Golf Forums - Leaderboard Handicaps.........

Not wanting to be a doubting anyones honesty in any way but does anyone else find the idea of someone shooting a 51 (off 24) quickly followed by a 55 (off 19) as credible?

I am sure the scores currently at the top of the leaderboard are all true but it seems a little harsh on everyone else, who have probably been working very hard all year at their game to reach 45 points, let alone a 50+ score.......

What does everyone else think? And is there a solution to this happening in the future?

Ian M

Those were my sentiments exactly when I saw the July leader-board, Ian. I suppose the only saving grace is that the 51 off 24 handicap calculation does give 19 (Providing the ´24´ was below 24). I would hope that the new handicap after the 55 off 19 was no more than 15.

Even playing off 15 with stableford scores like that is excessive - 15 would have given a stableford of 51.

I think on a real handicap adjustment through a club, the committee would be looking at least at another 5 shots off.

Unfortunately there is probably nothing that can be done on an open handicap system like TSG´s. You will always have these anomalies that just could not happen at club level. Unless of course TSG can put an alarm in place that brings the excessive point scores to their notice and THEY act as the handicap committee...

John B

 Big difference between TSG and a golf club awarding someone their first h/c.

At a golf club you have to submit three cards played with and signed by a another member, one of which should be played off the back tee's for a h/c.

Here on TSG you can post one score, witnessed by no one and get a h/c.

Phew - not just me then! Like the idea of having a alarm system for anyone over 50 points - that way the TSG team could then discuss with the player and perhaps come to an agreement!

I suspect in this case, the player hadnt played for a while and so started back at 28.

However, maybe on reflection he should be excluded from the leaderboard stats for July - harsh but fair?

Ian M

Whilst I dont condone cheating in anyway and dont want to start a witch hunt on this by any means, and being really new to golf I dont understand how handicaps are calculated in any case, and observation maybe that the player in question is a new member to site and therefore the points calculated are on a higher handicap than the players true club handicap. Thus indicating that he/ she has scored points than they did on the actual round? Before anyone goes casting any dispersions (and no one has to date, i accept) Is it not worth cheacking the players profile to see what handicap they consider themselves to be playing off, and if they are an experienced golfer who is just new to the site then i suspect they may have enetered their true handicap on thier profile.

However I do feel that the TSG handicaps do need to be considered for what they are, a free indication of how well your doing with your golf. I have only been playing 2 months and TSG have me as playing of 19, but no way would i consder myself to have got anywhere near the low 20's let alone 19 this quickly in 6/7 rounds of golf with only one round of 90 being below 100.

I do feel that if people do want to achieve a handicap (me included) then in the long run they will pay the money and achieve a club awarded handicap. However for a new comer to the sport the TSG option is a far cheaper alternative method of self motivation in bringing your scores down and keeping track of your progress.

sorry that turned out to be longer than planned! 

Lets put this particular scoring anomoly into perspective:

Played 30/6 and recorded a start h/c of 13
Played 8/7 and recorded a start h/c of 24
now plays off 12

Has never posted a score before 30/6 for handicap purposes.
You cannot chop and change your start handicap - that should only be down to the entry of your scores to do for you.

To play this way is to go against the basis for the game - the only person you cheat at the end of the day is yourself as others will end up refusing to play competitions with you.

A VALID certificate is possible from TSG, all you need do is put in three cards with the marker named and bob´s your uncle there it is.

There is a problem with this site, in as far as you are able to re-adjust you handicap, but this needs to be done only by the moderators, and you should have a very compelling reason for it to happen.

At the end of the day every player needs a legit and valid certificate, be they club player or social golfer

JohnB

Very well articulated John, I dont think anyone here by any means, wants to single out a particular golfer but when things like this occur, it can only help to improve the site as a whole for everyone!

I think the idea of fixing the entry point handicap is a good solution (with any changes to be discussed/sanctioned by the TSG moderators thereafter!)


Ian M

Seeing someone hitting it good on the range does not mean that much on the course.

I used to be a good 3 handicap (almost 2) but only play 2 or 3 rounds a year, as such I now suck and score around 85-90!  BUT on the range I still have the raw ability to hit drives over 300 yards at will, problem is I cannot get the ball in the hole - hitting on a range is EASY its not GOLF!

K