Handicap Confusion...

[SVTGolfer]

So on the 15th of this month my new handicap rating came out, as it always does on the 1st & 15th. However, it dropped down and I don't understand why. Ive actually been playing exceptionally poor recently, so Im not sure how it could go down??

Now with that, I have an "R" next to my index number. I had no idea what that was, so I looked it up. SCGA states:

"If you have an R after your Handicap Index (i.e., 13.7R) it means your Handicap Index has automatically been reduced due to exceptional tournament scores under Section 10-3 of the USGA Handicap System."

Furthermore, they also wrote: "The letter “R” after a Handicap Index is due to a “Reduction” from the USGA Handicap System, Section 10-3.  This reduction is an alternate calculation of a Handicap Index for players with two or more eligible tournament scores.  Restricted is the misnomer."

Now, ill admit, I did have some very good tournament rounds where I did shoot below my handicap. And I won about 4 tournaments in a two month period. Its just something about big tournaments and money that get my competitiveness going. But this was several months ago! Since then ive been in quite a slump, and making a lot of changes to my game, etc... I guess my main question is: Why did it take the SCGA so long to make this adjustment? Its definitely not doing me any favors. Hahaha. Im just curious as to why it happened, and why it happened now!?

[inthecup]

If you look at the calculations tab you can see what came on and what went off, simple math really.

I do not get DWAI, why don't you post a handicap?

[BuckeyeNut]

LOL...Uh oh!!!!!! To put it bluntly, you've been placed on sandbagger notice!!  hey...I'm not here to judge you, but I'll tell you what this "R" really means..........

If your tourney scores are out of line with your other scores, your HC will be revised accordingly::::

Lets just say for example.....IE....if you carry a 15HC and you somehow 'by complete luck' of course....somehow find a way to shoot 79-75-80 or whatever whenever you play in a club member-guest........people will notice and you should expect a 'R' /revision.

The "R" has nothing to do with legit HC math..........somebody looked at your tourney scores and called "BS" .  Your HC was ' manually revised' due to your unusually low tourney scores.   Your Sir....stand accused of sandbagging!!!.....and this is according to the USGA.

I am just an innocent observer....explaining what the "R" means....of course!!!!

PS...if you are a private club member, you can probably thank your club head-pro for the "R".   I haven't belonged to a private club for many years, but I know my HP was on the forefront of singling out SB's...If you aren't a member, there must be a USGA committee overseeing such things.

[B-Con]

LOL...Uh oh!!!!!! To put it bluntly, you've been placed on sandbagger notice!!  hey...I'm not here to judge you, but I'll tell you what this "R" really means..........

If your tourney scores are out of line with your other scores, your HC will be revised accordingly::::

Lets just say for example.....IE....if you carry a 15HC and you somehow 'by complete luck' of course....somehow find a way to shoot 79-75-80 or whatever whenever you play in a club member-guest........people will notice and you should expect a 'R' /revision.

The "R" has nothing to do with legit HC math..........somebody looked at your tourney scores and called "BS" .  Your HC was ' manually revised' due to your unusually low tourney scores.   Your Sir....stand accused of sandbagging!!!

This sort of thing does happen legitimately, though. Despite being unlikely for an individual, statistically it's bound to happen periodically across all members who have handicaps. They just get flagged by an official as "competing too well for your rating" who then moves on. IIRC, there has to be some history of suspicious activity to warrant an [i]official[/i] accusation of sandbagging. Right now he's just in "huh?" status. His handicap should balance out soon and the flag should be removed.

[djackson89]

That does make sense...From an 18 HDCP is only takes a few rounds in the low 80's to make your HDCP drop very quickly. It would just be that he's getting better quicker than his cap can drop...However winning 4 tournaments and your cap not dropping would raise a lot of eyebrows. Once you get it adjusted I'd imagine everything will be honkey dorey.

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by B-Con

This sort of thing does happen legitimately, though.

Yea...it does.......all the time!!!!!

Legitimate or not?....I don't even want to go there.  If you get an "R".........don't even get me started!!!!!!  The "R" crowd........yea...don't even......The "R" crowd is the guy who wins 4HC events in a month..LOL

[SVTGolfer]

Originally Posted by inthecup

If you look at the calculations tab you can see what came on and what went off, simple math really.

I do not get DWAI, why don't you post a handicap?

DWAI - Dont Worry About It… Too many people on here are concerned with handicaps and wether or not the poster has a handicap better than theirs as to "if thier comments hold water."

[SVTGolfer]

Originally Posted by djackson89

That does make sense...From an 18 HDCP is only takes a few rounds in the low 80's to make your HDCP drop very quickly. It would just be that he's getting better quicker than his cap can drop...However winning 4 tournaments and your cap not dropping would raise a lot of eyebrows. Once you get it adjusted I'd imagine everything will be honkey dorey.

This is EXACTLY what is/has happened…

I started getting lessons (and a new putter) and my scores started to improve drastically in only a months time. The tournaments I won werent full blown PGA Amateur events, just weekend club tourneys. Anyways, Im not questioning my handicp index at this time, I think it almost accurately portrays my skill level. I just didn't understand the sudden drop when I have posted several bad rounds and then the "R" to go with it. 2-3 months ago this would have made total sense!

