By not posting scores when you didn't play "proper medal" in the US, you were in fact utilizing the system in a manner that benefited you relative other golfers.
The biggest benefit was finishing quicker.
I have no problem with the fact that a handicap is measured on the rounds that are played in the manner that the handicap is most commonly used in, casual matches.
I suspect a huge percentage if casual matches involve no official handicaps.
For all the shortcomings, I think the GHIN system is very good for it's most common use, applying shots on individual holes in matches among groups.
Does this mean a large medal?
I think our system does a very good job of applying strokes in matches
Does it? I hear bitching all the time between players who are not familiar with each other's game. And when you know someone's game its dead easy to create your own handicapping system which is far more accurate.
but I'd fear that the UK system would give a greater benefit to the higher handicap player in these "casual" matches.
A few years back the system changed to full handicap difference in singles. I think many low cappers now feel the advantage has swung too far in favour of high cappers. Giving away 12 shots rather than 9 is a huge difference.
That said, our system is awful when trying to determine a "Low Net" for a rather large group of golfers. If there are a group of 50 golfers, there are undoubtedly 2 - 3 people who "cheat" the system and have a huge advantage.
Its very easy to cheat when casual rounds are used for handicapping. Attesting scores is the bedrock of fair handicapping - that doesn't exist for a huge number of rounds in the US.
By far my biggest problem with handicapping is when a guy can get more than 1 shot on a hole. That is a load of nonsense. Handicaps should work up to 18 and that is that. Part of the problem is resolved by creating divisions, but I still find it horrible that a guy can claim a net par after a double bogie. That is plain wrong.
Ciao