Do people you meet ask "Hey, what’s your handicap?” when you meet them and mention you play golf?

[Ferguson]

29 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

 

I like to read old threads and see if i ever contradict myself

 

Generally my sense is that i was funnier 10 years ago. 

 

I was looking for that and found several examples, not from you specifically.   It's not my place to call those people out.  They know who they are and the "web of contradictions" they weave. 

 

The posts were generally of higher quality 10 years ago.  

 

 

 

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, Ferguson said:

 

I was looking for that and found several examples, not from you specifically.   It's not my place to call those people out.  They know who they are and the "web of contradictions" they weave. 

 

The posts were generally of higher quality 10 years ago.  

 

 

 

 

If i ever i contradict myself i'm just quoting Jay 

 

"Those comments were made with the information i had at the time"

[Barfolomew]

Cause its a different conversation if talkin to a chop or a stick

[Ferguson]

I will provide a complete analysis of the posts of 10 years ago, compared to today.

 

The most important observation is that no male golfer was wearing Capri pants.  

[Pepperturbo]

3 hours ago, nsxguy said:

Then again, I'm fairly sure we've traveled quite a different path so,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Most likely.

 

Here in SOCA, certain pvt and public courses have good golfers and celebrity golfers teeing off at 6-7am before the crowds.  Typically, when checking in I would list myself as a walkon single.  If certain people were in the Q, waiting, the Pro or starter asked my index and maybe what I did for a living, so as not to put the wrong people together.  Some of those same courses, several players asked for my index on the first tee, hoping to get a game.  Celebrities don't want to play with hacks or with people that get all gaga over their notoriety. 

 

That's happened to me in Scottsdale at some high profile pvt clubs, and Maui too.  That's how I've met and subsequently became friends with a number of professional athletes, including a Superbowl QB, a few LPGA players, and Champions tour players.  At one course, that's how I ended up playing in a $$$ skins game for ten years, and how I ended up playing in a number of pvt club Calcutta's.  A side benefit of being a -2, a CEO and maybe how I carry myself.  

 

 

[hahanice]

I didn’t grind and grind to become good at golf as an adult because I love to play… I did it so that I could impress other middle aged men when they asked me my handicap.

[2bGood]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:38 PM, caniac6 said:

I play with a group of about 20 guys, most are pretty good players, and I have no clue what anyone’s actual handicap is.

The opposite here. We play some kind betting game and mix and match players. Everyone roughly knows everyones index and will not if someone went up or down. 

 

On 10/19/2023 at 8:47 AM, david.c.w said:

Honestly I think that knowing this information will be able quickly understand how much the person wants to talk about golf and golf related things like equipment, courses, travel, accessores and stuff like that.  If the guy says he is a 5 I may ask him if he has any golf related travel coming up, or mention that October is awesome golf weather..  If he says he does not have a handicap and shows little interest, the golf chatter will be kept to a minimum. 

 

I know loads of golf nuts, that play massive amounts of golf with higher handicaps. The fact someone keeps a handicap and know their index without looking it up is my signal they may really be in to golf ad not just a casual player who get out every now and then.

 

14 hours ago, cardoustie said:

It’s a loaded question I’ve found over the years

 

recently down to 0 and get asked all the time, even strangers in airports

 

the thing is you’re usually met with disbelief, even when I was off a 2 or 3.  When you answer you get “are you a pro” or “why didn’t you turn pro?”  Now your stuck with the whole 0 isn’t good compared to pro’s etc etc

 

when you play with a stranger I’ve had two experiences, they can’t believe you’re a 2 if you’re shooting 77 and sometimes they’re shocked on hole 15 when asked. … even if you’re 2 or 3 under … “ oh I thought you were a 5 or 6”. Even though they play off 8 and are 10 over with 3 to go

 

I play with some clients once per year that always rave about why I have not ever thought about going on tour as I am the best golfer they have played with. The day they got really excited was when I shot 76 from 6500 yards with them. When you shoot 120ish normally, 76 looks REALLY good. 😊 The other funny part is they also always think I must have shot under par despite me being in the mid to high 70's.

[RoyalMustang]

On 10/20/2023 at 2:40 PM, Pepperturbo said:

Most likely.

 

Here in SOCA, certain pvt and public courses have good golfers and celebrity golfers teeing off at 6-7am before the crowds.  Typically, when checking in I would list myself as a walkon single.  If certain people were in the Q, waiting, the Pro or starter asked my index and maybe what I did for a living, so as not to put the wrong people together.  Some of those same courses, several players asked for my index on the first tee, hoping to get a game.  Celebrities don't want to play with hacks or with people that get all gaga over their notoriety. 

 

That's happened to me in Scottsdale at some high profile pvt clubs, and Maui too.  That's how I've met and subsequently became friends with a number of professional athletes, including a Superbowl QB, a few LPGA players, and Champions tour players.  At one course, that's how I ended up playing in a $$$ skins game for ten years, and how I ended up playing in a number of pvt club Calcutta's.  A side benefit of being a -2, a CEO and maybe how I carry myself.  

 

 

 

"what you do for a living" coming from a starter: I’d like to hear more about that! What jobs/industries say that “this guy will be an annoying/awesome playing partner?” 

Edited October 22, 2023 by RoyalMustang

[nosedive32]

Maybe a quarter of people will ask for a handicap. Most just ask what I usually shoot. 

[mshills]

18 hours ago, RoyalMustang said:

"what you do for a living" coming from a starter: I’d like to hear more about that! What jobs/industries say that “this guy will be an annoying/awesome playing partner?” 

 

That's funny, can't believe that actually happened.  Starter or pro or really anyone I don't know asks me what I do for a living out of the blue, I'm going to say "this!" or maybe "nothing....I don't *do* anything."

