What would your group make this golfer play to?

[needfasp3ed]

We have a 16 player Ryder Cup coming up in a couple weeks with friends where we are solidifying handicaps. We have one golfer who has only logged 8 rounds the last two years: best differential in those two years was 22, avg of best 2/8 was 24.  His GHIN shows 18.1 which essentially stems back from a single round over 3 years ago scored as a 13 differential (best ever).

 

How hardcore is your group? Would you make him play to 18.1 or would you manually calculate based on recent history? $100 buy-in for the full weekend if that changes any opinions. 

[Abh159]

If it were me, I wouldn't change any of the "rules" for one singe player. If you're using everyone else's current index then I'd do the same for him. If you make an exception for him and he happens to win a lot you might hear about it later on.

 

I guess the real question would be... Has he actually only played 8 rounds over the last 2 years, or is he just not posting his scores?

[needfasp3ed]

2 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

I guess the real question would be... Has he actually only played 8 rounds over the last 2 years, or is he just not posting his scores?

 

That's his total rounds played, got married and moved. 

Edited April 25, 2023 by needfasp3ed

[Abh159]

10 minutes ago, needfasp3ed said:

 

That's his total rounds played, got married and moved. 

 

Kind of a crappy situation, but I stand by just going off of his index especially if you are doing that for the 15 other players. I think that giving him more strokes just because he hasn't played much opens up a can of worms.

 

If you go that route you might as well throw in a few extra strokes for the guy who is going through a swing change, and also a few extra for the guy who has a sore knee, and maybe a few for the guy who hasn't gotten used to his new driver yet... I'm obviously exaggerating but I assume you see where I'm going with this.

[Dan Drake]

Yeah, I'm kinda a stickler on this one as well.  I dealt with it a ton when I was a Asst./Head Professional.  Men & Women who would enter an event and then tell me they only played 3 rounds in the last 2 years.  I guess you could make everyone play to their best differential to "even" things out, considering they play more golf and would therefore be far more likely to play closer to their best from the last few years than the golfer in question.

 

Easy solution is to pair him with the biggest sandbagger on the team so that it basically evens out, lol!

[charli]

You don’t change the rules for 1 guy. He should play more 

[MountainKing]

We do a yearly trip of 20 guys that's a handicapped event for a decent chunk of change.   First time players aren't allowed to win.   I guess you can view it as an initiation,  but it's also to prevent a new guy from potentially sandbagging the group. Might be worth a thought.

[Hawkeye77]

Didn't you all know that when he was invited?  If he has an index use the index the same way you are using it for everyone else or be prepared to start arguing about everyone else's "real" handicap.

 

Can't imagine if you are all friends he'd be part of the group if you all really thought he was some sort of sandbagger.

 

I understand the issue, but don't see the big deal.  Everyone has already decided they are happy to risk $100 as part of the experience, they shouldn't play if it isn't already dead to them, lol.

[Mr. Bean]

IMO, if the guy has only played 8 rounds in past years and still wants to spent 100 bucks for a fun event that is his choice. I do not see how he could be given benefit for not having played, that has been his choice as well.

[golfwb]

You could play the first day (if there is day money) then adjust everyones handicap but 1. that would be alot of work and 2. if its just $100 for the whole thing some people might throw off/not grind the first day.

Sounds like going in with the current handicaps everyone has is the easiest option. Have fun. 

[Augster]

Your index is your index. 
 

As said above, he made choices not to play more than he did. If he has an index, use the index. 
 

If $100 buy in means he’s not going to make his mortgage, he probably shouldn’t play. But if the $100 isn’t going to sink him, use the index. 
 

[Mitchell]

Anyone in my group that complained about loss to guy would be told by others in group “you would not be complaining if you actually played better” and that would end any debate, with hilarity ensuing.