CigarStone
For once, knowledge is making me poor!
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2007
- Messages
- 11,052
I know there are a good many golfers here and this topic is always good for some fun discussion.
The USGA handicap system is predominantly designed to accommodate competition (read as betting) between players of dis-similar ability. The current system has flaws but it appears to be as good as it can be, given the task at hand. Here are some of the flaws I noticed during my competitive playing days.
#1 The system favors players of “consistent” ability and a handicapping system should not favor anybody.
EXAMPLE: Under the current system where your handicap is an average of the best ten of the last twenty scores, Player “A” who’s scores range between 72 and 90 due to back problems, or any other reason, and player “B” who’s scores range between 72 and 80 will have the same 3 or 4 handicap.
#2 It is virtually impossible to create an even playing field between scratch and bogie players in a tournament or organized event.
EXAMPLE: In a fully handicapped tournament or event made up of 20 scratch players (0 handicap) and 20 bogie players (18 handicap) the scratch players have literally no chance of winning. And in a non handicapped tournament or event the bogie players literally have no chance. In a full handicapped event, it requires only one bogie player to have a good day, let’s say shooting 83 for a net 65, and it becomes impossible for a scratch player to compete because they would have to shoot 64 to win.
Which brings me to one of my pet peeves when I used to play. I hated handicapped events and I hated playing in friendly games which were handicapped. When we would try to put something together for our weekend games we would invariably stand on the first tee and argue every day. The high handicappers would obviously want strokes and the low handicappers wouldn’t want to give them. One of my playing partners, who was also a scratch player, came up with the best line when asked by a high handicapper “what can we (the high handicappers) do to compete” he said “play better”.
My position in this ongoing argument was this….. “in what other aspect of life do you get special treatment because you suck?.....do you get anything special at work if you are an underachiever?, do you get anything special on your softball team because you are one of the weaker players?, do your hunting or fishing buddies give you the best spot because you can’t shoot or cast for shit?” This position obviously created a lot of good natured banter.
I am curious if you guys have these discussions with your playing buddies?
The USGA handicap system is predominantly designed to accommodate competition (read as betting) between players of dis-similar ability. The current system has flaws but it appears to be as good as it can be, given the task at hand. Here are some of the flaws I noticed during my competitive playing days.
#1 The system favors players of “consistent” ability and a handicapping system should not favor anybody.
EXAMPLE: Under the current system where your handicap is an average of the best ten of the last twenty scores, Player “A” who’s scores range between 72 and 90 due to back problems, or any other reason, and player “B” who’s scores range between 72 and 80 will have the same 3 or 4 handicap.
#2 It is virtually impossible to create an even playing field between scratch and bogie players in a tournament or organized event.
EXAMPLE: In a fully handicapped tournament or event made up of 20 scratch players (0 handicap) and 20 bogie players (18 handicap) the scratch players have literally no chance of winning. And in a non handicapped tournament or event the bogie players literally have no chance. In a full handicapped event, it requires only one bogie player to have a good day, let’s say shooting 83 for a net 65, and it becomes impossible for a scratch player to compete because they would have to shoot 64 to win.
Which brings me to one of my pet peeves when I used to play. I hated handicapped events and I hated playing in friendly games which were handicapped. When we would try to put something together for our weekend games we would invariably stand on the first tee and argue every day. The high handicappers would obviously want strokes and the low handicappers wouldn’t want to give them. One of my playing partners, who was also a scratch player, came up with the best line when asked by a high handicapper “what can we (the high handicappers) do to compete” he said “play better”.
My position in this ongoing argument was this….. “in what other aspect of life do you get special treatment because you suck?.....do you get anything special at work if you are an underachiever?, do you get anything special on your softball team because you are one of the weaker players?, do your hunting or fishing buddies give you the best spot because you can’t shoot or cast for shit?” This position obviously created a lot of good natured banter.
I am curious if you guys have these discussions with your playing buddies?
