At a crossroads in golf

[RA Golfer]

I've been playing golf off and on since 1985.

I began my senior year in high school, ,due to a neck injury that prevented me from playing football. After 2 months of playing I tried out for the HS golf team and shot a 92 to make the bottom player (6th man) on the team.

By the end of the season (3 months) after working really hard at it, I moved up to 4th man and shot 77 in our final match of the year. I was fortunate that we had a very good #1 seed player who helped me with the game.

For a 10 year stretch, I practiced daily, and got my handicap down to a 0.7.

I took some time away from the game, then started back in 2011 on a quest to win a club championship, which I was fortunate enough to do in 2014.

Late 2014 I developed Rheumatoid Arthritis. Practicing for hours is no longer possible. So as a result, my scores have went to an average of 9-11 over par. I do have an occasional round where my body feels good and I shoot 73-74.

I can still enjoy the game regardless of what I score, but the problem is the club I play at keeps my handicap as a 2, even though 15 of my last 20 rounds are 82-85.

There are lots of guys I enjoy playing with at this club, but I feel horrible most times when the round is over because as an "A" player in their weekend choose-up, they have no chance to win with me as their "A" player unless I have one of my 1 in 20 rounds. And usually that isn't even good enough. I haven't been on a winning team in 6 months.

I realize winning isn't everything, but it's no fun knowing your dragging your teams chances of winning down every time you tee it up.

I see no choice but to join another club where my handicap will be kept accurately, so I'm not forced to play at a level I'm no longer capable of.

It's either that or just quit. Do I have any other options?

[iacas]

What have they said regarding why your handicap is kept so low?

Also switching clubs may not work. Especially if you have a GHIN number or whatever.

[RA Golfer]

18 minutes ago, iacas said:

What have they said regarding why your handicap is kept so low?

Also switching clubs may not work. Especially if you have a GHIN number or whatever.

I have asked this question several times, but never get an answer. I have been told that is what I'm "capable" of. When I try to explain that my body isn't the same as it was before I developed RA, they have no understanding of this because they don't know what having RA does to the joints in your body. It's not like I've shot 81-85 one or two times, this is my normal score now for the last 6 months.

As far as other clubs, I've spoken with members of another local club, I have to establish a handicap at their club, which means my first 5 rounds, I cannot be no more then -2 or +2 based upon what handicap I give them when I play in their choose up. So for example I give them 10 and shoot 81, 82, ,83 ,85, and 77, this is 48 over in 5 rounds, so my handicap would be 10, making me a "C" player instead of an "A".

Would I like to still be able to play "A"? Of course I would! But I don't have the same body I had 4 years since developing RA. I don't know why people can't understand this.

 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, RA Golfer said:

I have asked this question several times, but never get an answer. I have been told that is what I'm "capable" of. When I try to explain that my body isn't the same as it was before I developed RA, they have no understanding of this because they don't know what having RA does to the joints in your body. It's not like I've shot 81-85 one or two times, this is my normal score now for the last 6 months.

As far as other clubs, I've spoken with members of another local club, I have to establish a handicap at their club, which means my first 5 rounds, I cannot be no more then -2 or +2 based upon what handicap I give them when I play in their choose up. So for example I give them 10 and shoot 81, 82, ,83 ,85, and 77, this is 48 over in 5 rounds, so my handicap would be 10, making me a "C" player instead of an "A".

Would I like to still be able to play "A"? Of course I would! But I don't have the same body I had 4 years since developing RA. I don't know why people can't understand this.

If you think I'm not "understanding" your plight, you've got me wrong.

I'm just pointing out that technically, your handicap is your handicap, and a lot of clubs in the U.S. use GHIN or another national system, so your handicap will follow you even if you go to another club.

Now, they may adjust it to where it sounds like it should be, but… I was just pointing out that your GHIN number won't change, and your history doesn't vanish (often) just because you change clubs.

[RandallT]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

If you think I'm not "understanding" your plight, you've got me wrong

I think @RA Golfer was actually venting his frustration at his current club's lack of understanding of his medicL condition.  (Not any frustration that you might've misunderstood anything)

 

[David in FL]

As I'm sure you know, your index has little to do with your average score, but rather, is based on your lowest 10 out of your last 20 scores.  If you have a dramatic variance between your highest and lowest scores, your hcp can be surprisingly low....

Have you talked to someone from the handicap committee at your club?  I'd think that would be the first step towards understanding why your handicap is where it is right now.

[gregsandiego]

3 hours ago, RA Golfer said:

I have asked this question several times, but never get an answer. I have been told that is what I'm "capable" of. When I try to explain that my body isn't the same as it was before I developed RA, they have no understanding of this because they don't know what having RA does to the joints in your body. It's not like I've shot 81-85 one or two times, this is my normal score now for the last 6 months.

