What one thing would allow for a truer traveling handicap ?

[Jud_T]

Jason,

Agreed.  Nothing more irritating than a guy lining up his putt for an 8....And I agree completely on the competition handicap issue.  However, that would cut the number of people posting dramatically....

[Ken Moum]

If one isn't playing in comps there isn't much reason for an offical handicap - is there?

Ciao

That's been my argument for several years.  I suggest that competition handicaps are a solution to sandbagging, and they say, "What if i don't play in tournaments?"

Two points....

• If you don't play in competition, you don't need an handicap.
  
  IIRC, the CONGU system only requires you to play in three a year.

One of the bigger problems with our system is that most clubs either don't have a handicap committee or they are completely powerless (or gutless).

I actually watched an assistant pro and the captain of an interclub team from a course I played delete some scores from the system so one of the team members would have a 12 instead of a 10 for an upcoming match.

When that kind of crap is going on, it's pretty hard to imagine a handicap committee getting anything done.

K

[Jim Nugent]

If you don't play in competition, you don't need an handicap.

What about money matches between two players? 

[Sean_A]

If you don't play in competition, you don't need an handicap.

What about money matches between two players? 

Jim

Are you gonna bet any real money on a match between strangers which relies on the US handicapping system or any hnadicapping system for that matter?  Its the same sort of thing as betting on handicapped horse races - one shouldn't risk anything more than pocket on such tomfoolery. 

Ciao

[Scott Warren]

Mark Chaplin is living proof that the CONGU system doesn't prevent sandbagging!

I was going to include Giles Payne in that, but he's just proof that putting a card in someone's hand changes everything.

[Mark Pearce]

Does Chappers even have an active handicap, now that 3 rounds a year are required?

As for Giles, it's not so much the card as the start that matters.  In matchplay if you get ahead early, you're fine.  Let him get 3 up after 3 and you're going to watch a score in the mid 70s by a 12 handicapper.