Worst Possible Scenario - are we doomed?

[SubPar]

This might be a cultural thing. In Australia you don't decide your own handicap. It is an official thing.

There is a

formal method of calculating a handicap which requires at least 20 scores. As handicap chairman of my club I sometimes awarded a "provisional" handicap to a new member if they could provide me with 10 scores and a player who would vouch for them. The suggestion that you only need two or three scores is nonsense. SubPar

[ERC7.5]

Ok. So, although I agree with a good bit of this thread and the original scope of it, many of these posts are telling me that I am either a sandbagger or when I shot 79 or when I shoot in the low 80's I'm either cheating or lying (still cheating). I have probably a good 80 rounds into my handicap over the past 3 years. There are only that many rounds because I only count the ones that I am out playing by the rules and not out for practice (hitting extra balls and the like).

Note: I am not flaming here or saying that any of the previous posts are wrong....especially since most said that it is "unlikely" that a handicap of X could shoot in the 70's or whatever.

I'm just wondering if I would be considered a "'bagger". I do get called that by some of my playing mates that are single digits....but they are joking 'cuz they see how p*ssed off I get when I make a mistake and they know how hard I've worked at this game.

[DJYoshi]

I haven't updated my handicap since last year. I had 2 sub 80 rounds last year when I shot 78's....BUT they're offset by most of my rounds being in the high 80's to low 90's...with the occasional blow up round at 100...i'm so inconsistent it's not even funny!
I honestly say f*** the handicap if you're out there and having fun.
But I use it as a means to justify my progression in the sport

[SubPar]

I'm just wondering if I would be considered a "'bagger". I do get called that by some of my playing mates that are single digits....but they are joking 'cuz they see how p*ssed off I get when I make a mistake and they know how hard I've worked at this game.

If you post all your scores, and post them accurately, and you are a 14 Hdcp then you can't be a sandbagger. A sandbagger is a person who inflates their handicap by posting higher scores than they actually shoot or fails to post low scores.

If you carry a 14 and you are able to shoot a 79 now and then, I'd say you are more of an under achiever. You obviously have more skill than you are applying on a regular basis. SubPar

[ERC7.5]

If you post all your scores, and post them accurately, and you are a 14 Hdcp then you can't be a sandbagger. A sandbagger is a person who inflates their handicap by posting higher scores than they actually shoot or fails to post low scores.

Ok. I'm not a sandbagger!! WooHoo!!!

Anymore I am embarrassed by shooting "bogey" golf (I know I can do better) and if I shoot over it in a non-competative round, I won't post it (won't ever be seen as part of the best 10 anyway). I guess my handicap is less reflective of my potential and more reflective of my inability to play to my potential.

If you carry a 14 and you are able to shoot a 79 now and then, I'd say you are more of an under achiever. You obviously have more skill than you are applying on a regular basis.

Under achiever would probably be an accurate description. As my pro says, "it's in there....we just gotta bring it out!". Mental blocks I'd guess.

Last week for example. I was out by myself (well, me and my 3 1/2 yr old godson) and shot a 40 (no BS drops or fluffs). Was -1 through four and pulled one OB on 5....Double bogeyed that one and bogeyed 3 of the last 4 (lost focus...especially on the green). Irritating. I also have some pretty heavy scores (45-47 for 9 range) from last season that will be dropping out of the last 20 soon. Playing more in the 38-42 (for 9)range this season so far. The few times that I've shot 18 has been mid-low 80's. Ok. Sorry about the threadjacking and taking it so ridiculously off topic.

[Craig Mac]

I hear what people are saying about cheats and liars on here. It's the internet and it brings out all types. I think people feel they get more respect if they lie and exagerate their ability. But it seems the members here mostly can see through the BS, judging by the threads of this type.

That said, I play by the rules, and play the ball down and I have good days and bad days. Rarely if I go out as a single and it is slow I will play some extra shots and not score the round. I have found that my low rounds and high rounds have a minimal effect on my handicap. I play with some guys that are newish to the game(rarely break 110), and they are taking mulligans, not counting strokes and picking up "gimmie" putts(many are way outside the leather). It doesn't bother me that they play that way, it is their score. It does get a little annoying when they brag about their scores but I will speak up and mention the mully's and gimmie's, usually quiets them down. I had one buddy say he was getting better and wanted to start entering rounds for a handicap and I informed him that doing this has to involve no cheating, he took it a little personal, so I told him to brag about a handicap that isn't legit is just plain lying.

I think the most popular misconception is that golf is still "a gentlemens game", back in the day it most likely was, hardly is anymore. A good percentage of players I see at municiple courses have no idea of ettique(talking while a player is hitting, walking in peoples lines, playing out of turn). I find it annoying when I have a 2 footer left and some jacka** hits my ball back to me and says, "it's good". I usually tell them that until that putt is holed the score doesn't count, usually keeps them from saying anything or touching my ball.

[Fourputt]

If you post all your scores, and post them accurately, and you are a 14 Hdcp then you can't be a sandbagger. A sandbagger is a person who inflates their handicap by posting higher scores than they actually shoot or fails to post low scores.

