[SasortFkire]

Playing with a high handicap is not necessarily sandbagging.

If you're a 30 handicap and playing against someone with an 18 handicap, it may be frustrating to the 18 that they are giving you 12 strokes. That's giving you a stroke on more than half of the holes, and they are already playing at bogey golf. But, that's not sandbagging. That's just playing to your handicap.

Now, if you're a 30 and you happen to shoot a few rounds around 90 in a tournament, the term "sandbagger" will be flying around. In general, if you're shooting 10+ better than your handicap in a tournament, legitimate questions should be made about your handicap. I know it's easier to be 10+ under your handicap when you're a 30 than when you're a 10, but that's still an awful lot of strokes below where you should be playing.

But, as I said above, if you are just playing at or near your handicap and getting a ton of strokes, that's not sandbagging. Sandbagging is when you're playing well below your handicap and still getting a ton of strokes. The guy you were playing with just doesn't get the concept of a handicap system.

When this happens in the NCGA, they automatically penalize your handicap by knocking it down and it'll get listed with an R next to it. Example: last revision you were a 30. You play two tourneys and shoot way better then your handicap indicates, next revision you might see 21R. That R really stands out and tells a pretty obvious tale to the rest of the players. That's not exactly a good way to make a name for yourself.

[MgpojuWy]

It's probably somewhat unrealistic to suggest that a 19 handicapper play in the scratch flight. Adding the additional flight makes more sense. If I was a 19 and saw that my net flight was 19 and up, I would expect that unless I play my butt off, someone from the top end could easily beat me.

My point wasn't in reference to winning, at all.

My point is, if you're going into a tournament with a handicap, that's the way it goes. People who are 30 handicaps probably have a better chance of winning sure, but so too does the 10 vs the 1 in a flight that has handicaps 1-10 in it. Just because some dude is a 36 doesn't mean they don't earn the right to play in a flighted, handicap tournament.

[adarmaSen]

Just because some dude is a 36 doesn't mean they don't earn the right to play in a flighted, handicap tournament.

Agreed. That's what I said a while back. Everyone knows the format of whatever tournament you are entering. If you have a problem with high handicappers in the tournament then perhaps you need to choose your tournaments a little better.

[SashaLionx]

Doesn't sound like this is the case for him, more of a beginner that posted from the beginning, your handicap doesn't magically drop the second you improve it comes down gradually as he posts better scores.

I agree and without knowing all his scores can't make any opinion on him personally. But I am saying is that most people not knowing the situation would consider him a sandbagger. They won't know that he just started out and most wouldn't care. A 92 for a 31 handicap is impressive. I have an index of 14.7 and my average score is a 90.

[ViktorialHDY]

Isn't that the point of the handicap system? To give everyone an equal chance of competing. I don't have a problem with a guy getting 30 shots and winning. Like others said its the guy getting 10-15 shots throwing up 75s all day! I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're improving and enjoying the game. People will always have something negative to say when they don't win.


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[insightmike]

Just my humble opinion here, but it sounds to me like you're doing the right thing. You came in as a high handicapper, and are steadily bringing it down by consistently improving. Isn't the entire purpose of the handicap system to create balance and give everybody a reasonably equal footing?

Sandbaggers are people that game the system and intentionally keep their handicap high by either playing off or by only registering bad scores into the handicap system. Unethical at best.

+1, it sounds to me like you're going about it the right way and progressing in a route that has you winning but also getting better, that's an excellent combination. The "sandbaggers" at our course are guys who will post scores only if they're in the 90s so say they shoot a 80, they won't post it, but they shoot a 95 and they will post it.

The handicap system is a great way to even a playing field, only if the entire field uses their handicap they way it should, post everything!!!

[Fdhwzctl]

Well - perhaps the parking lot would be frowned upon. But on the putting green (and the course) you can settle it with your game..

That would the best way and as I get a little older, I'm getting my temper under control a little better. Coming from my rodeo cowboy background, we'd settle it at the trailers or behind the arena right then. Not the most gentlemanly way to handle the situation but we didn't let it fester.

[ttoothh]

As long as you're updating your scores and keeping your handicap current, you're not sandbagging. You're fine. Keep winning. Lol.

[effenseshoora]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but in our club you wouldn't have a friend. We have a guy like that here and he can't get anyone to play along with him anymore. When there is no money on the line he will shoot 105-115. As soon as there is a tournament or men's league he shoots 85-95.

Whether it is right or wrong, if you come in and play well above your handicap when money is on the line people are going to say things and when it is done on a regular basis people will just expect you to be a sandbagger even if you are not. It happens to often on the golf course and in bowling leagues.

It doesn't sound like the people at your club are very understanding, amateurs, which by majority we most are, could shoot a 79 one day and then a 99 the next, that's what makes us amateurs, but like I said before as long as all the scores are going into your handicap then it shouldn't matter what and when you shoot!

[Licacivelip]

I agree and without knowing all his scores can't make any opinion on him personally. But I am saying is that most people not knowing the situation would consider him a sandbagger. They won't know that he just started out and most wouldn't care. A 92 for a 31 handicap is impressive. I have an index of 14.7 and my average score is a 90.

You never know, the difference could easily be that the player didn't lose any golf balls. There is no way to tell why someone shot better than their handicap. Think about it, if a player usually loses 3 or 4 balls a round, or hits into hazards and has to take penalty strokes, has one of those days when he/she doesn't do either of those things, he/she could easily shoot 10-15 shots better than usual.

I think the people who just assume others are sandbaggers are no better than the people sandbagging. Too many variables to just claim something like that about another person. Just my opinion.