Pro Ams

[PooZilla]

I enjoy playing in em but am bothered by the "cough cough" team of ummm real high handicappers that can shoot Soooo Low, Any thoughts on this subject and how to deal with it would be appreciated,

[neudi]

Don't let them play.

[Shindig]

  PooZilla said:

I enjoy playing in em but am bothered by the "cough cough" team of ummm real high handicappers that can shoot Soooo Low, Any thoughts on this subject and how to deal with it would be appreciated,

You're having this difficulty in pro-ams? I know AT&T; Pebble Beach had this problem a while back.

Make sure the scores are reported as tournament scores. Posting tournament scores significantly lower than one's handicap indicates is possible is grounds for lowering one's handicap. Reserve the right to adjust handicaps as deemed fit. Check out the chart at http://www.popeofslope.com/sandbagging/odds.html to see the odds of a given handicap range beating their handicap by a set number of strokes in a given round. If it keeps happening to the same people, disqualify 'em.

[PooZilla]

Well It seems I need to clarify, I am just a participant not a official of any Pro Am, I just love to play in em and hate getting clobbered by a team of ringers. Maybe its just inevitable and I should take solice in the fact that I play well and by the rules. Win or Lose

[Shindig]

  PooZilla said:

Well It seems I need to clarify, I am just a participant not a official of any Pro Am, I just love to play in em and hate getting clobbered by a team of ringers. Maybe its just inevitable and I should take solice in the fact that I play well and by the rules. Win or Lose

There are frequent pro-ams? I need to get in on these.

My suggestion: take my above post, including a print-out of the article on odds of beating one's handicap, to the tournament organizers ahead of time. If you think there's been sandbagging in the past, point out who and when. If you can't remember, deal with it when it happens: confront the individual. "You're a 16-handicap and shot a 75? Do you know the odds of that? Wow, you've done it three times this year! Why isn't your handicap lower from those rounds?"

[Gapwedge]

There is an article in one of the golf rags, GOLF or Golf Digest, that talk about a handicapped tourney for amateurs. They actually interview people the day before the final round. If they are found to be lying about their HC they are DQ'ed but allowed to play the final round but without the chance of winning anything. Interesting article. Sandbagging is alive and well.