What do plus golfers do with their game?

[dpb5031]

Curious as to why you wouldn't keep a proper HC, assuming you're in the US? I don't understand the logic?

I agree about wanting to know that your game can travel, but your tournament/qualifier performance/results should take care of that measuring stick on it's own. Handicaps are for wagering or net competitions so that players of different abilities can compete vs. one another.

[dpb5031]

I think the difference is significant. You take these Tour guys and they'd be crazy low if they posted everything at the course ratings they play out there. The other thing is the pros are much better at holding it together for 72 holes.

I was a +1 much of last season. I'm 52 and started late so that's about as good as I've been and likely as good as ill be given age & injury. I play some state (FL) & county stuff but I'm honestly not really good enough to win against a decent field. I did reasonably well in Senior US OPEN qualifying last year considering the nerves, but knew it was a long shot. Still fun though...

In terms of playing against REALLY good players, I occasionally play money matches against a young pro who has had limited Web.com and now Korn Ferry status. He gives me 7 or 8 shots depending on the tees...lol...and I have not gotten the better of him yet. He recently fired a 61 on my home course (7200).

Really big difference

 

[MtlJeff]

What i mean is the indexes are irrelevant. I don't really disagree with what you are saying, Phil can shoot 68 at Grayhawk in a fun round or 64 in a US open. His index that he posts might be +6 or +7.....which doesn't sound too far off guys who are +5's and play at clubs all over the country, yet in reality those guys aren't half the player Phil or PGA tour player X are in a tournament situation

[DLiver]

This. Back in the day when I could play a little, I would enter the state competitions, plus some regional and USGA events. Got close a couple times to getting into the USGA Mid-Am and the US Am, but those days are in my rearview mirror now.

[dpb5031]

True, and at the TOUR level scoring average is a better measuring stick than HC. You've got to take it low when you're on, and hold it around par when your off.

Also, sounds like Phil is sandbagging as a +6...lol! Wonder if he enters ALL of his scores LOL? ?

[MK7Golf21]

You were a +0.6? This is your swing from another thread, right?

[Simp]

Uh oh.

[MtlJeff]

Yes it is, from this past year when I had that index in midsummer

[MtlJeff]

It's all good. People can think what they want. FWIW my handicap was 0.9 when I played in the Quebec interclub last year and that is posted on the golf Quebec website. The handicap for that event is taken in spring after qualifying.

[MK7Golf21]

Was really wondering, that is a swing of a 15-20 capper at impact. You stand straight up on both feet square and flip the club through. Pretty crazy that you are better than scratch

[MtlJeff]

And that was one of my good swings!

[tyorke1]

Its not a matter of not wanting to I should our association gets after me and I was on the board. When your a scratch and I have been for a long time it's not that important to me. I am still able to shoot in the 60's at times and let's say I played bad for a few weeks and I went to a 1 or 2 or 3, I would not enter a tourny at that. It's not an ego thing I have won 70+ plus events I have nothing to prove, I would never want to win a net prize and take a prize from someone because I entered at 2 and shot 67 let's say . or get put in a higher section then win. I like the lowest score wins . I play enough events that I can get a legit cp. Also I am not grinding through the week so is the handicap really legit. I play better in tournaments , most of my buddies don't want me in tourny mode all the time. I know bad logic maybe if my game goes south and I believe I am a legit higher cp I will pay more attention to it. I believe tournament players should use tourny's for there cp. This stops sand bagging and also stops guys that think there there a scratch and shoot 80+ in events and playing in the championship division.

[dpb5031]

You make some good points, especially regarding "grinding." The HC system stipulates that one's intent should always be to shoot the lowest possible score, yet we all know that at times that's not the case for many players. And I was not suggesting being concerned with net tournaments as a plus player, moreso money games with your club buds.

Still, I think its best we all adhere to the system as intended. I get what you're saying about "guys who think they are scratch shooting 80+ in the championship division," but the truth is that tournament course set-ups are often rated 75 or higher and a 0 HC only indicates that the player has the ability to shoot the course rating at any given time. Of course that same 0 HC also has the ability to shoot 5 or more strokes above the course rating on a bad day, so not unusual to see a bunch of scores in the 80s from low/zero HC players in tournaments.

[milesgiles]

I reckon you could take the best fifty thousand in the world, stick them on a random day of the year on Augusta, and you’d be pressed to see much difference between them.

give them a wild card in the actual tournament however, most will look like they’ve never played before..

conversely I can remember watching a pro chop it round the English Open at Hanbury Manor in the late 90s. He was a qualified accountant if I recall, and played like it. 3 majors later, nice career Mr Harrington..

[extrastiff]

awesome read , thanks to all. I’m a lot less excited about my last revision lol.

sounds like everyone at least tried their hand at some bigger tourneys. See if it clicks.

[J13]

Like you, I've played with mini tour and PGA players as well as top am's in the state. When i'm playing well and my game is sharp I have gotten down to +3 hcp. I've play/ed in state events, US Open qualifiers, and club championships, i've made cuts, competed and won a few championships.

Below is my quick breakdown in terms of what i hear and what i see with other people:

 

When i play with:

 

Normal, everyday players (hcp 10-20) - They make comments like "why are you not playing on tour or have you thought about going pro?"

My response - I"m flattered and smile but it's not worth arguing as they haven't played with professionals. Reality is i know i'm not even close to doing anything on a pro level except spend a lot of money and miss cuts on some random tour in Florida or North Carolina lol.

 

Mini tour / PGA Tour players - They respect i'm a good player but it's VERY VERY clear they are 10 shots better than me. My A game is there C/D game or Tigers F game.

My response - I need a lot of shots or we aren't playing for cash :D

[allparz]

As a Senior Am, you can play in a tournament most every week...(pre-Covid that is)...especially if you like to travel.

I belong to 3 state Golf Associations - play as many events as I can, travel to FL or GA to play national tourneys in the winter. Just a fun hobby, lots of good guys who do the same and you see regular...have a full time job in IT that doesn't depend on me being present...