Handicap system disadvantages low markers?

[Hatchman]

Moreton Districts pennant is a bit weird in that Div 1 has 4 games of scratch for the top 4 spots, then 5 games of handicap matchplay. I didn't play this year, but generally it's a hard ask if you pick a low marker in the 5th spot - better off picking teen+ handicappers that are level-headed and good in match-play than low markers for the handicap stuff.

That is the weirdest and stupidest format I've herd of.

[markTHEblake]

Many clubs in that district are tiny, i know of one that just has a single employee, the groundsman. Sich a format gets more clubs involved instead of having seperate scratch and handicap series, where many cant field a team in both.

[Hatchman]

Moreton Districts pennant is a bit weird in that Div 1 has 4 games of scratch for the top 4 spots, then 5 games of handicap matchplay. I didn't play this year, but generally it's a hard ask if you pick a low marker in the 5th spot - better off picking teen+ handicappers that are level-headed and good in match-play than low markers for the handicap stuff.

That is the weirdest and stupidest format I've herd of.

Adding on to this.
If some clubs are sooking due to one or more clubs being too strong reduce the the number in a team down as low as 5 if you have to.
Embrace the challenge of trying to beat someone who is obviously better than yourself based on a hcp number.
Next it will be play Match Play but don't keep score ffs.

Been there done that being a member of a club that was way stronger than the rest in the Riverland Pennant League (When I first got to single digit Hcp I was playing middle order B grade for Berri. For any of the other 4 Riverland Clubs I would have been playing at position 5,6 or 7 in A Grade). A and B grades were off the stick while C and D were Special Olympics. As junior I just wanted to play Golf and didn't care about giving away 9-20 shots a game. As I got older and good enough to play in the Off the Stick Grades I found myself not wanting to be involved in Hcp Match Play games at club level or Pennant.

[BobsYourUncle]

Yeah, it's a strange format. I think they should go from the current 2 divisions into 3 - one where it's a smaller number and all scratch, then have 2 handicapped divisions. Sandy Gallop, Ipswich, and now Brookwater (first year playing) can field strong scratch teams. Ipswich and Sandy could probably field 2 strong scratch teams each. Some of the other clubs, not so much.

[LeftyHoges]

Division 1 ANYWHERE should only and should only EVER be all scratch.

After that, knock yourself out with whatever formats you want. My old SW Vic association used to have 7 a side with the first 3 gross and the last 4 handicap. It had its pros and cons but there were a number of clubs in the area that would have 50-100 members, mainly farmers, and would contain 1 or 2 absolute gun golfers and the rest choppers. They had to do this format otherwise those clubs wouldn't bother entering.

[markTHEblake]

Adding on to this. If some clubs are sooking ...

Why assume any club is sooking. If a club cant field a side they just dont participate. Thats usually the be all and end all of it. There are districts in qld that cover areas bigger than tasmania, with clubs less than 50 members. Not everywhere can host a series to equal VGA div1.

[sms316]

Handicap matchplay is not pennant

[Yossarian]

It's penance.

[markTHEblake]

Too right the system is geared towards choppers. 39pts, dropped 0.6 shots, best scratch score for a few years and for what? I won a golf ball. Bloody 6 and 7 handicappers should be in b grade. And the worst part was, went home and the missus was there, instead of working. There goes my Sat night fun of falling asleep on the couch watching 2.5 Men.





#enjoydthewalk

[virge666]

Handicap matchplay is not pennant

100%

It's penance.

Touche' Excellent work.


Why dont they just make those small divs a stableford game ... highest score wins the match.

Saves all this pretend matchplay nonsense.