Scoring your golf game

[CigarStone]

I have always been a student of the game and not only am I fascinated by the intricacies of the swing and the game itself but the effect “human nature” plays. Over the years I was amazed at how often good friends would get angry with each other over “what game are we going to play” and “how much should play for”.

There are two schools of thought about “the rules” and “handicap”…..which one do you fit in to?

1. Low handicap, competitive players, typically hole out all putts, play by the rules, and count all strokes.
2. Higher handicap players typically give each other putts, occasionally invoke the non-existent “root rule”, don’t count all of their strokes, and hate the mention of “the rules”.

During our nineteenth hole beers and martinis we often had a heated but friendly discussion about this and concluded that most golfers “despise” the rules of golf and has no clue what their true handicap is. The high handicappers would say things like “I just play to have a good time” or “It’s no fun if you have to worry about all of the rules”. To this I ask “how does ‘the score you write on your card’ change the amount of fun you have?”

For example:

Your ball is laying on a root and you realize that if you play it as it lies you could bend your club or break your wrist. The average golfer will use this to justify why they should get to move the ball. What I don’t understand is why they become adamant that they move it penalty free? If you play it by the rules you still get to play the hole, hit all the shots, and work hard to get the ball in the hole……the only difference is you may put a 6 on the score card instead of a 4 or 5. WHY?

You hit your tee ball out of bounds……the average player will jump in the cart and drive up to look for it and then say “I will just drop one here instead of going all the way back to the tee”. Hitting a provisional ball takes a few seconds and allows you to play all the shots, have all the fun, and play by the rules…… the only difference is you may put a 6 on the score card instead of a 4 or 5. WHY?

Your ball comes to rest dead behind a big tree………the average player will want to kick the ball out from behind the tree penalty free and tell themselves that “it’s more fun this way”. If you look over your options and hit the ball backwards in to the fairway you still get to play the hole, hit all the shots, and work hard to get the ball in the hole……the only difference is you may put a 6 on the score card instead of a 4 or 5. WHY?

The average golfer occasionally whiffs and will go ballistic if you count the stroke. WHY?

WHY? Because the average American male is competitive and golf is the stick by which we, as adults, measure ourselves. By the time we reach adulthood, very few of us talk about how many touchdowns we scored, or how many home runs we hit, in high school. We can, and do, talk about our golf game and our handicap.

If you play by the rules, count all your strokes, and hole every putt you will probably have more fun because it will add another dimension to the game but most people are more interested in the story they can tell in the clubhouse, or around the Monday morning coffee pot. Just remember, the only difference is the number you write on the card.

 

[flamchop]

I started using a handicap tracking website to track my handicap. Ever since then I've been counting EVERYTHING, taking all penalties, etc. And my handicap is....... high. Very high.

???

 

[CigarStone]

I started using a handicap tracking website to track my handicap. Ever since then I've been counting EVERYTHING, taking all penalties, etc. And my handicap is....... high. Very high.

???

But it's honest :thumbs: and if you ever play in any competition you will know you have a fair chance.

 

[DePasta]

I have and do play it both ways, as having played since I was six and through high school and college, I have played as a strict rule follower and tracked my handicap to the stroke. Now I do a combination of both, I have friends who are strict rule followers and we play our own matches track scores and handicaps. I am currently a 10 handicap player although in High school I was as low as a 5. I simply do not have the time to get in the rounds...

I also play with friends who are not as tight on the rules as others, and I have no problem playing with them either. We will use "winter rules" roll the ball in the fairway etc. I usually do not count these rounds towards my handicap unless I make a personal choice to play by the rules throughout. I make that choice prior to the round starting.

I really think it has little to do with "Honesty" as you say. Why make a guy who shoots over 100 consistently bust his ass just to be frustrated. Some of the guys that I play with with friendly rules, are probably more "honest" than the sticklers I play with. Either way, I don't think it is a reflection of character.

It is like Ty Webb said "Oh, I don't keep score Judge."
Judge- "well, how do you measure yourself against other golfers?"
Ty- "By height"

I have no preference to either way, I have fun both ways. I will say I do tend to have more "fun" in the casual setting when there is no need to be so serious and there is no money on the line.

 

[CigarStone]

I have and do play it both ways, as having played since I was six and through high school and college, I have played as a strict rule follower and tracked my handicap to the stroke. Now I do a combination of both, I have friends who are strict rule followers and we play our own matches track scores and handicaps. I am currently a 10 handicap player although in High school I was as low as a 5. I simply do not have the time to get in the rounds...

I also play with friends who are not as tight on the rules as others, and I have no problem playing with them either. We will use "winter rules" roll the ball in the fairway etc. I usually do not count these rounds towards my handicap unless I make a personal choice to play by the rules throughout. I make that choice prior to the round starting.

I really think it has little to do with "Honesty" as you say. Why make a guy who shoots over 100 consistently bust his ass just to be frustrated. Some of the guys that I play with with friendly rules, are probably more "honest" than the sticklers I play with. Either way, I don't think it is a reflection of character.

