Handicap - whats going on?

[kregan]

So this is my first year really playing and tracking scores with Scorecard software.

I am at a 24.3 handicap and a 31 anti handicap in the software after 8 rounds.

Now that I am playing more I am getting paired up with guys on the the course. Most are very nice and it is nice to have someone to play with but when they start talking about handicaps in the 15 range and I am playing better at a 24 I really wonder whats up?

I also see a lot of pushing the ball around in the rough or picking the ball up to identify it then placing it in a better spot. Is this common practice? Also I see a lot of picking up the ball on the greens. If I am with a group and it is busy (people waiting behind you) I can see that IF its inside 8", but not at 16 - 18"

I never touch my ball unless it is on the green, tee or GUR.

I am not trying to be snobby or anything and I never say anything to the others I am playing with I just wonder if you guys see this a lot?

[Big_M]

So this is my first year really playing and tracking scores with Scorecard software.

Saw it today... played with three hacks. One guy claimed he shot a 42 last time out and usually plays bogey golf. He easily shot 100-110 today and rolled the ball around a LOT. He also took numerous improper drops, one after going OB and not taking distance penalty. He also told me he hit his 9-iron 160 usually, but he could hardly get 210 with a good drive. He also had one of the strongest grips I have ever seen, and couldn't figure out why he hooked the ball so much. Some people just can't face the truth that they can't usually break 100 I guess.

[Left Is Right]

I do see this a lot but mostly with gimmes(or "short" tap ins) most gimmes that some people ive played with take are like 5 foot testers and then they they put par when they could have made bogey.

I dont have an official handicap but I do generally shoot in the mid to low 80's. although if was submitting a round for a handicap tracker thing i would play a true round of golf and only take gimmes if im like a foot away

Another thing i am guilty of giving my self favorable lies so taht might affect my scores but who nos

[Dent]

although if was submitting a round for a handicap tracker thing i would play a true round of golf and only take gimmes if im like a foot away

Thats still not playing a true round of golf.

[Left Is Right]

True but since i am amazing at i foot putts it doesn't matter

In tourneys i do play a true round

[Dent]

Yes i used to give myself gimmes within a foot also.

but then just started to finish every putt. Makes me satisfied that I officially finished the hole, from Tee to Cup.

[iacas]

I also see a lot of pushing the ball around in the rough or picking the ball up to identify it then placing it in a better spot. Is this common practice? Also I see a lot of picking up the ball on the greens.

It's simple. If I cheated like that, I'd be on Tour. They cheat like that and it only gets them to a 15.

[Left Is Right]

i usually finish a tap in if its like a par or rarely a birdie but if i bogey ill give myself an early christmas present

[bflat450]

I used to take more gimmes, and move my ball around in the rough when I was like a 20, but now I putt out everything and never move anything unless its in construction area or relief area.

[marpr]

Yes i used to give myself gimmes within a foot also.

I agree totally.

Although in a social round if one of my playing partner's says "dont worry about it, that one's a gimme" i will always take it.

[meenman]

I play with a guy that if he played legit would probably be a single digit handicap. That is why I laugh when he constantly picks up his ball to clean it (before reaching the green of course), uses distance balls for his drives and softer ones around the green. However he doesnt post his scores and isnt playing against me so as long as he is having fun I guess all is good........

[Doctorfro]

The handicap thing has a lot of variables. What I mean is you have guys who are straight up, it is what it is. Then you've got guys who don't play it down, "winter rules" all year long, gimme putts, etc. Then you've got guys who for some reason want their handicap to be like a status thing and although they aren't shooting that low, simply posting low scores so their handicap will be a bragging point. For me, my handicap is what the handicap is geared to measure... your potential. I post all my scores, good, bad and ugly. And I shoot that way, I'm very streaky. My goal is to be more consistent and I'm slowly getting there. But I have some low rounds in there and my handicap reflects that and I can go out and shoot nowhere near it and you'd wonder how my cap got to be what it is.

I guess my point is you've got all kinds and the differing kinds of players don't make it easy to play apples against apples, which is why the system was invented. It's kinda sad and disappointing.

[Wisco-Kid]

The guys that I play with on Sunday morning do alot of "rough fluff". That doesnt bother me so much because they are like 30+ handicappers and sometimes the game can be hard enough for someone just trying to get around under 120. The thing that bothers me is the gimmies on the green. There really shouldnt be any gimmies and it kills me that these guys always 2 putt. I watched my buddy yesterday putt one from about 20 ft for bogey. He missed it by about 4 feet. His putt coming back missed and he said he wasnt going to count it cause it was a gimmie? I was like uh OK, to bad Tiger couldnt have said that at the Masters....Like I said though they are 30 handicappers and I dont want to be a dick to them but at some point they need to start learning what golf is really all about.

[JerseyThursday]

He missed it by about 4 feet. His putt coming back missed and he said he wasnt going to count it cause it was a gimmie?

I've heard it said the way someone plays the game of golf is a window into their overall personality. If they self-rationalize to cheat, there’s a good chance they conduct themselves in a similar fashion in other situations.

BTW, Bill Clinton was notorious for taking mulligans.

[Lefty39]

I must admit i do take gimmes about 40 percent of the time, but I have been trying to putt it out more. My friend whom I play a lot with is the biggest cheater ever. We were playing Sunday, and on the first four tee shots he re-teed them because he topped all of them like 10 yards. He always gives himself nice lies, he was in a group of trees, and instead of playing it out he just threw is ball in the fairway, but in the end i still beat him by 15 strokes. I shoot around 41, 42, 43, but my handicap is from last season, and I'm better now.

[golf_junkie27]

I always wondered what was the point of keeping score and posting a handicap if you were going to cheat.

Guys borrowing each other's equipment, picking up balls without marking them, "accidentally" moving the ball before hitting it, touching the sand when in the trap, etc.

If you're going to play golf, know the rules. If you're going to keep score and a handicap, be honest and actually, enforce them.

[thedub]

Guys borrowing each other's equipment, picking up balls without marking them, "accidentally" moving the ball before hitting it,

i HATE when my friends and ppl i play with do this!!

[Dent]

Whats funny I just realized...

I dont really mind when New players cheat and such because they are learning the game and taking an extra ball or so can help them get better. Most arent really posting scores for a handicap almost immediatly.

Its people that are single digit handicaps or under 20 that really bother me. They are going for a lower handicap. Like my friend who is around a 7 but cheats like crazy.