Someone mentioned the "club Pro" throwing up a caution flag. And I dont think its the pro. This point makes total sense as my club handicap chair and I dont get along. (He's a former club president and an all around grumpy old *******)

Anywho, thanks for the imput guys. Appreciate it!

[SVTGolfer]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

Yea...it does.......all the time!!!!!

Legitimate or not?....I don't even want to go there.  If you get an "R".........don't even get me started!!!!!!  The "R" crowd........yea...don't even......The "R" crowd is the guy who wins 4HC events in a month..LOL

2 months actually… But no need to be a sore loser. Go practice some more. Hahaha

[camper6]

Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

This is EXACTLY what is/has happened…

I started getting lessons (and a new putter) and my scores started to improve drastically in only a months time. The tournaments I won werent full blown PGA Amateur events, just weekend club tourneys. Anyways, Im not questioning my handicp index at this time, I think it almost accurately portrays my skill level. I just didn't understand the sudden drop when I have posted several bad rounds and then the "R" to go with it. 2-3 months ago this would have made total sense!

Someone mentioned the "club Pro" throwing up a caution flag. And I dont think its the pro. This point makes total sense as my club handicap chair and I dont get along. (He's a former club president and an all around grumpy old *******)

Anywho, thanks for the imput guys. Appreciate it!

From the USGA Handicap Manual - R Rating

R =
Handicap automatically reduced for exceptional tournament performanc e

So no one has to go in and do it manually.  So do you feel better about the club pro now and the grumps?   They don't have to do anything. Tournament scores are entered as such and the R rating is automatic and that's why it probably took so long to get adjusted.

So keep up the good work.  Scoring better in tournaments show a high level of competitive ability.  But you have to remember that if you have that ability that you are putting your competitors at a disadvantage unless your handicap is adjusted.

I

[deasy55]

Any golfer that wins 4 nett competitions in such a short span quite clearly has the wrong handicap. It just took them a while to sort it out.

[B-Con]

Yea...it does.......all the time!!!!!

Legitimate or not?....I don't even want to go there.  If you get an "R".........don't even get me started!!!!!!  The "R" crowd........yea...don't even......The "R" crowd is the guy who wins 4HC events in a month..LOL

It's probably legitimate less often than not, admittedly. But if your scores are falling, you will play to under your handicap for a while until you stabilize.

[rustyredcab]

My definitions:

Sandbagger -- a player that posts scores higher than the best of their abilities in order to raise their handicap. My Uncle would tell the tale of a guy who once said, "Never make a putt when missing it will still win you the hole." Affectionately referred to as a cockroach in my circles. I think that is because they are everywhere, nobody really wants them around, and do not stand up to the scrutiny of the light.

Clutch Player -- a player who excels under pressure. When others get nervous and choke, this player turns up the concentration and plays their best. They are competition junkies. That same Uncle is one of these guys. He plays to a legitimate high handicap. Tries hard on every shot. Really wants to get better. But if he bets you $1 on a closest to the pin from 30 yards, he suddenly becomes a short game master and will find a way to be closer than you. He really wants to win everything. And if your team had one guy to make that five foot putt for the match, you'd be wise to pick him even if he's the worst golfer in the group.

The problem is, when a clutch player wins four events in two months, he looks like a sandbagger. :)

[SVTGolfer]

Well I guess perception is everything, eh?

Would it help some of you guys questioning me as a sandbagger if I said that those 4 wins were all at different courses ( I have 2 home courses) and one was a match play tournament that lasted for 3 weeks?

Thanks for your input guys. Appreciate the feedback.

[camper6]

To me a sandbagger is a guy who deliberately inflates his handicap by intentionally shooting a bad scores.

[funkyfred72]

SVTGolfer does not post a handicap becaue "Too many people on here are concerned with handicaps and wether or not the poster has a handicap better than theirs as to if thier comments hold water."  What I get from that is that he is not a low handicapper.  I'd guess somewhere around 10-12, minimum.

For all we know those 4 wins could have been in Flight B or C, not A or Championship.

[SVTGolfer]

Originally Posted by funkyfred72

SVTGolfer does not post a handicap becaue "Too many people on here are concerned with handicaps and wether or not the poster has a handicap better than theirs as to if thier comments hold water."  What I get from that is that he is not a low handicapper.  I'd guess somewhere around 10-12, minimum.

For all we know those 4 wins could have been in Flight B or C, not A or Championship.

And if I am why does it matter to you? Why does it matter at all? That is exactly why I post it that way, because people like you, make assumptions and are then either unhelpful and/or rude. It shouldn't matter if im a 6 handicap, a 16 handicap, or a 26 handicap. I had a question and I needed an answer.

[funkyfred72]

There is my answer. Definitely not Championship flight.

Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

And if I am why does it matter to you? Why does it matter at all? That is exactly why I post it that way, because people like you, make assumptions and are then either unhelpful and/or rude. It shouldn't matter if im a 6 handicap, a 16 handicap, or a 26 handicap. I had a question and I needed an answer.