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**bdbl** · 04-09-2008, 05:31 AM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by slater170 View Post

cheers bill
not played to my handicap for a little while but got plenty of practice lined up so will get back in the groove pretty soon

I'm not sure that anyone has been playing to their handicap with the recent weather and course conditions - at least that's my excuse

Also, off topic a bit and wrong forum I know but it would be interesting to know how 3-Skillers are doing this summer in comparison to to last. For the sceptics out there I guess a consistent reduction in scores & handicap across the board would be pretty clear evidence that it works.

**BrianW** · 04-09-2008, 08:30 AM

Re: 1st ever singles match

One other thing Slats: As it's a Gentleman's game it is common practice to offer a "Pick it up" if your opponent's ball is a very short putt or you have no chance of winning the hole, it keeps the game moving on and friendly. Mind, if the hole depends on the putt then its perfectly OK to make him putt it.

**Neil18** · 04-09-2008, 09:18 AM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by bdbl View Post

Not so Neil, or at least not according to the SGU "Myths & Misconceptions" article from which the following extract comes.....

Myth …..

“It is unfair in singles match play to require the lower handicap player to concede full handicap difference to his opponent. Three-quarters of the difference was more equitable.”

Numerous researchers and golfing bodies including the United States Golf Association, English Golf Union and Scottish Golf Union have investigated the relative merits of full versus three-quarters difference in handicap.

All of these independent pieces of research have come to a single conclusion – full difference between the handicaps of the two players is clearly the more equitable allowance.

A Scottish Golf Union survey covering 4000 handicap singles matches showed:

¾ Diff. Full Diff.
Matches won by lower handicap player 61% 55%
Matches won by the higher handicap player 39% 45%

From the above it can be seen that even when conceding full difference the lower handicap player retains an advantage.

To further explore the significant advantage given to the lower handicap player by limiting the handicap allowance in match play to ¾ of the difference in handicaps, a handicap match play event with a large entry was analysed in detail.

The following table tracks the representation, and hence performance of players in respect to Handicap Category at various stages of the competition.

Err due to my inability to insert the table here's the link to the full article.

http://www.scottishgolfunion.org/ind...TOKEN=95724346

I stand statistically corrected!

I think my issue comes out of the specific guy I'm playing. He's been playing off 17 but had tons of lessons and practice over winter so he's starting the new season playing off about 10, with a handicap of 15.

Ringer!

Still, his ar$e is mine when we play "proper golf" off scratch!

**bdbl** · 04-09-2008, 10:42 AM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by Neil18 View Post

I stand statistically corrected!

I think my issue comes out of the specific guy I'm playing. He's been playing off 17 but had tons of lessons and practice over winter so he's starting the new season playing off about 10, with a handicap of 15.

Ringer!

Still, his ar is mine when we play "proper golf" off scratch!

Ah that's a totally different problem

Actually (despite being a high handicapper) I used to think like you until someone else posted the stats on here a good while ago.

It seems that full difference evens the match up - as it is meant to - but the lower cap player still has the edge, albeit less of one, because he is well a better player. As it says in the article a more vigilant handicap committee should have given your guy a general play reduction (or two) by now - unless your match is the first opportunity for them to see the improvement in which case all I can say is rise just rise to the challenge like the "pro" you are

**Neil18** · 04-09-2008, 11:48 AM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by bdbl View Post

Ah that's a totally different problem

Actually (despite being a high handicapper) I used to think like you until someone else posted the stats on here a good while ago.

It seems that full difference evens the match up - as it is meant to - but the lower cap player still has the edge, albeit less of one, because he is well a better player. As it says in the article a more vigilant handicap committee should have given your guy a general play reduction (or two) by now - unless your match is the first opportunity for them to see the improvement in which case all I can say is rise just rise to the challenge like the "pro" you are

Oh I fully intend to give him a run for his 10 shot money, Robin!

I've gotta get up early in the match though. Put the wind up him, so to speak. Make him do stuff he doesn't need to.

I'm hoping that if I hit fairways and greens and sink the odd putt he'll get flustered and forget about his shots. I want him chasing the game from about the 8th. The alternative is that he plays somewhere near his "new" handicap and I may find myself coughing in his backswing, alongside some vigorous use of the ball washer during his putting stroke!

Unfortunatley our commitee has decided to postpone rule 19 adjustments until the new course yardage has been used for 6 months (lots of changes going on).

**qassim** · 04-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by BrianW View Post

Mmmm! Handicaps are there for the purpose of creating a level playing field between golfers irrespective of their skill. So it seems to me that full difference is the correct procedure.

I know it seems difficult for low handicappers but the 3/4 system was sometimes hard for higher handicappers. I know when I started playing and was drawn against say a 5 HC, I may have had say 12 shots but sometimes depending on the stroke index you may not get a shot until the 4th or 5th hole and by then be under a lot of pressure.

My understaning of the reason for the 3/4 handicap was to make allowances if you were playing off the non-competition tees (i.e. if you were playing off yellows instead of whites). If you are playing off the white tees then full handicap should be allowed.

**Scragger63** · 04-16-2008, 10:05 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Well Slat's...

How did your match go...???

Or have I missed a post somewheres...???

Cheers

**slater170** · 04-16-2008, 10:33 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by Scragger63 View Post

Well Slat's...

How did your match go...???

Or have I missed a post somewheres...???

Cheers

hi scraggs
no you havent missed anything, had to re-arrange due to weather.
got in 18 holes tonight as a recce mission

playing off the yellows i shot a gross 85 nett 63, 44 out and 41 in for 43 points (13 points scored on holes SI 1-4)

did everything really well especially driving 232yd average with little or no roll, hit some solid FW;s irons, short game and putting sound!

shame i was too late to enter the rollup but glad to get a return to form

**GreeBoman** · 04-17-2008, 12:02 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Originally posted by bill reed View Post

hi slater
how often do you play to par with your handicap, i know i can play to my handicap or better eight out of ten times on my course.

With the greatest of respect, that means your handicap is too high.

It is supposed to be hard to play to your handicap, not easy. 80% success is to high in my opinion, especially when you add the buffer zone into it.

Why are you not getting cut? Do you not play in any singles competitions?

**slater170** · 05-16-2008, 10:25 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

roll on the second round! :thumbup:
what an experience!
started off in the worst possible fashion sh*nking my tee shot on the par3 1st onto the fringe of the 17th green

1 down
halve the second with a solid 10ft putt
won the 3rd with a good 5
halve 4 + 5 after some mediocre shots
lost the 6th after 2 duffed chips
7th and 8th halved
lucky bounce on par3 9th and a good putt wins the hole and we are all square at the turn
solid drive and 3 wood onto green wins the 10th
lose a s****py 11th hole
5 iron and a sound chip secures the par 3 12th
we halve the 13th and then 3 solid holes for me and ive won the match 4&3
lucky to have played badly and still got through
can play better and will!

**Scragger63** · 05-18-2008, 10:17 PM

Re: 1st ever singles match

Congrats Slats...

Nice to win when you've played less than your best...

Cheers

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