It is like Ty Webb said "Oh, I don't keep score Judge."
Judge- "well, how do you measure yourself against other golfers?"
Ty- "By height"

I have no preference to either way, I have fun both ways. I will say I do tend to have more "fun" in the casual setting when there is no need to be so serious and there is no money on the line.

Good way to look at it.

As far the "honest" comment, I was referring to handicap which is a mathematical equation and has no gray area. Having a true and honest handicap will serve you well if you play in events.

 

[thinde]

Being a 25+ handicapper I don't worry too much about getting all the rules correct. Golf is a game of consistency and when you play every 3[sup]rd[/sup] week 6 months a year it's tough to be consistent. Honesty is honesty. If you agree to play by the rules than stick to the fogging rules and count what needs to be counted.
When you play with a bunch of hacks and just having a good time, etiquette comes up more than rules. Bad etiquette bothers me more than someone trying to fool me or themselves into thinking they play better than they do. Don't talk when someone else is hitting, stay behind the person hitting and for god sakes be ready to hit when it's your turn.

JMHO

Tom

edit for spelling.

 

[JonDot]

I have and do play it both ways, as having played since I was six and through high school and college, I have played as a strict rule follower and tracked my handicap to the stroke. Now I do a combination of both, I have friends who are strict rule followers and we play our own matches track scores and handicaps. I am currently a 10 handicap player although in High school I was as low as a 5. I simply do not have the time to get in the rounds...

I also play with friends who are not as tight on the rules as others, and I have no problem playing with them either. We will use "winter rules" roll the ball in the fairway etc. I usually do not count these rounds towards my handicap unless I make a personal choice to play by the rules throughout. I make that choice prior to the round starting.

I really think it has little to do with "Honesty" as you say. Why make a guy who shoots over 100 consistently bust his ass just to be frustrated. Some of the guys that I play with with friendly rules, are probably more "honest" than the sticklers I play with. Either way, I don't think it is a reflection of character.

It is like Ty Webb said "Oh, I don't keep score Judge."
Judge- "well, how do you measure yourself against other golfers?"
Ty- "By height"

I have no preference to either way, I have fun both ways. I will say I do tend to have more "fun" in the casual setting when there is no need to be so serious and there is no money on the line.

Good way to look at it.

As far the "honest" comment, I was referring to handicap which is a mathematical equation and has no gray area. Having a true and honest handicap will serve you well if you play in events.

If you don't have a true & honest handicap,meaning you don't count all your strokes to make your handicap index lower than what it really is, when you do play a tourney that flights you by handicap-your gonna get SMOKED!!! If the people that you are playing with in the tourny catch you playing the way you are used to,kicking the ball out from behind the tree, moving it off the root, etc,your going to get DISQUALIFIED!!! There goes your entry fee. Honesty is the best policy. If I am playing you for money & I catch you doing these things, you and I are going to have a conversation in the parking lot while you are paying me what you lost because you cheated. (The "you" in this statement isn't directed at anyone,just used figurativly.) :thumbs:

 

[tone-ny]

Score is irrelevant to me! I started playing golf to be able to smoke more than one cigar a day. That is the truth.

I know I suck! Why document how feeble your score really is? When I play with others it is for the pure enjoyment of hanging out with friends. Most of the time I play alone and am able to get in three cigars in a round. YMMV

 

[Unclebillybonz]

I started playing golf after I quit playing basketball and softball and as a means to hang out with my father more often.

I ended up liking the game more then I thought I would and wanted to see how I improved year to year so I started logging my scores to get a handicap.

Right now my handicap is a 16.3.

 

[mu mike]

Play it as it lies (unless the rules of golf afford a drop) and count every stroke.

 

[Gonz]

Often times I find when I hit my ball into a difficult position it's more fun to try and get it out than to cheat and use the foot wedge. The joy of pulling an amazing shot out of my ass (1 in 10+) is worth it!

On the other hand, if I'm playing a classic course and I duff my tee shot or put myself into a position, I'm more likely to play another or adjust my ball position.

 

[Seavita]

I used to play more often than I can or do now. At one point I got down to about a 17 and regularly shot in the mid-high 80's at Van Cortland in the Bronx abiding by all the rules that I was aware of ( I confess I have never read the USGA rules book cover to cover, but know enough to be "honest").

But know here is the rub.....I joined a 2-man tournament with a 2nd day improvement round at the point I was a 20 handicap and was absolutely chastised and basically convicted of sandbagging as I made 5 birdies including on one the #2 handicap hole for a net 1...and the win...on matching scorecards none the less



Ohhh and by the way my score on the par 72 course.......94 and 93 respectively....

 

[CigarStone]

Score is irrelevant to me! I started playing golf to be able to smoke more than one cigar a day. That is the truth.

