Golf Forums - I smell a bandit??

HI guys,

Firstly may i say its not that I bother about the stableford points where we can see where we have all come in after a weekends play, but I keep an eye on it a little bit. This week I shot a really great round and a whole three points over my handicap by shooting a +23 instead of my handicap +26 to achieve a great 39 points.

I thought I must be in the top ten at least......... well I must say there are some great scores there but come on 47 points???? ha ha....... its laughable. This guy must have either been playing a pitch and putt or there is some good old fashioned bandit action here.

answers on a postcard, because I am baffled....

Chris

Not necessarily a "bandit" score, Chris.
Last year I played 102 rounds - most were in the 30s, some were in the 20s, a few were in the 40s, and one (12 months ago) was 48! At that stage my handicap was 18 - 100+ rounds later it is 16.
Remember your handicap should be a reflection of the best that you can play and not the norm - paradoxically, the more that you play the more you have the chance to shoot the "perfect" round, even though your handicap will be more accurate than those who are only able to play less often.
Hopefully catch up with you during the season sometime.
Cheers.
Roger

Hi All,

Actually, we're with Chris in this instance but rest assured we already had noted this anomaly.

To be fair to the member in question, this score of 47 is as a result of him having just joined and him having set his handicap to 26 (He is now playing off 21.2). Of course, the system doesnt allow you on to the leaderboard UNTIL you have entered three cards - thus taking away some of the aforementioned 'banditry'!

However, the failing of the system is that once three cards have been entered then ALL those cards do become live. So I guess this is one for the Tech team to look at......

In the meantime, rest assured the scorecard in question here will not be included in the final table for March, so theres still a chance for others to win the illustrious White TSG Polo shirt!

We''ll add this task to the job list!

Happy Golfing!

Ian
-----

 I play in a golf society once a month at different courses all over Essex,I have been doing this for about 7 years now.
We play from March through to November and the trophies we play for are quite special,they are very keenly contested for and the day can be very competitive.
The winner of the day is decided on the highest stableford score,sometimes we can have as many as 40 golfers competing for the trophy.Everything is done fairly and the rules are strictly adhered to.There are no gimmies you have to hole out is one example,that way there are no arguments.
Over the years we have had some very high scores win the day up to 46 points and around 38-42 points is quite common.
If you do win the day your H/C is automatically cut by 1 shot and also by 0.3 of a shot for the points you score over 36 points.
This has worked very well for us,and if a high score like 46 points wins then there is no arguments.
The members H/C  adjusted after every society day,so its a fair playing field on the next venue.
The society was formed back in 1964 so we must be doing something right.
NO BANDEERO'S IN THIS SOCIETY
Jack

I see that Chris Wynn is currently top of the April leaderboard with 42 points!
What goes around comes around!
Well played Chris - pleased to see the recently improved scores.

well done Chris top of the leader board hope it stays that way for you.Seen your card as well,two
FOUR FOR FOUR POINTERS!!!!
keep it going mate
Jack 

Cheers guys!

Had a magical round yesterday in a competition through the SCC Golf Society. I came second playing off of 3/4 handicap which was 20. Quite an open course but still lots of water dotted around and got a birdie on a par 4 which was a first for me. Looks like all that winter golf is paying off.............

See you all in the season

I see that Chris is at it again - top of the April leaderboard now!

 He didn't win the "T"shirt for best score of the month,that was given to 2nd place,so his scores are being monitored by the TSG team.
His H/C has also come down 7 shots,as well.It will be interesting to see what happens in the months to come.
I keep an eye on the leader board,thats all part of aim to get in the top 5.It would be interesting if he was to play on the TSG golf day and see what card he puts in.
Jack

we win a T-shirt for top score do we? Interesting to see.......... Surely I must be in the running now?

Yes, what a few weeks do to your game. Played Cams and had a basic game, nothing special but hitting greens with my second shots and getting a tiday shot off the tee to make that happen. I hit 15 fairways and had a great short game day. I think I am playing nearer the 19/20 handicap position at the moment and this is now reflecting in my Social golfer handicap.(21)

The first time I have dipped into the 80's and at the turn I was +4, amazed is not the word. Trickier and longer back nine was not to the same standard but I was still pleased with a bogey and one par leading to the 17th. I hit the bunker for the long par three and a missed put led to a five. The 18th was a different story and I Mcilroyed the tee shot.... next shot in the water and it was going from bad to worse. An 8 was a difficult one to take after such a good round and I could have been in the low 80's...... not too bruised though as I am still learning and a first 80 is superb for the start of the season.

I am playing in a Competition at Silvermere on Sunday which is a bit tighter and trickier I hear so not expecting the same game.

Just because your playing a different course doesn't mean that you play the game any different.,if you can score 40+points on consecutive rounds wheres the problem.
It will be interesting to see if you post another score of +40 stableford points going by your last couple of rounds.
We wait with great anticipation of there being a new Leader on the board next week.........
There are 12 of us playing on Monday and I will bet a pound to a pinch of salt non of us will score over 40pts
let alone get to the of the leader board.
We all put our scores in no matter how good or bad we play,thats all part of the game.That way it does give you a proper playing H/C.
Come along and join the TSG golf day see how you fair against other members,there will no be no arguments if you win this day
"HAPPY HACKING"
Jack

Chris
 
I'll get straight to the point

25 Handicap on SCC

21 on The Social Golfer

your last 3+ round(TSG) you have scored above your handicap

last round in the 80's

Yeah no wonder why you finshed 2nd

I don't smell a bandit

I KNOW  A BANDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks Kevin,

Not sure what I can do if I am getting better and as the great Gary Player said "the more i practice the luckier i get"............

