same is true for other handicap providers in the US.  A club can ask for a player's reduction to be removed if they feel it is unwarranted.

[THuckaby2]

JV - we are on GHIN, so that must be how it works here.  I just recall the NCGA having to do SOMETHING to make these things happen.  But I could be wrong about the details, as I often am.

 

Bottom line is it remains a great feature.  Just don't mention this too loudly with Mr. Huntley around.

TH

[Doug Siebert]

I sure wish we used the UK system. I do NOT think casual rounds should count for handicapping purposes. Meaning, if you and your wife go out for a casual afternoon round by yourselves, then you should not be able to post those scores. Only official club rounds or actual tournament rounds should count towards one's handicap, IMHO.

David,

Isn't that already the case?  You are required to post all "stipulated rounds" that are played by the rules of golf.  If you want to have a casual round with the wife and not count it, break a rule that will disqualify you from posting the score, like carrying a 15th or nonconfirming club with you.  Since you do that from the start, it isn't something you can take back and decide to post the score later.

AFAIK, it isn't against the rules to deliberately and with premeditation make some of your rounds of golf ineligible for handicap purposes.  I'm sure one of the resident rules experts wll quote the appropriate decision if I'm wrong