I know I suck! Why document how feeble your score really is? When I play with others it is for the pure enjoyment of hanging out with friends. Most of the time I play alone and am able to get in three cigars in a round. YMMV

You bring up a good point Tony, some of the best times on a course were spent just playing, smoking, and a few beers.

The part I don't get is....if score does matter to you then why not keep the proper score? I don't advocate carrying the USGA decisions book while playing but we all know that kicking a ball out from behind a tree is not in the rules. I am curious about the guy who shoots 95 regularly, enters his scores into the club's handicap computer, but insists that playing by the rules (shooting 98) would ruin it for him ???

 

[Franco593]

When I started playing I would only play with my Dad and his croonies. All WWII guys would would not bend the rules. No mulligans, no free drops...you ALWAYS hit a provisional etc...

I learned the rules that way and became a better golfer because I was more aware of the consequences of not thinking about your shots and club selction. Like Depasta there were also times that if I'm playing with a cooler full of beer and its a fun round with some old college friends I will not even keep score.

But if it was a serious round..I always count all my shots. You are really just lying to yourself any other way..

 

[vinnyvega]

So that explains why I shoot such as high score. :laugh: I would rather play by the rules and get the score I 'earned' rather one that I fudged some strokes. When I do occasionally shoot well, it makes it much more rewarding!!

 

[tone-ny]

Score is irrelevant to me! I started playing golf to be able to smoke more than one cigar a day. That is the truth.

I know I suck! Why document how feeble your score really is? When I play with others it is for the pure enjoyment of hanging out with friends. Most of the time I play alone and am able to get in three cigars in a round. YMMV

You bring up a good point Tony, some of the best times on a course were spent just playing, smoking, and a few beers.

The part I don't get is....if score does matter to you then why not keep the proper score? I don't advocate carrying the USGA decisions book while playing but we all know that kicking a ball out from behind a tree is not in the rules. I am curious about the guy who shoots 95 regularly, enters his scores into the club's handicap computer, but insists that playing by the rules (shooting 98) would ruin it for him ???

Don't get me wrong, I believe in integrity and stating the truth. If you are keeping score to gain a handicap then by all means be honest with yourself and the computer.

The bottom line for me is the enjoment I get out of being away from everyone and work. I'm very lucky I play at an AF Base and see planes flying over me on final and I always stop playing to marvel at them. Then I continue on my assualt of the golf course and enjoment of my cigar and adult beverage. Oh did I mention you can get adult beverages with the cigar!

 

[golfgar]

.............Just remember, the only difference is the number you write on the card.

I always play by the rules when recording a score. If you are playing for money and the group adpots certain, shall we say "local" rules, then, play by their rules but do not record the score, so a true handi can be determined.

Also, what does the statement mean above? I think there is a distinct difference in what the number means.

edit spelling

 

[CigarStone]

.............Just remember, the only difference is the number you write on the card.

I always play by the rules when recording a score. If you are playing for money and the group adpots certain, shall we say "local" rules, then, play by their rules but do not record the score, so a true handi can be determined.

Also, what does the statement mean above? I think there is a distinct difference in what the number means.

edit spelling

Just that on any given hole, the only difference between playing by the rules and not, is what score you put on the card. You can use the foot wedge, drop a ball where yours went out of bounds, not count whiffs, etc and put a 4 on the card or play by the rules and maybe end up putting a 5 or 6 on the card. I don't see how writing down an accurate score of 95 diminishes the fun as opposed to writing down a made up score of 92.

 

[DePasta]

Just that on any given hole, the only difference between playing by the rules and not, is what score you put on the card. You can use the foot wedge, drop a ball where yours went out of bounds, not count whiffs, etc and put a 4 on the card or play by the rules and maybe end up putting a 5 or 6 on the card. I don't see how writing down an accurate score of 95 diminishes the fun as opposed to writing down a made up score of 92.

LOL, it isn't the dudes who shave 3 strokes by doing that stuff that get me. It's the guys who would normally shoot a 95+ and write down a 75! Then have the nerve to try and brag about it!

 

[CigarStone]

Just that on any given hole, the only difference between playing by the rules and not, is what score you put on the card. You can use the foot wedge, drop a ball where yours went out of bounds, not count whiffs, etc and put a 4 on the card or play by the rules and maybe end up putting a 5 or 6 on the card. I don't see how writing down an accurate score of 95 diminishes the fun as opposed to writing down a made up score of 92.

LOL, it isn't the dudes who shave 3 strokes by doing that stuff that get me. It's the guys who would normally shoot a 95+ and write down a 75! Then have the nerve to try and brag about it!

Yep, those are the guys I love to play for money And then there's the guy who shoots 80 and enters 85 in preparation for an upcoming event. These guys used to bitch to our head pro all the time that none of the single digit handicappers would play in club events because they were handicapped events. A 5 handicap has exactly zero chance of winning a handicapped event because all it takes is one 17 handicapper to shoot 80 for a net 63.