Sandbagging golf buddy....

[ZA206]

I typically play with a group of 7 or so other guys that belong to private clubs in the area, and we rotate playing money matches at each others clubs. One of the guys is a really fun guy to hang out with and play with, but he is a confirmed sandbagger. We always play for money in this group and everyone is straight up about their handicaps except this one guy. 

 

I called him out on our text threads about it (there are probably 4 instances over the last 12 months where he shot mid 70's on a tough course and cleaned our clocks, but never posted the rounds).  In fact, we played at a really tough course in the spring and his differential in GHIN for the round was a +.3!!! He always blows it off and I seem to be the only one in our group who "gets" that he's sandbagging (none of them look at the GHIN app apparently). I look up his GHIN and his lowest posted scores are ALWAYS in the low-mid 80's.... that's BS!

 

He's like a 9 index in GHIN (I'm around a 3 to 4 index) and I'm typically giving him 5 or 6 strokes a round. I think the other guys in our group are all around 9-13 indexes so they think they are playing even with him or are still getting one or two pops off him and they seem to be OK with having their heads in the sand.

 

Anyone else have experience in this situation? I'm fairly confident that sandbagging is an epidemic at his home club (I've played with some of his crew there) and he's probably just doing it to even the playing field at his home course, but it's still BS.

 

I told the rest of our guys that from now on, we are deciding his handicap for him on the first tee and if he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to be a part of the money games. Am I being too big of a jerk on this? I don't feel like I am, but wanted to know the opinion of the hive...

 

-ZA

 

 

[DrDon]

No, you are not being a jerk.

 

Your "friend" cheats.   He does NOT have a legitimate handicap if he doesn't accurately post his golf scores.   

 

Your friend's golf club should have a handicap chairman.   Contact the handicap chair and report the details that you describe.   

 

I am a former handicap chair of my club.   I've seen some pretty disgusting behavior in manipulating handicaps.   

 

 

[caniac6]

Either he'd be gone, or I'd be gone.

[Krt22]

Just now, caniac6 said:

Either he'd be gone, or I'd be gone.

It's that easy. At the very least excluded from any handicapped money games. If others want to pay him that is fine, I would not.

[sekrah]

Yeah, seems pretty easy to tell him he's out of the money game unless he accepts to play off a 4 or 5.

 

[puttnforthe8]

You are fine...and furthermore, I would simply keep a separate HC for your games.  It's not that hard to do - there are apps for it; a simple excel sheet.

 

Use Grint or 18 birdies and score your matched in the app and use the HC generated based on only your games.

[Bob Cat]

Since you have the smoking gun, you have every right to challenge him.

 

Yep, guy's a cheater... and a thief.

Edited July 23, 2021 by Bob Cat

[Soloman1]

Did everyone agree that you should appoint yourself the czar and commissioner of the games? 😉

 

If other people want to give him their money, that's their business. Maybe you should just not play him and leave it at that.

[Laznasty]

If you and your friends enjoy giving away money, I'm a 12 handicap😉

[MPAndreassi]

1 hour ago, caniac6 said:

Either he'd be gone, or I'd be gone.

Yup. Unfortunately the only way to fix it is to not play in money games with him. 

[Murphy76]

 

Could I ask how much money is at stake? 

 

What's the buy-in?

 

 

 

[Rory4Pres]

I agree with the earlier post of keeping a running handicap of only the rounds the guys you all play together.  That way it's not pointing out him directly.  You can say your home course is too hard or easy or something if somebody asks why.

[snagy2000]

3 hours ago, ZA206 said:

I typically play with a group of 7 or so other guys that belong to private clubs in the area, and we rotate playing money matches at each others clubs. One of the guys is a really fun guy to hang out with and play with, but he is a confirmed sandbagger. We always play for money in this group and everyone is straight up about their handicaps except this one guy. 

 

I called him out on our text threads about it (there are probably 4 instances over the last 12 months where he shot mid 70's on a tough course and cleaned our clocks, but never posted the rounds).  In fact, we played at a really tough course in the spring and his differential in GHIN for the round was a +.3!!! He always blows it off and I seem to be the only one in our group who "gets" that he's sandbagging (none of them look at the GHIN app apparently). I look up his GHIN and his lowest posted scores are ALWAYS in the low-mid 80's.... that's BS!

 

He's like a 9 index in GHIN (I'm around a 3 to 4 index) and I'm typically giving him 5 or 6 strokes a round. I think the other guys in our group are all around 9-13 indexes so they think they are playing even with him or are still getting one or two pops off him and they seem to be OK with having their heads in the sand.

 

Anyone else have experience in this situation? I'm fairly confident that sandbagging is an epidemic at his home club (I've played with some of his crew there) and he's probably just doing it to even the playing field at his home course, but it's still BS.

 

I told the rest of our guys that from now on, we are deciding his handicap for him on the first tee and if he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to be a part of the money games. Am I being too big of a jerk on this? I don't feel like I am, but wanted to know the opinion of the hive...

 

-ZA

 

 

If I declare upfront, can I play in your game?...

 

 

[cbrwn425]

I agree with the others, either establish a handicap just for your group or tell him you're not paying a cheater. 

[Neo1]

at the club i use to belong to everyone was 3-4 strokes better than their handicap...it was a joke but peeps got along with it since EVERYONE was doing it and posting scores...like literally guys would blow up on 17 or 18 on the card so that they didn't shoot too low LMAO....until one day one of the best sandbaggers stopped posting scores, he got kicked out for it and so should your "friend". 

