How far above the anchor should handicaps go?

[matty]

Our A grade goes to 14.

That's ridiculous!

[backintheswing]

That's ridiculous!

And we have fields of 250 on Saturdays. About 210 men and 40 women. Best gross gets 2 $5 vouchers.

A grade should be 0-9. In the NQ opens up here it is usually 0-6.

[LeftyHoges]

I feel your pain Lefty.
I went Red (-1) for the first time ever in competition 3 weeks ago off 4 and still wasn't good enough to win the nett on the day. Got done by a 32 handicap breaking the ton for the first time.

I haven't seen many scores in our A grade go a nett 4 better than par. There has been the odd one, but it's not a common occurrence like it is in B and C grade. Our A grade goes out to 12.

How many do you get playing on a Saturday? What's your clubs prize payout run down?

Ours is:
Competitors 45-60 50-90
Comp fee = $5 $9 (includes $1 for birdie comp)
Best score for the day all Grades = Daily sponsors prize (no idea what it's worth never won one). Only on Monthly Medal. Not a clue but would guess $40 voucher.
Best A Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $30 Voucher, $20 for runner up
Best B Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $30 Voucher, $20 for runner up
Best C Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $30 Voucher, $20 for runner up
Ball run down on score regardless of grade Usually to nett 72's, so around a dozen given out max.
NTP's x3 X6
Ball for birdie on the daily nominated birdie hole. Nope.
Ball for least putts in stroke rounds per grade. Once a month. Just least putts overall & is sponsored.
Ball for most hit fairways in stableford or par rounds. Nope.
2 doz eggs for worst score on day (must be present to collect) Nope.
Meat tray draw (must be present to collect) Nope.

Forgot to mention all scores are nett, par or stableford only.
Club Champs and Open are are the only comps that pay gross. Same.

Answers in red.

I'm sure that Julian appreciates the recognition.

Does tend to get shared around between 4 blokes usually, someone else will occasionally steal in there. But Julian and Clint are the main two recipients.

[AndyP]

I don't understand why there is such a big expectation in golf that you should have a chance of winning. Get rid of handicaps.

[liptout]

I don't understand why there is such a big expectation in golf that you should have a chance of winning. Get rid of handicaps.

Surely you can't expect everybody to lose every weekend?? What would that do to people's self esteem??

What would happen to society if everybody lost all the time?!?!

[Hatchman]

Surely you can't expect everybody to lose every weekend?? What would that do to people's self esteem??

What would happen to society if everybody lost all the time?!?!

We'll find out in a few generations.
Not allowed to keep score or celebrate winning/winners in a lot of kids sports these days.

[madboarder]

Just can't believe the handicaps of some players. When I last played club golf only one player in the state had a handicap of + status. Now chompers are playing of +5 some easy coin to come.... anchor should be 3

[Waddzy]

Just can't believe the handicaps of some players. When I last played club golf only one player in the state had a handicap of + status. Now chompers are playing of +5 some easy coin to come.... anchor should be 3

I wouldn't mind being a chomper off a + handicap....

[AndyP]

Surely you can't expect everybody to lose every weekend?? What would that do to people's self esteem??

What would happen to society if everybody lost all the time?!?!

You're right. I'm going to complain to my running club about having to start at the same time as the fast runners. How am I meant to win without a headstart?

[Marto65]

You're right. I'm going to complain to my running club about having to start at the same time as the fast runners. How am I meant to win without a headstart?

Practicing and getting better is such a novel concept.

[graham_w]

Practicing and getting better is such a novel concept.

Stop it. You blokes are making too much sense.

[Hatchman]

Just can't believe the handicaps of some players. When I last played club golf only one player in the state had a handicap of + status. Now chompers are playing of +5 some easy coin to come.... anchor should be 3

How many amateurs were breaking par numerous times a year 10-20 yrs ago v how many do it now?

