Handicap violations Top 10

WarEagle71 · April 1, 2009

One of my biggest problems is as somebody called a "vanity" handicap, which I think is a great term to describe it. I'm one of those people who likes my handicap to be as low as possible. and I play by the theory that there should be no net games anyways. If I have played longer, practice harder, and have more talent, then I should win...simple as that. But back to the point, I've seen many pretty solid players give themselves putts from even as far away as 5 feet! I mean the object of the game is to get the ball INTO the hole, not near it. I mean if you are in a casual round with some buddies and there is a group behind you and you hit a 90 foot putt to 6 inches, and they knock it back at you, that's fine with me, it takes a little while to walk that far, plus its just a signal that you did exceptionally well. I DESPISE the guys who get out of a cart when they have just missed the green and only take a wedge with them, they chip it up to whoever far, and either give themselves the putt or just putt it with the wedge and say they would have made it anyways with the putter. Unless you are Tiger Woods, you don't make more than 99% of your 3-4 footers, so why post your handicap like you do? This is just a personal problem of mine that drives me nuts

jjj912 · April 2, 2009

My club had a problem of guys playing and not posting - most have the same problem at least from a few - but they took harsh actions - and if you did not enter the score, for 9 or 18 within 2 days, they would enter your lowest score in lieu of what you actually shot.

That's just ridiculous, the rules of golf say NOTHING to the effect that you HAVE to post a score every time you set foot on a golf course.

While it is true that the Rules of Golf do not say anything about posting scores for handicap, the Rules of Golf is not the relevant document here. For a USGA handicap, the relevant document is the USGA handicap manual. The handicap manual says that all acceptable scores must be posted.

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Agreed. I go out solo all the time in late afternoons / twilight, usually playing 2 different balls. When I come off of 18, I think it would be funny if the pro were standing there asking for my card - I never post those scores because I am not "playing golf" and I'd be awfully hacked off if a score were posted for me!

Honestly I don't know how I would expect a club to handle that - it's rather a no-win situation for the pro, is it not?

Not posting these scores is correct since you are playing with two balls. The club/pro would need to recognize that if you are playing with two balls, then your score is not acceptable for handicap purposes; therefore, he would not ask for your scores.

sigmapete1 · April 3, 2009

My club had a problem of guys playing and not posting - most have the same problem at least from a few - but they took harsh actions - and if you did not enter the score, for 9 or 18 within 2 days, they would enter your lowest score in lieu of what you actually shot.

That's just ridiculous, the rules of golf say NOTHING to the effect that you HAVE to post a score every time you set foot on a golf course.

While it is true that the Rules of Golf do not say anything about posting scores for handicap, the Rules of Golf is not the relevant document here. For a USGA handicap, the relevant document is the USGA handicap manual. The handicap manual says that all acceptable scores must be posted.

Exactly... all ACCEPTABLE scores must be posted. That rule speaks to those who go out, shoot an acceptable score and dont post. Its a rule regarding posting. If you are practicing out on the course, you are not "making" an acceptable score. It does NOT say that you MUST KEEP AN ACCEPTABLE SCORE score EVERY time you set foot on a course.

All I'm saying is that using a course for practice vs. trying to post a score is permissible. Show me a rule that disallows that.

cigarnut81 · April 3, 2009

ESC is the worst thing in handicapping!! If I go out there & play like crap, but try to shoot a score then I should be able to enter that score!! I earned it & I should get to enter it!! If I shoot 70 then my handicap goes down but if I shoot 90 then the computer dumps it anyways!! This handicapping makes no sense!! If I shoot the score it is mine to do with as I please!!!