As far as other clubs, I've spoken with members of another local club, I have to establish a handicap at their club, which means my first 5 rounds, I cannot be no more then -2 or +2 based upon what handicap I give them when I play in their choose up. So for example I give them 10 and shoot 81, 82, ,83 ,85, and 77, this is 48 over in 5 rounds, so my handicap would be 10, making me a "C" player instead of an "A".

Would I like to still be able to play "A"? Of course I would! But I don't have the same body I had 4 years since developing RA. I don't know why people can't understand this.

 

It seems the people at your current club are just idiots. The other part I don't understand: are handicaps fixed for life or something?  What if you get better - or worse - later in life for whatever reason?

[djake]

2 hours ago, RA Golfer said:

I have asked this question several times, but never get an answer. I have been told that is what I'm "capable" of. When I try to explain that my body isn't the same as it was before I developed RA, they have no understanding of this because they don't know what having RA does to the joints in your body. It's not like I've shot 81-85 one or two times, this is my normal score now for the last 6 months.

As far as other clubs, I've spoken with members of another local club, I have to establish a handicap at their club, which means my first 5 rounds, I cannot be no more then -2 or +2 based upon what handicap I give them when I play in their choose up. So for example I give them 10 and shoot 81, 82, ,83 ,85, and 77, this is 48 over in 5 rounds, so my handicap would be 10, making me a "C" player instead of an "A".

Would I like to still be able to play "A"? Of course I would! But I don't have the same body I had 4 years since developing RA. I don't know why people can't understand this.

 

First I really hope you stick with the game, by reading your posts it sounds as if you want to. 

As far as people understanding what you are going thru with RA they do not unless they have actually lived thru it or had some type of injury.  I do not have RA but I have been thru my issues, neck surgery took me out of golf for years.  When I tried to play after surgery it felt like lightening streaking thru neck and head, just pain.  When I finally got to the point where I could get thru 9 holes I had to have colon surgery and just the recovery from that was a solid year.  It took me years to get to the point where I could swing and not feel like I was ripping my insides out on the follow thru.  I went thru a strong 12 year hiatus and it got to the point where I hated the idea of golf.  I had worked myself into being a decent golfer, not as good as you but still I was in the single digits and I had played under Par.  My friends forced me back into the game 3 summers ago and I could not be happier!  I have had my pain issues since coming back.  I got fitted for irons in 2015 and my fitter did not listen to me regarding my neck issues and I went into steel shafts.  Deadly accurate with those irons yet last fall they started bringing tears to my eyes due to pain.  My wife agreed that I needed to get graphite shafts this year and I got fitted again and my new fitter was telling me how he could do so much better for me if he just get me into the correct steel shaft.  I had to tell him either graphite or I will never play golf again.  Add into the situation that I needed hand surgery last summer which made a huge difference with my hands!! 

My long post is to give you a source, someone to talk to if you need to regarding your RA and golf.  I can and do relate.  Graphite shafts - for me Recoil 95 and Mizuno JPX 900 Forged have been the key to NO PAIN when I golf.  After my first round with the Recoils this summer I could not believe it.  I was so happy.  I also use compression golf gloves on both of my hands and do they make a difference.  I do not take them off at all during the round or inflammation can happen immediately.  Zero Friction is the best, Calaway X-spann are also very, good but I have a Velcro tab on the Zero Friction that I can open to help cool the hands off.  If you have not looked into graphite shafts for your irons and compression golf gloves do so.  My Father In Law after hitting my irons is getting graphite now because he has RA and he could feel the benefit of graphite over steel.

The last item I did was go into the very lightest graphite shaft on my Driver that I could that worked and I just got my new Driver with the Aldila NV 44 Magnum shaft.  What a difference all of these items have made to help me have as close to a pain free round as I can.

Only you can come to terms over the competition, it sucks they will not adjust your handicap, that is wrong but this is really not an issue to give up golf over, is it?  Sorry for the long post, I wish you all the best!

[WUTiger]

4 hours ago, RA Golfer said:

I realize winning isn't everything, but it's no fun knowing your dragging your teams chances of winning down every time you tee it up.

What about the other players on your team? They need to contribute something to the game.

I'm an erratic 24 HDCP. In the area Senior Olympics golf individual medal play(18 holes), I had 7 pars and two triple bogies.

In our local senior best ball (w/HDCP) I get natural pars or an occasional birdie for the team. The A players provide stability when the higher HDCP players get bad scores. 

What kind of game do you play on weekends? Best ball? Scramble format? If you can offer steady shots throughout the round, I think you're pulling your weight.

Edited July 30, 2017 by WUTiger
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