Amen to this. I guess I fall into the classification of underachiever. I've shot 3 rounds this year in the 70's, and 4 rounds in the low 90's. The rest in the 80's. MY handicap index started the season at 13.2, is currently at 11.6. My average strokes over par for my last 20 scores is 12.65 (average score 84.65). In my first year carrying a handicap in 1989, I broke 80 for the first time in my life in the 3rd round of the club championship. I was playing off 16, shot 73, a score which is still my lowest round ever. The 4th round I shot 76, made my first hole in one, and my handicap dropped 3 strokes on the next revision. All totally legitimate, all scores were returned during that season. I played at that level (index as low as 9.6 at one time) until injuries 7 years ago messed up my swing (handicap ballooned all way to 17), and I've been in recovery mode ever since. Now I'm starting to play good golf again, and enjoying it. So sometimes it's braggadocio (or pure bull) when you see a post like mine, and sometimes it's legitimate, but how do you tell? I might be blowing smoke at you right now. I know the truth, and that's really all that matters to me. Unless you play a round or two with me, you'll never really know for sure.

[hurley9192]

just because a guy is a 20 handicap doesn't mean he can't hit it 330 yards. My buddy is easily a 20 handicap and he hits the ball over 350 consistently. However, the rest of his game is not that good because he is a newer golfer. He also only hits the fairway about half the time at best. However, when he does, look out! He hits is up to 400, but just not straight enough to play to a lower handicap.

[atltony]

just because a guy is a 20 handicap doesn't mean he can't hit it 330 yards. My buddy is easily a 20 handicap and he hits the ball

.........wow

[Fourputt]

just because a guy is a 20 handicap doesn't mean he can't hit it 330 yards. My buddy is easily a 20 handicap and he hits the ball over 350 consistently. However, the rest of his game is not that good because he is a newer golfer. He also only hits the fairway about half the time at best. However, when he does, look out! He hits is up to 400, but just not straight enough to play to a lower handicap.

400?????? Who's doing the measuring???? Must be using a 24 inch yardstick. Even in the Long Drive contests they don't hit 400 yards, and those guys are specialists in hitting long drives.

I hope that this was a joke post... if not, then you are one of those who inspired this thread in the first place.

[Mr. Obvious]

Must be using a 24 inch yardstick.

Where can I get one of these? It would help my game so much. Think they sell them on the Golf Channel?

[Backspin]

400 yards on a runway, maybe. Averaging 350 can be done. I have a friend who is a 16 handicap and hits 2-3 350 yard drives a round...but swinging that hard brings in alot of errant shots which brings the average way down.

The few guys I know who hit it that far deloft their driver quite a bit and hit a rocket draw that runs forever. That kind of swing gets them in trouble more than not and their scores haven't improved over the last few years.

Up here in Minnesota there are alot of hockey players with insane swing speed. I'm 275 off the tee, they are 300+. I par, they bogey...:)


Swing at 80% people...

[ERC7.5]

400?????? Who's doing the measuring???? Must be using a 24 inch yardstick. Even in the Long Drive contests they don't hit 400 yards, and those guys are specialists in hitting long drives.

LOL.

I have actually seen a 400 yard drive. 518 yd par 5....a kid (21 or 22 at the time) hit his tee shot to 115 in. Mind you, this kid is a very good golfer, he stands 6'6" and uses all of it. It's kind of in his family too. His dad, at 65, hits his drives right around 300+ and they both regularly drive par 4's (used to anyway. Now they hit 3 woods because playing back sucks). Also, the 400 yd drive was in the middle of summer and I'm sure it had plenty of roll. The kid probably could have gone pro if a only had brains or applied himself. Oh, well.

[Backspin]

A mistake many make is basing the yardage's off the hole length. If you have 400 yard hole and have 100 left after your drive, that doesn't always mean you hit a 300 yard drive. The tee boxes are not always at the exact yardage and the angle of the fairway comes into play.
Many times I've had that scenario then lasered to the tee box and was 280 instead of 300.

[ERC7.5]

ok. 383

[SubPar]

400 yards on a runway, maybe. Averaging 350 can be done. ...

JB Holmes and Bubba Watson don't even come close to averaging 350.

I have a friend who is a 16 handicap and hits 2-3 350 yard drives a round...but swinging that hard brings in alot of errant shots which brings the average way down. ...

If they are missing the fairways they don't even count. I've played with a few dorks who crush every drive and they may hit a few over 320, but they hit 1 or 2 fairways in a round... usually the shorter ones. All they care about is hitting long drives, everything else about their game sux. I'm sure they go to work the next day and tell everyone how they were hitting 350 yard drives... having never measured one, hitting a couple of fairways and shooting 110.

Golfers have the most liberal definition of "average". SubPar

[Dent]

just because a guy is a 20 handicap doesn't mean he can't hit it 330 yards. My buddy is easily a 20 handicap and he hits the ball over 350 consistently. However, the rest of his game is not that good because he is a newer golfer. He also only hits the fairway about half the time at best. However, when he does, look out! He hits is up to 400, but just not straight enough to play to a lower handicap.

Thanks for bringing a great example to this thread.

an Honest to god great representation of the crap on this forum.

[hawkeye]

good thread - it's a shame that in an honest sport there are people who abuse this wonderous game.

I try not to think about the negatives in golf - and go out there and let my clubs do the talking. Though this is not always possible - when you're playing against a field where a person here or there will use a magic pensil, nudge the ball in the rough or magically lower their score when it's added up.

People talking the talk isn't the worst thing - if you let it bother you then they've won! If someone claims they can hit it 400 then let them claim away!