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Gerald Leal
Handicap: 36
ny
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I've been an avid golfer for 7 or 8 years, am 55, and after having hacked around under the misguided tutelage of my hacker dad since I was 13., I got serious and started to learn decent golf at the age of 47. I'm blessed to say that my dad is still hacking at the age of 88 and still loving it.
My younger cousins, their spouses and some of their kids have picked up the game and we sometimes play a round together.
Here's the problem.
I took a couple of years of serious practice to get below 100 with an honest scorecard,a couple more to get to low 90's , a couple more to break 90 and now 7 or 8 years in am testing 80 on a pretty easy course.
When I play a round with friends or family- I know that they're in the 100 range -but between multiple Mulligans that they don't count, 4,6 and 10 foot putts being given to themselves, foot wedges..whatever our scores as written are almost identical.and as the usually insisy on keeping the score for all- it's all on the same scorecard.
I've searched my soul as to why this bothers me so much- I'm really not that competitve with them ,I don't think it's ego. I think that their liberal scoring de-values all of the hard work that I put in.
We're not in a tournament and aren't [playing for money or prizes-I hesitate to 'rain on their parade', I don't want to spoil their mood and prove a point-but I am bothered.
How do others deal with like situations? I'm interested in hearing.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,955
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In a friendly game with my usual golfing partner, we may or may not give putts from within a grip length but that isn't set in stone as we've all missed 12" putts so it's never a given. If we have a mulligan, it is ONLY on the first shot of the first hole.
To be honest, If I don't count every shot...it feels like I cheated. I still to this day remember the first time I ever shot under 80 for a round. I did that counting every shot I'd played. If I would have had a mulligan and a couple of gimmees in that score, I could never have had the same honest satisfaction at that achievement..in fact, I would have been gutted because I just could not have classed it as breaking 80.
So bottom line is...if you or your playing partners can say they had a great round scoring whatever and look in the mirror and convince themselves that they DID score that great round while ignoring the gimmees and mulligans...then...let them live with the satisfaction as they see fit.
Personally, I'm such a rubbish putter that any putt within 14ft should be offered to me as a gimmee. :)
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Steve 'The Powe...
Handicap: 21
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 288
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Interesting conundrum, one I have seen around for a while. It is a fine balance whether or not other people's cavalier accountancy should affect your own perception of your own performance. I am of the thought that as long as I am as honest as I can be with my own scoring then that is what matters most.
If the game is a social one then how other people score their match shouldn't impact on how I feel about my own peformance. I'm not overly compeitive (not even in matchplay situaitons) and always look for ways to encourage others to record their own scores 'properly'.
As long as there is no prize at stake I think it is better that people feel good about what they have managed and are encouraged to come back again...
At some stage we can all learn the value of keeping an accurate record - if nothing else than just to track improvements. I remember my first few rounds - and although we all kept scores it wasn't that competitive, we just went and had a good time - trying to learn to be better.
The danger is that without encouragement - bad accountancy habits may permeate when people improve,
Keep your pencil sharp and count your strokes after each hole... remember there's no shame in playing 10 shots at a difficult par 4 (the shame would be to write down a 6).
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Howard (The Ass...
Handicap: 25
London
Pro Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 52
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That's all true Steve but when they boast how well they played that rubs me up the wrong way.
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David Allchorne
Handicap: 16
HERTS
Pro Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 57
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remember there's no shame in playing 10 shots at a difficult par 4
The only shame being that you will be cheesing off your playing partners and other groups behind you while you finish the hole
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Steve Rawlinson
Handicap: 36
North London
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 91
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I don't normally even know what my fellow golfers are recording as their scores. (I've only ever played social golf, no comps.) Getting upset if they write down the wrong number has never crossed my mind.
On the other hand I'm a new golfer and I expect to be beaten. I am rarely disappointed.
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Roly Richardson
Handicap: 36
Berkshire
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Next time you go out, say that you want to test everyones ability in proper golf. Have no gimmies and you all write down each others score. Call it a true test of golf.
At the end compare and agree all cards. If you do this it may set a precedent for future games and remember, the handicap is there to level the playing field, but its always good to know gross scores before hc adjustments.
Roly Richardson
Handicap secretary
Sherfield Oaks Golf Club
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Steve 'The Powe...
Handicap: 21
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 288
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Hi Dave
Yes there is a risk that playing 10 shots on a Par 4 will annoy others... and I have always beleived in 'picking up if I couldn't score - stableford scoring' as well we all know there can be some amusing moments when taking that 10, Mine have usually been Hamlet moments from sandless bunkers... I have seen some wonderful examples though 5 shots in deep rough to move the ball an inch... and yes if there are people behind - pick it up and move on...
I haven't enjoyed a personal Hamlet moment for a couple of years but we have all seen others 'struggling to escape tricky situations'
Howard I agree with you - there's no joy to be had boasting about playing well when it may be based on spurious accounting practices.. I put my own memory lapses down to old age,..and only remember 1 good shot per round anyway...
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Steve Rawlinson
Handicap: 36
North London
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 91
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Steve 'The Power' Slater wrote: Mine have usually been Hamlet moments from sandless bunkers...
For some reason I picture you standing in a bunker addressing the four ball behind you, "Though this be madness, yet there be method in it."
Or perhaps, given the subject of this thread, "To be honest, as this world goes, is to one man picked out of ten thousand."
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TSG
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