Re: Handicapp changes for 2008

OK, for my 2c...

For me, an avid Match Play fan (regardless whether scratch or handicap), the basic tenet of our game still applies during a match.

That is, it is still me against me, striving to beat myself...

And...

If I happen to beat my opponent as well, then that's gravy....

That said, I also understand that a golfer needs to have a "Match" mentality, whereby they are aware of what their opponent is doing, but not paralysed by it.

As you stand on the tee box, you already know how many shots you have to hole out in compared to your opponent in order to win/halve the hole.

So, compete against yourself, not your opponent. That's what I do...

The other thing I'll mention is that I feel that where the strokes are given is also critical in the match.

Using Ian's example of a 3 marker v an 8 marker, if you are to play that match using the course rating index to give holes, then depending on the course you play, the 5 holes could be fairly spread out, or they could all be on the front 9, or they could be 5 of the last 6.

If shots are to be given on 5 of the first 9 holes, then one player is favoured, the higher marker. If the high marker doesn't get his first shot until the 13th hole, then the low marker is clearly at some advantage.

I believe this is why the Handicap Match Index was devised.

It allocates the shots given in a handicap match fairly across the course, regardless of any given hole's stroke index. From memory, the first 4 holes given are (in order) 8, 12, 4 & 16. If you are playing a match with a 8 stroke h/cap differential, the high marker will get a shot on 4 holes on the front and 4 on the back and on no two consecutive holes.

Pretty fair in my book...

All that said, for me, you still have to play well to win most matches.

For me it remains sensible to worry about your own game first, then take the result that comes in a sportsmanlike fashion...

Cheers

Re: Handicapp changes for 2008

Woh, hold on...............

I was only using a simple senario to point out that on holes 1 - 3 both a 3 handicapper and an 8 handicapper both have shots and need shots on these holes, but during a matchplay competition the 3 handicapper would loose his shots on 1 - 3 and instead have to give shots.

Which I still think is unfair...........!!!

I lost my matchplay first round this year against a 19 handicapper who played to about 7 which is in MY OPINION only is bl**dy impossible, not phisically but definatley mentally.

Why because 19 handicappers usually shoot around 89 on a par 70 course, too shoot 82 would be acceptable as a truely great round, which I would amire but not only to break 80 is a big mental barrier and the pressure builds when you are approaching it for the first time, usually just shooting a 79 and then slowly shooting 78/79 three or four times a season until the pressure eases...........this is how you end up being a 8 handicapper.

Not going out in a matchplay and shooting a 77 off 19.



P.S I'm not bitter


Ian.

Re: Handicapp changes for 2008

Well you should be bitter Ian; not with the handicap system but with at best an incompetant committee and at worst with a bluidy cheat.

Re: Handicapp changes for 2008

There is no defence for bandits, they are cheating.

I understand what you are saying Ian but the reality is that the most difficult holes are more difficult for the higher handicapper.

The other issue is that the low stroke index holes are not normally at the start or end of the course, at my course index 1 is on the 9th hole, 2 is on the 12th, 3 on the 5th and 4 on the 18th. Now lets say you are playing a 9 HC, he would have 4 shots, his first shot would be on the 4th hole, you would have had an advantage over three holes by then, his next shot would be on the 9th then 12th then 18th. I think you would have the advantage over him through most of the game.

Re: Handicapp changes for 2008

I still think you have to give shots on the toughest holes as being the lower handicapper you should be better equipped to deal with them. Essentially that is what the handicap sytem is doing , equalling things up on the toughest points of the course. As pretty much every where else things are pretty equal (in this 5 & 8 handicapper instance).

Now then "ringers" are something different. I've played people and given them loads of shots and halfway round thought "This bugger's better than me! and i'm giving him shots"

The old "Known play" rule should be used more. You get a lot of this sort of thing at most clubs i'd suggest but certainly at my club i've only ever heard of it used once, when someone shot a net 52 or something.

People get ribbed but rarely "grassed up" I guess.