[RobotDoctor]

I really hate sandbaggers.  This says a lot for the lack of character and integrity of a person who has to cheat to win.  I will call out someone who is doing this.  If it is a friend and they don't see this is a total lack of character and integrity then they will not be a friend of mine very long.  Winners never cheat and cheaters never win (ultimately).

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[596]

I'd play him one time and then find another game, or don't play him for money.  It's why I don't play for money. Way too many cheaters.  It happened to me one time many years ago and it's the last time I put up with it.

[llewol007]

Im surprised no one is checking handicaps in a money game. The guys I play with always check handicaps.

[jomatty]

28 minutes ago, llewol007 said:

Im surprised no one is checking handicaps in a money game. The guys I play with always check handicaps.

He isn’t entering his scores so checking won’t help much. 
 

if you are playing for anything meaningful you need to bring it up with him and the other guys.  If they truly don’t care then you might be in a tough spot where you just have to choose not to participate, depending on how the betting is structured.  You need to make your case and see what the other guys say.  If they go way back with him or are really good friends with him then they may decide it’s not a big deal, and then you really don’t have many options other than not playing.  Hopefully bringing it out in the open in a serious way will make the group address it.

[mizuno player]

If the others guys don't seem to care change the game to two man teams and always take him. After awhile of paying you maybe they will say something. 

 

Like others have said. He's stealing money. And he's a friend? Not the kind of friend I'd want. 

[lefthack]

Handicaps are meant to be cheated. Your "friend" just sucks at it. Learn to hussle like a man and leave the handicap out of it. 🤣

[llewol007]

2 hours ago, jomatty said:

He isn’t entering his scores so checking won’t help much. 
 

if you are playing for anything meaningful you need to bring it up with him and the other guys.  If they truly don’t care then you might be in a tough spot where you just have to choose not to participate, depending on how the betting is structured.  You need to make your case and see what the other guys say.  If they go way back with him or are really good friends with him then they may decide it’s not a big deal, and then you really don’t have many options other than not playing.  Hopefully bringing it out in the open in a serious way will make the group address it.

Sounds like a guy I dont want to play money with if he is getting some strokes when he really doesnt need to. 

[Soloman1]

Most matches are won or lost before the first ball is hit.

 

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by Soloman1

[ZA206]

3 hours ago, llewol007 said:

Im surprised no one is checking handicaps in a money game. The guys I play with always check handicaps.

I check handicaps on everyone, as I’m typically the low cap. I’m the one who’s calling out who gets what, stroke wise. The others just nod and go with it. Including the bagger as his handicap in GHIN is BS.

 

ZA

[2bGood]

9 hours ago, DrDon said:

No, you are not being a jerk.

 

Your "friend" cheats.   He does NOT have a legitimate handicap if he doesn't accurately post his golf scores.   

 

Your friend's golf club should have a handicap chairman.   Contact the handicap chair and report the details that you describe.   

 

I am a former handicap chair of my club.   I've seen some pretty disgusting behavior in manipulating handicaps.   

 

 

Take care of it yourself first. Narc-ing him out to the handicap chair is a messy way to deal with a friend. 

 

If taking care of it yourself does work then look at escalating. 

[Whereismydivot]

No, you are not being a jerk. Nobody likes a S.B. 

Last year I played a team match play event with my friend against 2 unknown players who didn't even know each other. I was an 8.1 index and my friend was 11. We played against a 10 and an "18".  We kept waiting for the "18" to show up on the course.  He shot 74 (par 72) and was hitting driver off the deck on par 5's reaching them in two.  We were closed out on hole 16 after he "stroked" all day.  Needless to say after reporting him to the pro shop, he could never come back.  The other guy (the 10) was cringing and super embarrassed, apologizing profusely. He had never met this clown before.

I wouldn't feel any remorse reporting this guy you play against.  Or, just don't bet any money when playing against him.

[platgof]

23 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

Did everyone agree that you should appoint yourself the czar and commissioner of the games? 😉

 

If other people want to give him their money, that's their business. Maybe you should just not play him and leave it at that.

are you "that" guy?

[jomatty]

16 hours ago, llewol007 said:

Sounds like a guy I dont want to play money with if he is getting some strokes when he really doesnt need to. 

 I doubt about that.  The issue, as I see it, is the other 6 guys that sound like a good group, who are members of some good courses. If it was just the sandbagged the answer would be easy to just not play him or tell him what you are willing to give him.  Quitting a game with 6 friends is a little tougher, but it may be the only answer if the other guys are friends with him and don’t want to do anyth8ng about this.

[MtlJeff]

It's a tough one and a lot of it depends on how good a friends he is with everyone. I had a friend for a while (we're still friends --We just are at different clubs now) who was a sandbagger, not a blatant one ....But he was always a 3-4 index, and this was a guy who had won club championships at good clubs. I always felt he was a better player than me, and most of the time i was a 0-1.5 or so.

 

It DID bother me that he would take shots from me. But we were only just playing for beers. Eventually i just decided that i liked my friends enough that i'd buy this guy a beer 8/10 times.

 

The thing is, he is a really good friend in a lot of other ways.

[Soloman1]

2 hours ago, platgof said:

are you "that" guy?

 

A little too esoteric for you?

 

 

 

 

I'm sure you'll need to look that word up, huh?