What would you do - Handicap Different on Grint vs. GHIN?

[lastings]

So, I am playing in a matchplay tournament at my local course.   I was paired up against a guy who's GHIN handicap card says he's a 12.0.   cool.   mine is 13 and trending to 11.7.   should be a pretty good matchup, and I'll get a stroke.   

but..   I just happened to look him up in The Grint to see if he was on there to friend him.   then I notice. his index on there is 7.4.  and he has 6.6, 7.6, ad 9.2 differentials in May/early June that are not posted on his GHIN card.   

 

now..  there could be reasons for this.    Maybe he only keeps his GHIN as his official handicap, and on those good differentials he could have been playing alone.  (which would be correct not to post).   maybe he just keeps his Grint numbers for personal, not official tracking purposes.    

I don't really wanna be a douche and call him out for it.  and it would be especially embarrassing if I called him out and there was good reason for it.   But, at the same time, I entered a net handicap tournament because I want good competitions.   If this guy is giving me 1 stroke, when a fair fight would be him giving me 5 or 6, I'm gonna be awfully frustrated.   

 

your thoughts?

 

 

 

[dennyjones]

I would mention you saw in on TheGrint.   He may volunteer to share.   I don't think I'd bring up the difference.  It is what it is.   

[mcanadiens]

As long as the stakes are pretty low, I wouldn't sweat it much. Otherwise, you may consider asking around about him. In my limited experience the chaps that run tournaments often have a long memory if someone develops a bit of a dodgy reputation. ... Don't even accuse him of anything. Just ask about him and people will talk.

Edited June 22, 2017 by mcanadiens

[DaveP043]

10 minutes ago, lastings said:

I don't really wanna be a douche and call him out for it.  and it would be especially embarrassing if I called him out and there was good reason for it.   But, at the same time, I entered a net handicap tournament because I want good competitions.   If this guy is giving me 1 stroke, when a fair fight would be him giving me 5 or 6, I'm gonna be awfully frustrated.   

I don't believe you'd be a douche to "call him out on it," although I'd probably use a little different wording.  Its perfectly fair to ask him, as well as the tournament administrators or committee.  Simply ask, say it exactly the way you said it here, you were looking him up as a potential friend, and you noticed there's some rounds not posted to his USGA handicap.  Specifically mention that they could be solo rounds, or otherwise not officially postable.  If he's legit, that's fine, apologize and let it drop.  He really should understand your reasons for bringing it up, and accept them.  You're not only protecting yourself, you're protecting anyone else he might play down the line, if he's lucky enough to beat you.  If he's a cheater, then HE should be the embarrassed one.

[lastings]

ok.  thanks. 

on a somewhat related side note:   If there are no concessions given during a matchplay round, is it appropriate or not appropriate to post a score?   

I haven't played a matchplay round since I started keeping a handicap.  

[zipazoid]

My advice - beat his a$$.

[Hardspoon]

I think you should ask him about it.  If he has a good reason, he'll have no problem with you asking, and if he doesn't, he'll know he's busted.

If you send him a friend request, he's going to know that you know...so he won't be surprised when you ask.

[lastings]

2 minutes ago, zipazoid said:

My advice - beat his a$$.

[DaveP043]

38 minutes ago, lastings said:

on a somewhat related side note:   If there are no concessions given during a matchplay round, is it appropriate or not appropriate to post a score?   

Post your score, even if there are concessions.  From 5-1 of the USGA Handicap Manual:

Quote

Scores in both match play and stroke play must be posted for handicap purposes. This includes scores made in match play, in multi-ball, or in team competitions in which players have not completed one or more holes or in which players are requested to pick up when out of contention on a hole. (See Section 4 and Decision 5-1c/1, 5-2a/5, 5-2a/7.)

You can refer to Section 4 to see how to handle scoring on holes where you don't hole out.

http://www.usga.org/Handicapping/handicap-manual.html#!rule-14377

And I like what @Hardspoonsaid, go ahead and "friend" him in the Grint.  He should then expect your questions.  And no matter whether he's legit or not, go out, play well, and win!

Edited June 22, 2017 by DaveP043

[David in FL]

Too lazy to look it up, so I'll embarrass myself and ask...

...what's a grint?  

[DaveP043]

3 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Too lazy to look it up, so I'll embarrass myself and ask...

...what's a grint?  

Its one of the online handicap and statistic tracking services

[lastings]

4 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Too lazy to look it up, so I'll embarrass myself and ask...

...what's a grint?  

Is a golf app/gps/social media type of thing.  Pretty cool, actually. 

[David in FL]

2 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Its one of the online handicap and statistic tracking services

 

2 minutes ago, lastings said:

Is a golf app/gps/social media type of thing.  Pretty cool, actually. 

Thanks guys!  

[Gator Hazard]

Let me ask a naive question: how does a guy who says he is a 12 cap have a different index saying he is a 7.4? And has scores that are 6 and 7 and 9? I'd buy it easier if he was a 20 cap that shot a few 15 overs but it's hard to swallow the differential at that starting point.

If I am paying money for the competition I expect it to be fair. If the information available to you was public then I see no reason to not address it (tactfully). 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Gator Hazard

[DaveP043]

12 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

Let me ask a naive question: how does a guy who says he is a 12 cap have a different index saying he is a 7.4? And has scores that are 6 and 7 and 9? I'd buy it easier if he was a 20 cap that shot a few 15 overs but it's hard to swallow the differential at that starting point.

If I am paying money for the competition I expect it to be fair. If the information available to you was public then I see no reason to not address it (tactfully). 

As we've talked about it a few other threads, there are some rounds you play, but can't post.  The most obvious are the rounds you play by yourself.  Its possible that this guy plays better when he's playing by himself on an empty golf course than he does playing with other people at a much slower pace.   He might want to keep a record of ALL rounds, not only the USGA-acceptable rounds, so he keeps a separate unofficial handicap on Grint.  Maybe he plays most of his rounds solo, and he's been improving, but his USGA acceptable rounds cover a much longer period, before his improvement started.  I'd be surprised if the difference between official and unofficial handicaps was this great, but its not impossible.

[Hardspoon]

19 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

He might want to keep a record of ALL rounds, not only the USGA-acceptable rounds, so he keeps a separate unofficial handicap on Grint

FWIW, The Grint does provide an official USGA handicap (just not using GHIN), so he technically should not be posting solo rounds there either.

Edited June 22, 2017 by Hardspoon

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, Hardspoon said:

FWIW, The Grint does provide an official USGA handicap (just not using GHIN), so he technically should not be posting solo rounds there either.

I know there are others who know about the Grint, they can let us all know if I'm right, but I think with any of the online services, you have to sign up for a Class 3 golf club to get an official USGA handicap.  I have to assume that's an additional step in the registration process.  If he doesn't sign up for a club, his Grint handicap isn't official, so he might be perfectly within the rules to post solo rounds there for personal tracking.  

[lastings]

1 minute ago, DaveP043 said:

I know there are others who know about the Grint, they can let us all know if I'm right, but I think with any of the online services, you have to sign up for a Class 3 golf club to get an official USGA handicap.  I have to assume that's an additional step in the registration process.  If he doesn't sign up for a club, his Grint handicap isn't official, so he might be perfectly within the rules to post solo rounds there for personal tracking.  

when you sign up for the Grint, you automatically get signed up for a club..