Need some math help regarding handicaps in simulator league (possible sandbagging)?

So let me preface this with saying I'm not raising hell about this or fuming mad, I am just curious about the math and I'm not good at figuring out this handicap stuff out esp with the limited info. i have.

I play in a 'simulator league' at a local bar, something to get out of the house in the winter, keep the swing in check and have fun with a friend (2-man team's). This is not for millions in prize money or anything else. You pay for the simulator and $5 of everyone's money goes towards the league pot. There is a A and B flight payout. The first two weeks were not handicapped, the third week the bar calculates a handicap for you. You play 9-holes each week. Payouts are once a week, not cumulative or anything.

Now here is where my skepticism comes in. First off, for whatever reason they set the simulator to allow mulligans. We have never used them in 'competition' however the option is there. Secondly, no one watches you while your playing so you could take 1000 mulligans and I don't think anyone would notice. They set the round for the league rules and then leave you alone. Lastly, its the honor system, you keep score on a physical scorecard and then drop it in a folder for the bar to collect at the end and tally up the scores so in theory could record a 9 and mark down a birdie. The assumption is no one is an azz or that hard up for money. The bar could never keep track as you are free to play at anytime during the week as long as you get your round in before Sunday closing time. They would have to hire someone to monitor the three simulators all day long lol.

Finally the scores are calculated as follows. Lets say the 9-holes is a par 36. My buddy shoots 44 and I shoot 40 as we did last week. That combined total is 84, which is divided by 2 so our score is 42 or +6. You can have 'half strokes' too so a team could shoot a 42.5 which would be +6.5.

The first two weeks winning scores were +1.5 Flight A and +10.5 Flight B and -0.5 Flight A and +9.5 Flight B. These scores are not handicapped.

Fast forward to this week and Flight A winner is a whopping -14 and Flight B we actually won and tied with another team at +1.

My question is, without knowing everyone's handicaps and scores, just the league admin emailing us the winning team and scores...do you think Flight A winner is gaming the system? I just dont know, how even with a high handicap a team shoots -14 on freakin 9-holes but again I'm not good at the math to come up with a scenario where a person could shoot -14 with help from their handicap.

For what its worth I was calculated at +5 and buddy at +6.

Youd have to have them have 5 net eagles and 4 net birdies to accomplish that feat. A team that gets two strokes on most holes makes it possible especially if that mulligan thing can be abused.

Thanks sniper I figured it might be possible in real life given real golf is much harder, etc. but thought something was up with that score. I'll be curious to see the winners after this week

To add to the fact, the league tees off from the whites making some par 4s pretty short and some 5s reachable in 2. The biggest thing tho, gimmes if ur within 6 feet which I bet 75% of people miss putts that are 5 or 6 feet in real golf.

I suppose I’m always skeptical of ridiculous scores. I’m calling bs on this all day. If you are a 5 (assuming that’s an 18 hole index), in the 2nd flight, and the first flight is made up of better players.... there is no way the score is possible... (unless a certain North Korean dictator is playing). Let’s assume these guys are +2 as a team.... to shoot -14, they are making at least 3 eagles on 9 holes. When is the last time you saw anyone do that? Anywhere...

Let's be honest, this isn't really about competition.

This is about getting out, swinging the club with some buddies and the bar making more money.

Any "competition" aspect of it has to be pushed to the side and ignored, because there isn't any accountability.

Have fun and enjoy it, don't worry about the rest.

Lmao totally agree just wanted to back up my suspicions haha

And b halts I prefaced with that thought however a cheater is still a cheater and wanted to confirm my suspicions.

First, I’d never play for money in such a silly competition with no oversight and allowable mulligans. I’d play that league for S&G, but throwing money away isn’t my cup of tea. Even $5. It’s the principle of it. I’ll just give a guy $5 if he needs it that badly. I’m not rich, but I do have $5 to give out. But if I’m going to “play” for that $5, everything better be on the level or I’m out.

I think you should chalk the money up to “entertainment dollars” and just assume it’s gone. Kind of like going to a movie.

That said, it’s entirely plausible 2 GOOD players could each shoot -7 net over 9 holes where you are playing short tees, allowing mulligans, giving shots, and SIX FOOT GIMMES! One of my friends this year, in real life, as a 4 cap, shot a -6, 29, gross on our front side. That’s playing everything down and putting everything out. And a 4 cap isn’t very good.

My other friend, a +1 during the summer put on a ball striking clinic I’ve never seen the likes of outside of the pros. He had 15 birdie putts inside 6 feet. If he had 6 foot gimmes he’d have shot well into the 50’s. He only made 2 of the putts and shot 69. And this is with no mulligans.

A -14 is entirely plausible. 6 foot gimmes is horrible enough. They should turn off the mulligans.

If you do the math in your”+1” friend example, he he would shoot a -6.5 for 9 holes( I gave him all his birdies inside 6 feet) . That’s a far cry from -14 for 9 holes.

Also - read the post again... the two players didn’t each shoot -7. They shot a team score of -14. 5 net eagles (at least)and 4 net birdies. No pars. And these are in the “first flight” so it’s reasonable to assume they are getting very few strokes.

-14 in 9 holes = complete fabrication.

Guess you'd have to convince the bar to let you pay less for the simulator then...u pay the cost to rent the simulator, the bar takes 5 bucks of it and puts it in the league pot.

So glad I dont take ur advice cuz wed prob play regardless in the winter and we just won last week which inevitably will pay for, at a minimum, our round and beers tonight.