Team Event Handicap Error - What Would You Do?

[squirrel211]

I played in a team event at my club this past weekend, Ryder Cup styled event with team matches on Saturday, individual matches on Sunday.  A particular individual, was given a handicap for the tournament that was 5 strokes higher than his normal handicap.  He's successful enough financially and as a golfer, for me to find it incredulous that he didn't realize a mistake was made by the club staff.  (In their defense, there are 3 guys with the same name at his home club.)

 

It was brought up to him during the Saturday match that he was getting 3 strokes from a 13 handicap, and he admitted he was an 11 handicap.

 

He never brought it to the attention of the club staff, and his team won the cup by .5 points.  He tied a hole on Saturday, with a 6-net-5 on a par 5, which gave his team a point on the front 9; had the other team won the hole with the par, they would have split the front 9 for .5 points each team.

 

If you were given extra strokes accidentally, AND it was pointed out to you during play, would YOU say anything? 

[milesgiles]

its on his opponent to check handicaps and calculate appropriately. Why didnt his opponent say something? The way youve told it doesnt make much sense, but if you know you are off the wrong handicap youve cheated and it will be reflected in your reputation.

[bazinky]

Yes, I would have bought it up to golf staff running the event. But I'm not a complete douchebag ...

 

I could see not bringing it up if your handicap was off by a stroke or two, since there could be some variation depending on the date that the staff checked the GHIN record. However, five strokes is simply too big to ignore. 

[david.c.w]

Yes I would have brought it up, I am also not a DB.  Why the heck did someone else not bring it to the golf staff?  Who informed him?  Why did they not protect the field?  Seems like a failure on the staff, the player, the partner and everyone else in in his flight that probably knows him.

[rogolf]

Why is "golf staff" doing anything about handicapping?  It is the player's responsibility.

And yes, this player is a DB and cheat for not correcting the error made by "golf staff", he should be banned from future comps.  Buyer beware!

Edited September 24, 2021 by rogolf

[Colin L]

 It is on the player to declare his correct handicap and it is the player who is disqualified if he declares a handicap that Is higher than it should be and that affects the number of strokes he gets.  See Rule 3.2c(1).     

 

The incredible feature of this story is that the player's attention was drawn to his "error".  What puzzles me is why, when he then didn't do anything, the matter wasn't brought up with the committee.

[Shilgy]

On 9/22/2021 at 8:21 AM, bazinky said:

Yes, I would have bought it up to golf staff running the event. But I'm not a complete douchebag ...

 

I could see not bringing it up if your handicap was off by a stroke or two, since there could be some variation depending on the date that the staff checked the GHIN record. However, five strokes is simply too big to ignore. 

Glad to hear you’re incomplete! 😂

 

And yes he is.  Some folks will cheat friends and fellow golfers in strange and mysterious ways.  How anyone can feel like they “won” in that situation is beyond me.