League Tournament opponent preference

Hi All~

The first round of my league tourney is Wednesday.  My handicap is an 8, my opponent's is a 9.

Which do you prefer for a match:

1. You and opponent have the same handicap

2. Your opponent has a higher handicap

3. You have a higher handicap

I tend to prefer to have an even match.  Between the other two choices I prefer to be giving strokes rather than getting strokes.

Generally the outcome is determined by who played the best, regardless of handicap difference.

If giving or getting strokes get's in your head, then you'll have a difficult time playing your game.

In match play I just try to make par's and play one shot at a time.

A player who gets strokes and limits the mishaps is hard to beat.

A player who gets strokes but makes too many mistakes will have a tough time winning.

Club Rat

Providing your competition isn't a sandbagger, this will be a good match!!!   What is the tourney format?  9 or 18 holes...........stroke play or match play?  Is the competition scratch within the flight?   IMO...this matters.  If I have to give 1 stroke, it better be over 18 holes!  LOL

Hey @BuckeyeNut

Nope....was that this past weekend?  I was aware there was a competition at Lions Gate, but spent last weekend either on a golf course myself, or watching DVR'd coverage of the PGA Championship on TV afterwards.  LG is a Nicklaus course that I have not played.  The senior tour played there for a few years too.   I hear it is nice, but if the greens are receptive, any tour event will shred it.

When I lived in the Columbus Ohio area, I used to attend The Memorial.  I can't speak for Lions Gate, but Muirfield Village is a very special place.  Unbelievable place....   I never played there either, but immensely enjoyed walking the property as a spectator.  I've never stepped foot onto Lions Gate.

I played there the week before the web.

Course was firm and fast, just the way I like them.

You should call the membership director, tell them your interested in joining.

They would likely comp you.

Never been to Muirfield. I heard some great stories.

A have a few good friends who were members at Inverness.

Club Rat

I live on the opposite side of town on the Missouri side................. not a chance in hell!!    This course isn't remotely close enough to give any serious consideration even if membership was free.  I know it's expensive, but that's besides the point.  It's too far to consider membership.

9 hole match play. I give the stroke on the 9th hole, so I better be in good position before that hole.

Opponent is not a bagger.

Thanks!  How about 5 and 4 ??? :)

I won 1 up.

My league also keeps stroke play count so if a match ends tied, the tiebreaker is net score.  So you have to play out every hole even though it is match play.

I shot 41 and my opponent shot 44.

On top the next round of 8.

Nice job on the win. In league I always enjoy the competition more when me and my opponent are as close as possible in handicap. Last week me and my opponent had a straight up match. When I'm giving strokes it always seems like the other guy plays even with me and when I'm getting strokes I feel like I rely on that cushion and I mess up more. I have not yet learned to play within myself and not think about what my opponent is doing. If I can't do that in league, where winning/losing really means nothing since there are no prizes or payouts, I know I'd have trouble in an actual tournament.

This is it. I used to struggle playing against people of different handicaps because I always so concerned with how many strokes up or down I was. Ever since I started playing my game and adding scores later, I've been shooting consistently under my handicap in league.

My league breaks down competition into 2 flights by handicap index.

So, if there are 20 people playing, there will be 10 people in the A flight and 10 in the B flight.

I am in the A flight.  The handicap split is usually around 15.something or 16.something. index.

Being around a 10 or 11 handicap, I am sort of in the middle.

We do not have but a couple of people who are around 5 and none lower.

I am comfortable playing anyone in that handicap range.

Round of 8 this Wednesday.  I am giving 3 strokes (match play).  My opponent is like me in the fact that he hates gimmes, so we will probably be putting everything out.

Lost the match. 2 up

The good:

Drove the ball very well (usually a solid part of my game)

Medium to long range putts were very good (solid all year with these)

The bad:

Missed two crucial short putts that would have halved the holes, instead lost the holes. (weakest part of my game.  I just cannot get those 2-4 footers in the hole)

Second shots were really erratic to poor. (I need new irons.  I have zero confidence with my really old irons)

Chipping was mediocre (usually a strong point)

Poor decision making ( this costs me more than it should) - essentially a bad decision off the tee on a short par 4 led to my defeat.  I need a caddy!!!