wacker

I was playing well, and my handicap was coming down. In late July I had a number of health issues and was unable to play for two months. Since coming back I haven't played to my handicap a single time. We can't enter our cards at my club during winter months, so I have to continue playing to a handicap I simply can't reach

I'm glad I don't get stuck behind you. Some greens are very deceptive. When I play my mates course I have to ask him on every green if it's going left to right or right to left, or if I am putting uphill or down

I clean the heads the grips of my clubs at least once a week. Regrettably I am still a poor golfer

Yes, it's a club by club thing. It isn't just the computer in the clubhouse, we are unable to enter scores using the app as well. My point from the start was that we are expected to inform the handicap secretary of any outstanding scored so she can reduce our handicap, but NOT inform her of any particularly poor scores. It makes no sense to me

You misunderstood. The question is "do you close down computer entry system for handicaps"? You misunderstood. The question is "do you close down computer entry system for handicaps"?

My golf club in the UK recently shut down the system for the winter months. This means scores can not be entered until winter conditions are out of the way, temporary greens aren't in use, and the the winter mats are removed. I agree with this as handicaps tend to go up. We are however expected to tell the handicap secretary if we have an exceptional round so she can cut us. In fact, I just negotiated a one shot penalty, although the secretary wanted to cut me two shots. Of course, if I come in ten shots over I can't have shots back, which in my opinion makes a farce of the entire system. How do you do things at your club?

Because playing off of the whites is considerably harder. Anyway, it's not so relevant now, because the system makes allowances for whether or not one plays off of the yellows or the whites.

We enter our score into the computer in the pro shop, although it could be into the phone app. It asks if we played off of the yellows or the whites, as they have a different slope ratings.

OK, I know this has no doubt been discussed many times, but there is only so much we can talk about when it comes to golf. I live in the UK and most other golfers I have spoken to tend to agree with me. Unlike the old system we had, we now have a handicap that we should be averaging, rather than the old system when we played to it. In fact, I was once told a person should only play to their handicap a few times a year when playing off of the white tees. In my case this was very true. When the new system was introduced three years ago just about everyone's handicap went up, and from memory mine went up about two shots. I quite like the new system in the fact it is quite reactive. I put in on average three cards a week during the summer months, and my handicap goes up and down like an elevator (lift in England). What I dislike about it is the ridiculous handicaps people can now have. When I started playing golf the maximum was 28, it's now 54. Being given three shots on any hole is just crazy. I would have accepted 36 as a compromise, especially as things get harder as you get older. I know the idea is that golf should be inclusive, but I thought it had something to do with skill as well. Like I said, when I first received my handicap I was given 28. OK, I was in reality playing to about 40, but through practice I was soon playing to my handicap, and it dropped quite quickly. Anyway, what are your thoughts?

Blimey, I'd be pissed after 4 holes

Yep, there is a pattern here. It looks like this side of the pond we tend to plat Stableford, whereas your side you prefer stroke play (medal)

I live in the UK, although I realise most forum members come from the USA. Other than competitions nearly all our casual play is Stableford. so I wondered what do you tend to play on your side of the pond?

There were only 9 of us in the bash. During the summer it would have been more than 20, so not too bad.

That sounds great, how did the back nine go?

I never thought it would happen, but on 5th January 2023 and approximately 12.30pm I got my first, and possible last hole in one. I have been close sooo many times, even hitting the flag, and the ball rolling over the hole, but this time it went in. It was a par three on the course I am a member of, and it is a blind hole. I could see the top of the flag, and I knew the ball would be close. I jokingly said to my playing partners "I will be disappointed if that isn't a hole in one". They both took their shots, and whilst both of them put their balls on the green, it was obvious neither were close to the hole. We walked to the green, but my ball wasn't visible. My first thoughts were it may be in a bunker, as there were two fairly close to the pin. My playing colleague walked to the flag and said "well, you're not going to be disappointed". It was bash, and as a result I won £18, however, the bar bill was £32. The ball and the scorecard have been retired now. 😀