[naval2006]

I think the handicap question is from a non golfer to a golfer usually.  If two golfers meet there are a lot of things to talk about before the what's your handicap thing.   

[RayGorman]

Not often. I don't carry one anymore- I don't chase numbers, just get out to enjoy myself and try and get a glimpse of past ability when I was carding an 8. 

 

My typical response is "14, unless I leave the 3 Iron out, then 13..." or something similar. I could tell people "I'm a 15", then go out and bang a 78 or something. Or say, "I used to be an 8 many years ago..." and drop an 85. 

[Long_Left]

On 10/18/2023 at 1:13 PM, Pepperturbo said:

IMO, when someone asks for my handicap, they likely don't know about golf.  They should ask my index because handicap varies per course rating.  Someone talking about golf to someone who is actually good at golf could make them look stupid.

 

Recently, a total stranger said to me, he was a spec ops guy, and suggested he had related agency connections.  I looked at him and said, you're full of Sh**.  NOBODY who's been involved with black ops and agency activities, talks about them, much less to a total stranger.  

Had this happen to me on Sunday at the F1 race, we were relaxing in the shade off a walking path and a guy (employee of the track watching a gate) walks up and starts chatting with us, first thing out of his mouth is "I'm here undercover." and I nearly spit my beer out.

[isaacbm]

On 10/20/2023 at 11:45 AM, MtlJeff said:

 

I like to read old threads and see if i ever contradict myself

 

Generally my sense is that i was funnier 10 years ago. 

You were funnier 10 years ago… 

[MtlJeff]

1 hour ago, isaacbm said:

You were funnier 10 years ago… 

 

It's true. I should have left way sooner. 

 

"Die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain"

[dugue4]

5 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

 

It's true. I should have left way sooner. 

 

"Die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain"

Look at the positive.  You’re funnier now than you will be 10 years from now. 

[iknowbagu]

On 10/18/2023 at 5:36 PM, Nard_S said:

The ''dudes''. The guys that can really play will never discuss index. Ever. I've asked and they don't answer, lol. 

 

This. My default answer is "I can play a little bit". 

 

"What's your cap" and "what's your lowest score" are generally (but not always) asked by very casual players. I don't know about you guys but I can clock other serious golfers from a mile away. And serious golfers are not the ones asking these kinds of questions. How many recreational players have ever even played with a legit single digit, let alone scratch or better? Not many. They don't even have a frame of reference. The questions are nothing to get worked up over, it's just small talk, but that's why a lot of us are just better off being somewhat nondescript to simply avoid going down the rabbit hole.

 

I think we sometimes forget that WRXers are the extreme minority. We're the psychopaths. How many of us actually exist out there in the wild? It's really not many and that's why we all gravitate here, because we're all serious about the game and we can have much different conversations here than we can with recreational players. 

 

(Point of clarification, I do not necessarily equate serious and good. Sure, there's some correlation there, but I know plenty of serious golfers who play to an 18+. And I'd classify almost anyone with a WRX account as serious.)

[dugue4]

If I do ask someone a small talk golf question its, "Do you have any hole(s) in one(s)?"

[st1800e]

9 minutes ago, dugue4 said:

If I do ask someone a small talk golf question its, "Do you have any hole(s) in one(s)?"

I never ask that, as I’ve had a few, and that turns into “odd” conversation.  

[rgk5]

Not once in 58 years have I been asked.

[st1800e]

3 minutes ago, rgk5 said:

Not once in 58 years have I been asked.

Hi, what’s your handicap? 

[MountainKing]

Always thought it was odd myself and I rarely answer it with what it is.  I could careless what your handicap is, what I really want to know is are you fun to hang with for a round.

[phizzy30]

Nope.  Never.  Really good/elite golfers usually talk about anything and everything but golf.  They let their game do the talking.  I find that golfers that talk excessively about their handicap and/or distance are narcissists who are insecure about themselves.  They tend to be vanity cap golfers and want to sword fight everyone.  

Edited November 24, 2023 by phizzy30

[NoTalentLefty]

Not my group , they talk score not Hcp . Seems to go over their heads when you mention that tee choice gives you different amount of strokes. But actually we allow a mulligan and don’t play stroke and distance. Our money games don’t even matter. Birdie and closest to the pin on par 3s pay money but not given if a mulligan is used.

[bladehunter]

Just say “ about a 15 , how much money did you bring ?” 😂.  

[TiScape]

7 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Nope.  Never.  Really good/elite golfers usually talk about anything and everything but golf.  They let their game do the talking.  I find that golfers that talk excessively about their handicap and/or distance are narcissists who are insecure about themselves.  They tend to be vanity cap golfers and want to sword fight everyone.  

Kinda pertains to a lot of ppl in the world in general. 

[TiScape]

Question: What’s your handicap?

 

Me: Low self esteem 

[phizzy30]

Just now, bladehunter said:

Just say “ about a 15 , how much money did you bring ?” 😂.  

I didn't take you to be the sand bagging type, lol.  All jokes aside, I'm using that line next time someone asks. 

[phizzy30]

Just now, TiScape said:

Question: What’s your handicap?

 

Me: Low self esteem 

Question: What's your handicap?

 

Correct answer: That's a clown question, bro. 

 

I bet you know who I'm quoting.  😉

[bladehunter]

40 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

I didn't take you to be the sand bagging type, lol.  All jokes aside, I'm using that line next time someone asks. 

Nah. I’m not. Just fun to see their reaction…. I stopped answering that question honesty a long while ago.  Back when I played more and was +2 handicap. I said that once.  And it turned into a 30 minute dissertation on the fact that handicaps went below 0.  🤣.  The guys who ask , are almost always above a 10.  Guys who can play usually can spot others who can pretty easily.  So no need to ask.