Equipment changes and the numbers playing the game at earlier ages is the biggest driving factor for more being on + handicaps.
It has never been easier to hit the ball straight plus make it stop than it is now with the clubs and balls played.

[goughy]

I'm not finding that any easier.

[Hatchman]

How long you been playing again?

[goughy]

There is way too much sense displayed at times on this forum.

[markTHEblake]

How many comps a year do you think you should win? How many A graders in a regular sat comp?

I have won the A grade nett event in 3 of the last 5 rounds, the aggregate of the winning scores are only 3 under course rating, and my handicap has marginally increased over that period.
I guess that must mean all the handicaps are too low around here, at my club A grade is up to 14.

[mike]

A grade to 14 is crazy. It's 10 here and I thought that was a national/state standard.

[AndyP]

Make the handicap something like the average of your best 3 rounds in 20. The problem is that there is an expectation that you should be able to play to your handicap. Why shouldn't 36 points win a comp?

[goughy]

But wouldn't you expect that a certain percentage of the field would better their handicap on any day? Otherwise people would never be getting better. What percentage of a field on average breaks their handicap during a comp? 10%?

[AndyP]

Your mistake is in using your handicap as an indication of getting better. Why not concentrate on your PB or season PB?

[BenM]

But wouldn't you expect that a certain percentage of the field would better their handicap on any day? Otherwise people would never be getting better. What percentage of a field on average breaks their handicap during a comp? 10%?

Seems about right. Just looked at our comp on Saturday - 109 entrants, 12 players with better than 36 points. And that was off the whites (forward ish) tees, course rating of 1 under par.

Since this thread is about anchors I just worked out what my handicap would be if I wasn't anchored on 11 - 12.55 (so a playing handicap of 13). FYI

For interest's sake:

Ours is:
Competitors Average probably would be around 120 or so on a Saturday
Comp fee = $6 + $1 for the Pennant pin (bonus NTP, with proceeds going to Pennant teams for expenses etc)
Prizes vary a little I think, but based on this Saturday: $70 voucher for nett winner in each grade, $40 voucher for nett runner up in each grade, $5 voucher for third and fourth in each grade
Ball run down ($5) as well, based on this Saturday 14 given away,
NTP's x 5 (3 on the par 3s, also on 2 of the par 4s, usually $5 each), plus the Pennant pin (on another par 4, that was $33 this week)
Longest drive in each grade on their nominated hole ($5)
$20 prize for junior winner

A grade is 0-12
B grade is 13-18
C grade 19-36

I for one think A grade should be 0-9... am running for the board this year so may be able to start discussing a change if I manage to get elected.

[Rodent]

I'd like to see A grade single figures. Smaller numbers would see the better golfers win more often. It would be an incentive for people to get better as well

[IanO]

Ours is:
Competitors 45-60 205-215
Comp fee = $5 $8
Best score for the day all Grades = Daily sponsors prize (no idea what it's worth never won one).
Best A Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $100 voucher
Best B Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $100 voucher
Best C Grade score = $15 Bar Voucher $100 voucher
Ball run down on score regardless of grade Ball run down for 20 places - 1 ball each
NTP's x3 x4 - 4 balls each
Ball for birdie on the daily nominated birdie hole.
Ball for least putts in stroke rounds per grade.
Ball for most hit fairways in stableford or par rounds.
2 doz eggs for worst score on day (must be present to collect)
Meat tray draw (must be present to collect)

Forgot to mention all scores are nett, par or stableford only.
Club Champs and Open are are the only comps that pay gross.

[Hatchman]

Not about anchor but related to the prize payout discussions.
Took this bit from the latest Drummond News Letter.
One of the founders of Hole-in-one Golf.

"Robinson said he got the idea for Hole-in-one golf after winning a golf competition and receiving three balls as his prize. He figured he spent several thousand dollars a year on membership fees, competition fees and money over the bar and yet when he had a great round he received scant reward."

[WBennett]

Anyone who plays golf for the prizes is doing it wrong.