What's on your mind? Handicaps

Now here's a touchy subject - handicapping. The USGA Handicap System has two basic premises that underlie the whole shooting match and can be found on page 1 of the USGA Handicap System Book.  Yes, there is an official book on this.  Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review.  Now there are some definitions to understand first and I won't bore you with them here.  There is a third premise that isn't mentioned specifically in this same statement but it's just as important.  That is, that the player actually knows and understands the rules to apply to his or her game while they are playing to ensure that their score is accurate.


The truth is that most golfers are simply not familiar enough with the rules to actually play by them.  There are others who simply don't worry about all the rules and leave golf as purely a recreational activity and the only competition is between the individual and himself.  I'm fine with that.  The problem however is that the purpose of the handicap system is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis - only possible of course if everyone is following the two (or three) basic premises of the system.  


Because of the differences in individuals' approach to the handicap system, there are differences in competitions.  The handicap system is compromised for all who compete and therefore competitions are often not equitable and that is where the angst between players begins.  Even prior to the annual invitationals, club championships or other events arrival players are muttering under their breaths about the inaccuracy of so-in-so's handicap, so-in-so is always in the wrong flight, so-in-so doesn't know the rules, etc.  Sometimes this is stirred into a mini frenzy prior to or during an event. 


Case in point.  Just today a fellow PGA Professional was telling me about his Ladies Invitational yesterday.  A lady with a 27.9 index was +2 gross through eight holes.  Finished with an 89 and her team didn't even finish in the money!  That didn't stop the cavalcade of angst and animosity that spread like wildfire throughout the event.


Here's another good one.  Anyone ever wonder how during the AT&T Pro-Am the winning team was -37 as a team and the D.A. Points (the professional who won the PGA Tour event) was -15 on his own ball.  Now D.A. Points had birdies and eagles equivalent to -25 on his own ball.  If Bill Murray bailed him out on every hole D.A. parred, bogeyed, or worse, than Bill Murray contributed -10 himself.  Eh, plausible....maybe.  On the same note Vaughn Taylor had -15 on all the holes he birdied or eagled.  His amateur partner, a 16 handicap, was then -20 on just the right holes to finish tied for second.  Ahem, really?  USGA, would you like to step in here?


But I digress.  The fact is, the handicap system generally works if everyone is playing fair but we all know that is rarely the case with anything in life.  Ultimately however, if we don't understand the rules, don't play by them, and post scores incorrectly, then competitions will always bring out the worst in us and suck the very fun out of our game.  It's sad to see and golf professionals everywhere see it everyday.  Ours is a game of honesty and integrity.  Let's keep it that way.  Learn the rules, play by them and post every score you can, regardless of whether you like the score or not.


If you aren't familiar with the rules, don't feel bad.  Go to your PGA Professional and I am sure he or she will be happy to help you along.  That's what they are there for.  Keep the fun in the game!