Another old quote from outside the world of golf once said"You can fool some of the people some of the time,but you cant fool all of the people all of the time".............
Can't wait to see how lucky you will be in your next game
Seems like you are drawing a lot of attention to yourself on the forum,hope you can handle it
As Kevin says straight to the point you only cheat yourself in this game.
JACK 

 Chris,
I am confident the original bandit you refer to was myself. 
There was never any intention of skulduggery or banditry. 

My history is that I have played golf for 15 years, mainly in corporate days and with the local pub outings 4 times per year. I was given a handicap of 26 by the organiser of the pub socials for the past year or two.
My son and I joined a club for the first time in Feb 2011. As this club will only issue handicaps on games played after April 1st I was eager to find out if I was playing near to handicap.
Being a newbie my agenda is for self-development by keeping an eye on my scores, not for being the top of a league.

As the admin chap explained, I based my HC as 26 and put 3 cards in. My HC was cut accordingly on the basis of these scores.

Let me assure you, my skill level is at such a level that I'll never pose a threat to you in your quest for TSG equivalent of the Augusta Green jacket.
I wish you well in your journey to be the best of the best..........

Please roll in the next bandit  ----------------------------- MR MICHAEL HARRISON

http://www.thesocialgolf...berprofile.aspx?id=19921


top of the monthly leaderboard

last 3 stapkeford scores 47,41,42

seems to shoot most of his scores in the 80's

send that man a TSG polo shirt

Trying to deflect the attention you created on yourself will not work.You have already caused suspicion about your own game.
Anyone else thought to be in the bandit category will also be bought to light by the T S G team.
I have seen all this sort of thing before in a society I used to run,you will always be caught out , cheats never prosper.
Jack.

Surely the same rules need applying to the TSG as to all courses regarding handicaps. You can put as many cards in as you wish, but they only count if verified by another member.

ie. No good going out and playing by yourself and including the card as for handicap adjustment. Perhaps the 'techies' can include that into the calculations.

I entered a score for a round played yesterday and had it allowed for handicap, but as it was not 'marked' by anyone, I unticked the box - I think the box should need you to tick it to ADD to handicapping, not have to remember to have to un-tick it.

At the end of the day if you are putting a score in, it is your conscience you have to deal with!!

jb

 You are right in what you say John in the respect of it being on your conscience, if you put in a card that you have marked yourself,if its not correct then you only cheat yourself.
Most of my cards that I have entered I have marked myself,this is the same as most of the guys I play with on the site.We mark our own cards and enter them,the same as I do if I have a round on my own.
We don't take it as serious as a golf club would in something like a monthly medal.
To me its having the trust in others to enter true cards.
My problem is when you can see someone who is entering cards on a basis and scoring 40+ every time and getting on the leader board 
These are the golfers in the T S G WHO ARE CAUSE FOR CONCERN
It doesn't matter if you play on your own(as I do) or in a society its your HONESTY at the end of the day that counts
Jack.

Probably want to win (Wynn) Something a white tee shirt for their efforts.
Jack  

Just so you all know, although the game was not arranged by this site and Phil is a reasonably new member I marked both his last two cards at Seaford,
As he did not have a h/ c  when he started to play with us we thought that 28 was about right for him based on previous rounds we had played with him. 2great rounds by Phil has lead to his H/c being cut to 23.
So well done Phil as we all try to reduce our H/c and I am sure he will be chuffed with his new one.
As for the TSG shirt I am sure that Phil has no Idea that there is one up for grabs.
Please don't let this forum get bitchy like some other ones .I am sure that alot of the comments are meant in a  funny way but prehaps not to the person concerned.
There I feel better now!!!!

"Hear, hear", Roger.
Just for the sake of good order, my comments on this thread have been made with my tongue firmly in my cheek!
Chris (Wynn) is an associate of mine and similar to Phil (Lyons) is a genuine high handicapper who is improving his game through more regular playing and experience.
Cheers.

Hi Guys,

well this has certainly spurned a decent golf conversation. The rules have always been a bit of a sorepoint in all forms whether major competition or just fun days with your mates.

I am pleased that the scores are coming down but well aware this will not carry on and looking forward to finding my exact handicap, I reckon it should be around 18/19 (if i keep up the practice).............

All I initially wanted was to get a h/c I could compete with. As it has been pointed out from Roger I was way off of this last year and hitting over 100 easily most rounds. So, glad to be jsut keeping it on the fairway and being fairly consistent with my iron play recently. (not counting my chickens though as we know what happens when you think you have cracked it!!! ;-)

well happy batting chaps and look forward to playing some comps on the actual Social Golfer, shame I have a day job really as I would much rather be out on the course on days like today. I still need to have a day job before getting good enough to capture that green jacket though heh David ;-)

I dont know ... anything to be in the top five LOL

In fairness, Michael has only submitted three cards and all are at Epping GC, which is a bit mickey mouse with a par of 68 and an SSS  of 66 (I believe). I have personally gone round in 4 over on this course, playing off 13.  It does take time for the handicap to stabilise, but is dependant upon people submitting ALL of their cards.  I would like to see a system where all participants in games organised through TSG MUST submit their cards, otherwise a decrease in handicap of ...say   0.2 strokes is incurred.

Good point Jack, but these people automatically have their handicaps reduced as a result of 40+ points. If someone has managed to get his handicap down to a level where he can't possibly play to it...he wouldn't get far in a comp., and would soon be found out.