Bye Bye strokes, your thoughts on plus handicaps

[NM Golf]

I got my revision today from GHIN and I am officially a scratch golfer. On the heals of 68, 68, 72, 70 in my last four tournament rounds my index came to me today at 0.0 . Pretty cool since that was my goal for the year.

Next, god forbid, I guess is a + index. I personally think plus handicaps are crap since I think it is ridiculous to have to give the field strokes just because you are good. My beliefs are you should get to 0 and then stop. Its tough enough playing scratch against some guy getting 8 pops but to then have to give up additional strokes makes it near impossible to beat him. Your thoughts?

[Kellfire]

I agree with you on that matter. There should be a limit at which you have to sacrifice for your ability.

[Norm66]

I don't have an opinion about the plus handicaps, but Congratulations for reaching scratch. Quite an accomplishment for sure. Cheers!

[Ben]

Congrats on meeting your goal! Nice shootin'.

To thie topic at hand:

I would imagine that at a low/scratch/plus handicapper, one would be playing more tournaments for the Gross Division prize rather than the Net Division.

[FIJIGolf23]

Congrats man. I'm so close to that scratch goal that I can taste it.

[NM Golf]

I would imagine that at a low/scratch/plus handicapper, one would be playing more tournaments for the Gross Division prize rather than the Net Division.

True, but I do play in a few net tournaments at my club. I am afraid I will now get my a$$ handed to me by the higher handicaps.

[play4him]

Back in the early 80's I had a +2 handicap, and it killed me in handicap tournaments. It's definitely a disadvantage against someone with a mid-high handicap.

[beisenhauer]

First, congratulations. You have my utmost admiration.

The purpose of the handicap system is to allow players of differing skill levels to compete on a "level" playing field, whether those players are better-than-scratch or not. Cutting off the system at zero would be arbitrary and would defeat the purpose of that system. Finally, as a scratch or near-scratch golfer, you've already been giving strokes to most of the golfers out there. As you continue to improve, you may find yourself giving maybe one or two more. Sounds fair to me.

Live by the handicap. Die by the handicap.

[BritBoy]

I agree with you 100%. Even though I'm not in your league I can see what your saying. In my opinion everyone that has a single digit handicap (a true single digit player that is capable of playing to his handicap) has the "potential" of going low (gross), making him/her almost untouchable on net.

There is a kid in our region that plays on the BSU team off a +5.4. I'm pretty sure he's not thinking net when he shows up and local events. I played in the same tournament as him a few months ago (different flight of course) and it was almost funny watching the scores go up showing him as shooting a gross 64, net 69 on day 1, and 68 - 73 on day 2. He must have had a bad day on Sunday

That being said, I would love to be in his shoes!!!

[bluenar9]

I only somewhat understand the concept of handicap, and I've never been in tournaments or anything like that so I don't know how it's used in them. Though, I can discern from the previous posts that it's pretty simple.

Anyway, that would suck if you had to add points to your net score for a tournament just because you went sub-scratch.

p.s. I get my handicap by greenskeeper.org and filling in the score and course rating/slope, so I'm not just making it up. Maybe I should learn what a handicap even means eh? haha

[iacas]

True, but I do play in a few net tournaments at my club. I am afraid I will now get my a$$ handed to me by the higher handicaps.

That's likely always been the case. The low handicappers almost never win in net competitions.

If a player shoots 10% below his handicap, that's not even a half a stroke for a 3-handicap, but it's three strokes for a 27-handicapper. Low handicappers almost never win net. You should know that. It shouldn't be a surprise and you shouldn't really be competing (or entering) net competitions. Personally, I'm in a weird spot myself. My handicap is low enough that I get put in the gross division(s), but not low enough that I have any chance to win. Yet in net, I get my clock cleaned even if I shoot below my handicap a stroke or two.

[lamebums]

I have an idea. For net tournaments, play everything at 80 percent of your handicap, 50 percent if you're better than scratch. That will lean the advantage - slightly - toward lower handicappers but still give the hacks a shot if they have a good day.

[Sowbug2000]

Wow....Scratch! Congrats!!!

That's like being a Rock Star....it will never happen for me!

I don't play in those tournaments...obviously not in that league or belong to a club. I would say just enjoy your accomplishment, and not sweat the rest....

Erik, do you have an estimate of the percentage of golfers (tracking handicaps) that are scratch golfers??? Its got to be less than 2%!

Anyway, congrats! I'm trying to officially become a "bogey" golfer....and I'm almost there!

[TourSpoon]

That's likely always been the case. The low handicappers almost never win in net competitions.

I agree with this. It is harder for a low handicap to win against a higher one. This has always been the case. I always love it (not) when a 36 shoots 99 for a net 63. The other side of the coin would be scratch versus tour. You would need a couple a side. Congratulations!

[iacas]

Erik, do you have an estimate of the percentage of golfers (tracking handicaps) that are scratch golfers??? Its got to be less than 2%!

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap..._handicap.html The USGA says 0.68%.

[Roody]

Man, a plus handicap would be incredible. I hope to someday achieve such a feat, but I don't think I have the mental toughness to do it.

[Sowbug2000]

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap..._handicap.html

Here, Here! Raise your glasses!!! WOW!!!

That's an amazing feat of dedication, hard work, skill AND mental toughness!!

[janzaruk]

Congrats man. I don't agree with your handicap arguement, but I understand your point of view.

You should be proud to be in the top 1%