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League Tournament opponent preference


Zekez
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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.

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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

Johnny Rocket - Let's Rock and Roll and play some golf !!!

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If its within a couple of strokes, I really don't care.  I don't really like to be in a position to have to give a bunch of strokes, although the way the handicap calculation works, that should favor the better player.  Like @Club Rat says, its really the player that plays best, compared to his history, that should come out ahead.  So go out and play well!

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

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Well, even match is good, otherwise I'd rather be given strokes and hope to shoot under that, because then the other guy has to play the round of his life.  But, I must say I hate playing high handicaps.  We do a combined match and stroke play league on 9 holes.  So I usually have a tough time with match play, because they will have mostly good holes with me giving strokes and then a couple really bad holes to even it out maybe.  Plus higher handicaps typically have a bigger range of scores than a lower handicap, giving them the potential to shoot a really good score.  In the end, the team that wins league is full on higher handicaps, but we are hoping to change that this season. :beer:

Philip Kohnken, PGA
Director of Instruction, Lake Padden GC, Bellingham, WA

Srixon/Cleveland Club Fitter; PGA Modern Coach; Certified in Dr Kwon’s Golf Biomechanics Levels 1 & 2; Certified in SAM Putting; Certified in TPI
 
Team :srixon:!

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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

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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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.

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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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

Johnny Rocket - Let's Rock and Roll and play some golf !!!

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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.

What's in Paul's Bag:
- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha Driver
- Big Bertha Alpha 815 3-wood
- Callaway Razr Fit 5-wood
- Callaway Big Bertha 4-5 Rescue Clubs
-- Mizuno Mx-25 six iron-gap wedge
- Mizuno Mp-T4 56degree SW
- Mizuno Mp-T11 60degree SW
- Putter- Ping Cadence Ketsch

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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

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.

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The best plan, win 2 and 1.  Good luck!

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

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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.

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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.

KICK THE FLIP!!

In the bag:
:srixon: Z355

:callaway: XR16 3 Wood
:tmade: Aeroburner 19* 3 hybrid
:ping: I e1 irons 4-PW
:vokey: SM5 50, 60
:wilsonstaff: Harmonized Sole Grind 56 and Windy City Putter

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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

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.

In the bag:
Driver: R9 Supertri
3W: R9
3i-PW: Mizuno Mp-68
Wedges: Taylormade Racs
Putter: PING Redwood blade

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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.

Bag: Titleist
Driver: TM RBZ 9.5
Fairway metals: TM RBZ 3 wood
Hybrids: TM RBZ 3, 4 and 5
Irons: TM Burner 1.0 6 thru LW stiff steel shafts
Putter: Ping B60
Ball: TM Tour Preferred X or ProV1x
Check out littlejohngolfleague.com  A Greater Houston TX traveling golf league.

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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.

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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!!!

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Note: This thread is 3172 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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