[streMunford]

I would just tell the club and/or members. I am assuming theses tourneys are "just for fun", and non monitary...
Maybe they will all be cool about it, issue over.

[offinoNem]

I'm not sure the bowling example is a good reflection of my situation. They are intentionally raising their averages. I continue using my driver in casual play to try and raise my comfort level and skill with it on the course.

I totally get that man, and I don`t think you mean to be doing it intentionally or maliciously, but your `casual rounds`affect your HC which you are using in your Tournaments. Your ability to truly score is much better than your actual HC and I can see why people would get upset. Perhaps play rounds every once in a while with your driver and don`t post the round. Then play casual rounds without your driver, and see how you score. I bet your HC goes down and this whole thing goes away.

[ReginaPerss]

I still dont get it. Not meaning to argue. But should that mean I play my driver all MC even though I know my 3w would be smarter in a lot of cases? I use my driver a ton during my rounds but may not in Florida. I'd hate to be labled a sandbagger. I really dont get this.

I totally get that man, and I don`t think you mean to be doing it intentionally or maliciously, but your `casual rounds`affect your HC which you are using in your Tournaments. Your ability to truly score is much better than your actual HC and I can see why people would get upset. Perhaps play rounds every once in a while with your driver and don`t post the round. Then play casual rounds without your driver, and see how you score. I bet your HC goes down and this whole thing goes away.

[eliniaguilefp7m]

What's different now?

If he were to leave his driver in the bag during casual rounds after hitting two balls OB and then starting hitting an iron off the tee, there would not be such a discrepancy on his posted casual rounds and tournament scores. By hitting "4-8 balls OB" playing a casual round his handicap is inflated. The OP is a higher handicap based due to being a very inconsistent driver. By completely changing his style of play in a tournament, his handicap is no longer an accurate assessment.

FWIW, I really don't think the OP is doing it maliciously, but I do see why he could be ruffling some feathers. Perhaps I should not have been so quick to judge him a sandbagger, but if he gets that little "R" next to his handicap, people will assume the worst.

[quack!]

Just go get fitted for a new driver.

[Gosxjqum]

I still dont get your line of thinking though. When you post scores after your rounds with your VR's to you have to justify what you used off the tee? Even if he is shooting his potential 50% of the time, what's it matter? No where have I read you need to disclose your club choice in order to maintain a handicap. How many times have we heard throughout this forum, leave your driver in the bag if its not working and go with your other clubs. What's different now?

Hey man, I don't disagree that if the driver isn't working, lock that sucker up, but there has to be some consistency.. We're not talking about him leaving it in the bag after a couple of errant shots during a standard round, we are talking about him locking it up ONLY when he's playing in some form of competitive game.

I record all of my scores and play competitive games exactly the same way I play my non-competitive games. I believe that consistency is paramount in maintaining relevant handicaps and when someone knowingly adjusts their game ONLY when playing in competitive matches, I feel that the legitimacy of that handicap is nullified, as it does not adequately reflect his capabilities on the golf course.

[QiuCIOdO]

I don't believe you are a sandbagger, but to me, you are violating the spirit of handicaps. I could go out and use only a 9 iron in all my rounds, shoot high scores, and decrease my handicap to 20, then go shoot a 78 in a tourney with all my clubs and blow the field away. "Heck, I'm trying to shoot low with only my 9 iron, but I just can't". How would that go over with your club? I understand the arguments from the people who are saying it's fine to do, but I just disagree. Your handicap scores should best reflect your overall game. You know your driver is terribly ineffective and still use in every round that doesn't matter. I would keep it out of the bag in every round until you can hit it. Don't ruin your business relations through golf strategy.

[ReginaPerss]

I'd probably quote my whole thought.

So if he is using his driver to try and work on it during a round, he should work on it during a tournament too? Why? it's obviously a work in progress. Most of us can agree the best place to get better is on the course.

This whole notion he is sandbagging because he is using what works during a tournament is just baffling. So you go into a tournament knowing your driving is piss poor, but you still use it because that's what you used last round? You're gonna do that?

If he were to leave his driver in the bag during casual rounds after hitting two balls OB and then starting hitting an iron off the tee, there would not be such a discrepancy on his posted casual rounds and tournament scores. By hitting "4-8 balls OB" playing a casual round his handicap is inflated. The OP is a higher handicap based due to being a very inconsistent driver. By completely changing his style of play in a tournament, his handicap is no longer an accurate assessment.

[DzjwMKo5]

Um, I disagree with the sandbagger labels. If he is honestly posting scores, he is doing nothing wrong. He is at a disadvantage length wise leaving the driver out during tourneys, and is playing smart golf. He is honestly working on his driver, how is he supposed to get better without playing it? Just guess what his score would be without the OB's?
I think you should make it known at your club what the deal is, and see how they react. If they want to adjust your cap because of this, I would just go along with it for now, and keep workin on that driver swing. Give them the option, and you wont have to worry either way.

He isn't though, he is feeling guilty about it because people, his competitors are up in arms and rightfully so. If he is honestly working on his driver, then why not use it the entire time? It's not fair in handicapped events because he isn't playing to his potential with nothing on the line and establishing that handicap that he's using when playing with something on the line. TrueFX seems like a good guy and I am sure he means nothing by it, but what he's doing is not fair in handicapped events and not what golf is about.

It would be no different than establishing a handicapped using ladies clubs and balls. I'm going to use the ladies clubs because I am determined to make them work for my game. I have a tournament coming up, so I am going to play clubs I know I can hit in the fairway and score sometimes 20 strokes better than when I am using ladies clubs and decide to play smart. When nothing is on the line, I am going to play ladies clubs...playing dumb (no offense). It's sandbagging in it's truest form.

Can't tell you how many sandbaggers I've come across in my life and the one common thing I have heard 95% of the time is "Round of my life" when explaining a 10-20 shot difference from their handicap (which is your potential for scoring, not your average score). When nothing is on the line, 10-15 shot difference. Bugs the crap out of me and I stopped playing in handicapped club events because of it. Let them rob each other, it isn't happening to me.

It's also why I stopped bowling in anything handicapped and only scratch. Your score against my score, let's go!

[Gosxjqum]

I still dont get it. Not meaning to argue. But should that mean I play my driver all MC even though I know my 3w would be smarter in a lot of cases? I use my driver a ton during my rounds but may not in Florida. I'd hate to be labled a sandbagger. I really dont get this.

What does the MC have to do with handicap sandbagging? Aren't you guys playing straight up?