[Fruriourl]

I've been playing golf for a year now, and at the urging of my friends, decided to join their club at the beginning of the year and start playing in tournaments. When I started, my handicap didn't even register...I was a 40+ (so 36.4). In the first few tournaments, after calculating for course slope, I was getting 40 strokes per round. Even with so many strokes, I wasn't coming close to winning....which I was fine with.

Then as I started to improve, I consistently was able to shoot better than my handicap. In our tournaments, it seems shooting a couple strokes under your handicap is usually good enough to be in contention. I've managed to win 3 rounds this year, but each time I won was with a continually decreasing handicap.

I won the first tournament getting 40 strokes. (Gross 108/Net 68)
I won the second tournament getting 36 strokes. (Gross 102/Net 66)
I won the third tournament getting 31 strokes. (Gross 92/Net 61)

Back to my point. On the driving range and in the clubhouse, I overhear a lot of chatter about sandbaggers. I hear a lot of the members talking about various tournaments where guys who were clearly better than their handicaps were coming in and winning the prize money. In one of the tournaments a gentleman who was paired with our group was noticeably irritated to find out he (19 HCP) was in the same flight as me (36 HCP). I ended up winning that tournament, and while he congratulated me, it was not without making several comments about my handicap and whatnot.

I don't really even care about winning....I would much rather get better at golf than win a tournament. In fact in two of the rounds where I "won" I was EXTREMELY irritated with my play that day....but because I played slightly better than my handicap, it was good enough for a "win". Further, it isn't as if I have won each time with the same handicap. In my defense, I have been able to win each time with a handicap that has dropped by 5 strokes each time. This next time I imagine my HCP will drop by another 4-5 strokes (putting me around 26 or so) making it even more difficult for me to win. Either way I feel bad about winning because honestly...I still suck! While my friends congratulate me and make a big deal, I really find it hard to actually feel any type of accomplishment for winning because I don't feel like my round was anywhere near as good as theirs and that the system is really flawed when somebody like me can go stink it up, topping balls, chunking everything, and still WIN?!?! Makes no sense.

So I guess my question is...what is the general consensus on super-high handicappers like myself playing in the tournaments? Do we even belong in torunaments? Are we spoiling it for everybody else in our flight because of our ridiculously high handicaps? In our club, they usually have 3 flights, and the 18+ HCP's seem to always go into the 3rd flight. I almost never see an 18 handicapper winning the 3rd flight...seems to always be a low-30/high-20 who takes it. It's almost like 30+ should be in their own flight.

Anyway, I just wanted to throw it out there. I hear all the complaints about sandbagging and I can't help but think these people are talking about ME. After the round, it's common for everybody to hang out in the clubhouse and watch scores get posted on the big leaderboard and most of the time I'm glad most of these guys don't know my name!

[fajerdoksdsaaker]

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.

[DoctorDulitlBest]

i second Shark...you're doing it the HONEST way...at least you didn't show up to the tourney with a 16 handicap and shoot scratch...that's when ppl should be talking...you're a 30 handicap...if you put together one good round of putting/driving you can easily get under a 20...

[Civilrecordzz]

Do you belong in tournaments? Of course you do! If the tournament has a format which is applicable to your handicap then by all means you should enter and the people doing the complaining are the ones that shouldn't have entered in the first place.

Sometimes, higher handicappers do have an advantage, especially when they get 2 strokes on a par 3! That's just the nature of the game though. If people have a problem with it, then they shouldn't play in net scored tournaments.

You will always run into sandbaggers. That's pretty much unavoidable.

[GutleNus]

Sandbaggers exists in every individual based sport. I've seen many a bowling league tipped by a Sandbagger. Where golf differs is that the formula may be consistent but it's less of an average and is based solely on the lowest rounds/scores posted. They consider it a measure of potential rather than straight average base.

Some golf tournaments I have played in try to levy that by using a percentage (75% seems very common) of a players handicap.

Where those 18-20 handicappers are probably getting shorted in the tournament is (this is a guess but sort of where I am at the moment) they have a couple of Better Than Normal rounds posted that influenced the handicap but they aren't playing to that score consistently yet (yup. That's me).


Tapped from my i.trash

[Fouttysotlalf]

I don't think you are doing anything wrong here. Your handicap is steadily decreasing as you play more golf, which is normal. I'd just keep playing golf and let the other people think what they want. As long as you know your not a sandbagger that's really all that matters.

[jinnamys]

Keep playing and keep winning. Another name for Sandbagger? WINNER! No matter what your handicap becomes there will always be people that whisper sandbagger. I gives them an excuse for not winning.

[Unakjyfk]

Not only do you belong in tournaments but the people complaining about you sand baggig shouldn't be in the tournaments if they can't handle it. I'm not one to sit back as someone says something about me. Me personally, I would go up to these people, explain yourself, if you want, show them your hcp history, and if they don't like it, then tell them to pound sand. Just my opinion however.

Dan

Sent via Tapatalk on my Samsung galaxy s3

[EntectCelpelm]

Sandbagging and reverse sandbagging suck.

[thierabess]

I, for some reason, have never played in a tournament with handicap adjusted scoring. I don't know how I have avoided it, its pretty weird.

I wouldn't have a problem being in a flight with someone with a handicap higher than mine however. Everyone has good days, and bad days. If your handicap is your actual handicap, then I have no issue giving up strokes.

I would take issue with having to give strokes to someone I know is a better player, who submitted an incorrect handicap for the sole purpose of being given those extra strokes.

[Thomas12400]

Sandbagging and reverse sandbagging suck.

if someone wants to reverse sandbag me...i'll gladly take their money.

[anconueys]

Sandbagging and reverse sandbagging suck.

Why does reverse sandbagging suck?

[illetrygrargo]

Being a high handicapper myself, I see nothing wrong in what you're doing. You have an honest handicap, play to the best of your current ability and are progressing (getting better). You are also playing within the same set of rules as everyone else. It doesn't get any more fair than that.
Personally, I'd gladly direct them to my posterior and ask them to pucker up. Talking trash is fine and part of competition but I will not stand for it to be done behind my back, you got a problem let's talk about it.
My attitude about such things is lowly changing as I get more into golf and learn that settling it on the putting green or parking lot is frowned upon.

[mitiaycatq]

My attitude about such things is lowly changing as I get more into golf and learn that settling it on the putting green or parking lot is frowned upon.

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

[Twelearly]

Sandbagging is why I quit league bowling. It sucked to play the best team in the league the first week and watch them throw gutter balls once they had the win locked up so their handicaps would be higher.

[reervieltnope]

So I guess my question is...what is the general consensus on super-high handicappers like myself playing in the tournaments? Do we even belong in torunaments? Are we spoiling it for everybody else in our flight because of our ridiculously high handicaps? In our club, they usually have 3 flights, and the 18+ HCP's seem to always go into the 3rd flight. I almost never see an 18 handicapper winning the 3rd flight...seems to always be a low-30/high-20 who takes it. It's almost like 30+ should be in their own flight.

It's flighted.. The best case would be adding an additional flight, and the worst case would be that complainer getting better and getting out of the bottom flight.

The handicaps are there for a reason. If he doesn't like it, he can play in the scratch flight.

[Pheddytrourry]

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.

[expabsPapsgag]

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.

[lammaredder]

It's flighted.. The best case would be adding an additional flight, and the worst case would be that complainer getting better and getting out of the bottom flight.

The handicaps are there for a reason. If he doesn't like it, he can play in the scratch flight.

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.

[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.