darthweasel
Well-known member
Okay, this one risks going down a dark rabbit hole but...
Part of the nature of how I golf leads to an unfortunate number of solo rounds. I enjoy them...whenever I remember my earbuds I throw them in, thrown on some music I like and off I go. Whenever possible I try to match up with others but I tend to play at times with limited people on the course...
Lately for...reasons...I have been playing excessively long for someone of my skill level, about 6800 yards. I just realized this last night. With that said I have enjoyed it and my scoring has not been really out of line with what I normally would. Maybe a length-related shot here and there...there are multiple par 4s in the mid-400 yard range and that is always likely a 5-spot for me...but then again I can easily bogey a 326 yarder as well... but nothing egregious.
Here is the thing...because it is against the rules, I do not post the rounds where I play solo. I play them the same way I would if there were people around. I record the score with the same integrity. But I don't post it.
I "get" why solo rounds are not postable. With that said, I am generally pretty attuned to what others are scoring. One of the responsibilities in tournament play is checking the competitors' scores. An easy way to get it right is to be in the habit of tracking scores as you go.
Now, not all of my rounds are solo. Probably about 10 of my last 17 rounds have been played partially or wholly with randoms (more accurately, I am the random in the group).
I can confidently assert that in my experience there are a large number of people who, in non-tournament rounds, report scores that are...uh...not played in 100% accordance with the rules. Rolling the ball to a better lie, cleaning the ball without marking, the occasional mulligan...these are often from people who in the course of conversation mention their handicap.
The upshot is, in my experience the ones who are going to manipulate their handicap...either direction...are going to do it whether solo or in a group. Honest people are going to be honest, dishonest people are going to cut corners or, as Jesse Ventura was claimed to have said, win if you can, lose if you must, but always, always cheat.
The idea someone is going to play it straight in a group but not alone..it just doesn't match up to reality in my experience.
And here is the funny part: in a sense it benefits me. I legitimately play and post every legally play/postable round. My official Ghin sits at 11.3. But the app I use also tracks every round.
Unofficially my handicap is 9. It includes the rounds I am not allowed to post and, for example, I have recently played a few consecutive solo rounds...and according to this, my cap has dropped but by rule it cannot. I can't post those rounds.
So by reporting scores with integrity, I have an accurate handicap by rule but an inaccurate handicap by reality.
So basically just ranting about not being able to post all legitimate rounds and, although my handicap is accurate, it isn't.
Part of the nature of how I golf leads to an unfortunate number of solo rounds. I enjoy them...whenever I remember my earbuds I throw them in, thrown on some music I like and off I go. Whenever possible I try to match up with others but I tend to play at times with limited people on the course...
Lately for...reasons...I have been playing excessively long for someone of my skill level, about 6800 yards. I just realized this last night. With that said I have enjoyed it and my scoring has not been really out of line with what I normally would. Maybe a length-related shot here and there...there are multiple par 4s in the mid-400 yard range and that is always likely a 5-spot for me...but then again I can easily bogey a 326 yarder as well... but nothing egregious.
Here is the thing...because it is against the rules, I do not post the rounds where I play solo. I play them the same way I would if there were people around. I record the score with the same integrity. But I don't post it.
I "get" why solo rounds are not postable. With that said, I am generally pretty attuned to what others are scoring. One of the responsibilities in tournament play is checking the competitors' scores. An easy way to get it right is to be in the habit of tracking scores as you go.
Now, not all of my rounds are solo. Probably about 10 of my last 17 rounds have been played partially or wholly with randoms (more accurately, I am the random in the group).
I can confidently assert that in my experience there are a large number of people who, in non-tournament rounds, report scores that are...uh...not played in 100% accordance with the rules. Rolling the ball to a better lie, cleaning the ball without marking, the occasional mulligan...these are often from people who in the course of conversation mention their handicap.
The upshot is, in my experience the ones who are going to manipulate their handicap...either direction...are going to do it whether solo or in a group. Honest people are going to be honest, dishonest people are going to cut corners or, as Jesse Ventura was claimed to have said, win if you can, lose if you must, but always, always cheat.
The idea someone is going to play it straight in a group but not alone..it just doesn't match up to reality in my experience.
And here is the funny part: in a sense it benefits me. I legitimately play and post every legally play/postable round. My official Ghin sits at 11.3. But the app I use also tracks every round.
Unofficially my handicap is 9. It includes the rounds I am not allowed to post and, for example, I have recently played a few consecutive solo rounds...and according to this, my cap has dropped but by rule it cannot. I can't post those rounds.
So by reporting scores with integrity, I have an accurate handicap by rule but an inaccurate handicap by reality.
So basically just ranting about not being able to post all legitimate rounds and, although my handicap is accurate, it isn't.
