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Good discussion... I understand what I proposed (a handicap consisting of only competitive rounds) would be tough logistically and it would require a complete overhaul of the current system. I don't really expect it to happen, I just wish maybe it could. I said we don't have a handicap committee at our club (this is not a country club..it's a men's club at a public facility). That's not entirely correct. I guess I was the handicapp committee up until this year when I finally decided I'd had enough (amazing...no one else has stepped up to take on this task ) That's where my frustration/skepticism with handciaps comes from. Therefore, I understand that if a club is diligent handicaps can be fairly well controlled within that club. But, tell me this. If your state golf association, or the USGA for that matter, put on a state or national tournament on a net basis, how confident would you be that it would not take a series of "exceptional" scores to win the tournament?? If it takes an "exceptional" score to win the tournament, how legitimate is the system as a whole? I think we are all confident that we have the handicaps under control for the most part when we are only dealing with the guys we normally play with. It's when we go outside that community that we (or at least I) lose comfort.

Team competition, our club against another local club. Me and my partner playing modified chapman alternate shot. We get to 17 one up. 17 is a short par 3. My tee shot to about 2 or 2 1/2 feet. Partner chokes on the putt & we halve 17 when we should have been shaking hands. Walk to 18 tee still one up. We play my second shot to the green which is on but 25 feet from the hole (in modified chapman you both tee off, hit your second shot from your partners drive & the pick the best one and alternate from there). Our opponents are within 12 feet in 2. Partner leaves our 25 foot birdie putt 15 feet short (thanks). I drain the 15 footer. Opponents 2 putt. We win one up. Best finish I've ever had.

Does anyone else find the GHIN system a bit faulty? Not the math...I believe that works pretty well for the most part. I also believe in equitable stroke control. In general, I believe if folks used the system as intended, it's fine. The problem is, too many don't. And I'm not just talking about "sandbaggers" here. I believe true sandbaggers are few and far between and are fairly easy to identify and deal with. My problem is in the fact that the entire system relies upon the individual to accurately report EVERY score. Even the most conscientious of us forget to record a score from time to time. Furtheremore, how many of your playing buddies out there know they can post 9 hole scores? Match play rounds? Partial rounds? I know guys in my club that play 3 times a week but by the end of the year they will be lucky to have 15 rounds posted to GHIN. It's not because they are dishonest...it's because they just don't think about it. The handicap committe (if your club has one...we don't and I bet less than 1/2 do) can harp on these guys all they want and it won't change. Also, there is a HUGE difference in my mind between casual rounds and competitive rounds. I realize GHIN attempts to compensate for this with the reporting of tournament scores. However, I question whether or not this is used correctly in the majority of situations. I believe that if GHIN is to be accurate, it needs to record competitive rounds of golf only. That can be tournament or league play. By doing this, we would for the most part guarantee that each player is trying their hardest and the sandbagging that is out there would be greatly reduced. Responsibility for entering scores would be shifted to the organization putting on the events and taken away from the individual. If anyone has ever been in a bowling league, you know what I am talking about here. You bowl on league night and your scores are reported by the bowling center to the United States Bowling Congress who computes your average. This could very easily be done by the staff at the respective courses. I realize some will argue that this leaves out the recreational player that does not participate in leagues but wants a handicap. My solution is that the USGA/GHIN should provide access to a free or nominal charge website where recreational players can log in and report scores (I believe there are already other places out there where this can be done). They player would know their handicap and it would be usable for recreational play or competition amongst friends but would not be valid for tournament play. I know I'm probably not going to change the way the USGA/GHIN does things. But I'd like to know if others feel similarly? Or...if I'm all wet, tell me why.

I like my tri-ball...although most of my playing partners accuse me of having a metal detector in my bag I guess it is a bit big.

I had one at the gym the other day that just had me steamed!!! I'm on my usual eliptical machine - all the way to the end of the gym & these 2 ladies get on the 2 machines immediately next to me & start gabbing non-stop for 30 minutes while they go about 2 mph on the machines. I'm working my @$$ off here & I gotta listen to their blabbering. Turned my mp3 player almost all the way up & I could still hear them. Oh...did I mention there was a line of empty machines 50 feet long they could have got on?? Whew! I feel better. Golf pet-peeve: When the guys in our men's club try to tell me how they want things done but they don't want to do it themselves...or even help. Sandbaggers

Voted 0 - +4.99...not sure. I played with Bruce Vaugh once (yeah...the guy that just won the British Senior) about 18 years ago at Carey Park GC (public track in Hutchinson, KS) when he was just a struggling mini-tour player. I remember shooting 39 on the front to his 37 & thinking I was pretty damn good

Walking accross a green carrying my bag & got smacked right in the head by one of my partner's skulled bunker shots. Dropped me like a rock! Why he was hitting while I was walking accross the green, I still haven't figured out. However, maybe it was me that was the one that wasn't paying attention...dunno. It was the 15th & I finished the round though!!

Had a nice breakthrough on Friday at my home course. Our club plays a team competition similar to Ryder Cup matches against other clubs. Unfortunately, we struggle most of the time, but it's great fun. I won my first singles match in a long time. Scratch match against a +.6 h/c (I'm a 4.7). I was 4 over through 16 when I closed him out 3&2. Granted, he didn't play his best but it felt good. Especially since we were one of the last matches & there was a small crowd gathering. By the way...we lost the team competition 6 1/2 to 3 1/2.

38 for nine (36.1/109). 2 bogeys, 7 pars....ho hum. One 3 jack from 60 feet, one missed green from 140 yards, one up & down for par, 6 GIR 2 putts. Never made anything outside 5 feet. Missed 3 birdie putts inside 12 feet. If it sounds like I think I should have shot 35 or so.....you're right :). But...what a great 1 1/2 hours with my 3 year old son that was with me the whole way...can't think of a better playing partner.

I'm one of the few that voted "bad" but in reality, it's probably not really bad for the game. I play 75% of my rounds in a T-shirt. Sometimes even jean shorts (public course player). However, I'm smart enough to tuck them in, wear a belt, don't wear ripped clothes, etc., etc. & generally look presentable. A lot of folks probably aren't. Also, when I go to a CC I have no probem dressing per their code. The members that pay the bills should be able to set the rules.

Instead of the range, buy a shag bag & head to a local park/athletic fields...somewhere with some open space that's open to the public. Beats the heck out of $5 for a bucket of balls & you get some excercise picking them up to boot. As for the rest...just like everyone else, play as much as you can as cheap as you can.

Well....you have Flint Hills listed as your home course. I was lucky enough to get to play it last year & it's flat out the best I've ever played. Including Prairie Dunes (though that was about 18 years ago). Just took a trip to Garden City with some buddies a couple weeks ago & played Buffalo Dunes & Southwind. What beautiful courses in a part of the state where you wouldn't expect it. I think there's a lot of good golf in this state...especially for the price.

I'm typcially a ProV1 player. But, I went looking for a cheaper option for non-tournament play & I have found the Nike PD Super Soft to be a nice performing ball. Usually can pick them up for $15/dozen at Wal-Mart or Target.

Til Tiger catches him (which I believe he will), I vote for Jack.

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