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Official OGBoards Golf Thread

Just as background, and Tigerswood hit on this some, since a lot of people just assume your handicap index is an average of all your scores and/or playing off a handicap makes for fair competition...

First, only your best 8 of 20 scores count. It's very easy to lower your index, very hard to raise it. Scratch or better guys have to either give up completely on ever shooting under par rounds on the regular or they are never going to really jack up their handicaps to any meaningful level for handicap play. Tossing in the occasional fake score literally makes no difference at all unless you really commit to throwing in a ton of them.

Second, simply put - the better you are the harder it is to beat your handicap. The USGA had some odds posted for how likely it is to beat your handicap, but even those are skewed (and start at 0-5 as a bucket). A +1 should beat his index by 3 or 4 strokes like once a year if you're playing twice a week. An 8/9 is closer to 1 in 30 rounds, especially if that player is one of the folks we're talking about that can easily clean up a few strokes here and there when playing an important round.

On top of all that, a ton of these tournaments are match play or have some way of ensuring that blow-up holes don't ruin someone's tournament, otherwise no high cappers would play and there'd be no money/fun to be had. But again, for consistent low cap players, it's just another edge given to the high cappers. You make 3 pars and go 1 down to a guy who goes quad/bogey/par. There's just no real point to shuffling around in that plus index world to win handicapped fields.

I've mentioned this before but I'm fairly sure I'm one of the few golfers whose best score is 73 and who's 2nd best score is 82. Best score was at Grandview in Winston.
 
Can confirm.
Played for many years in the Maple Chase MG with Karma. Got hot one year and was even through 7 (on the front nine - easier by far than the back) One member, well-known Forsyth am golfer, and himself a sandbagger called me out as a bullshit 6 handicap. Took great pleasure as we boat raced them. I'm a doctor with young kids who at the time played about 10-15 times a year. But I occasionally can still golf my ball.

Damn that was a fun day. You made 4 net 3 on 6 and all I heard was "6 handicap my ass." I almost shit myself. Dude had won the MG the year before playing off a 3 and got busted by our pro shop not entering his low scores to the point where the pro shop started posting his scores for him the next year.

One of the nicest guys I've met off the course, but has an obsessive need to win at all costs on it.
 
An OGboards tourney would be fun.

We've done this a few times. Not necessarily a tourney, just a fun day of golf. I met SD3 that way and had a great time playing with him. He can play.
 
I’m in. Could probably make something happen at Old North State if that would interest people and be a good meeting point (though in the middle of nowhere). Love that course.
 
Damn that was a fun day. You made 4 net 3 on 6 and all I heard was "6 handicap my ass." I almost shit myself. Dude had won the MG the year before playing off a 3 and got busted by our pro shop not entering his low scores to the point where the pro shop started posting his scores for him the next year.

One of the nicest guys I've met off the course, but has an obsessive need to win at all costs on it.

Seems to be the theme in here. My dad taught me pretty early "you can always re-tee the ball and there will be other days when you can write down 5 instead of 6, but once you tarnish your reputation and integrity that can't be fixed"

Count me in for any outing within 60 miles of the 336
 
Maybe when I join a CC my feelings will change, but I just don't get down with the handicap stuff at all. I'm a scratch golfer when playing well, and I've played competitive golf since being about 12/13. I'll probably join a club in the next few years, but moved to Charlotte 3 years ago and I just go around playing public golf and play in the odd CGA tournament.
 
Maybe when I join a CC my feelings will change, but I just don't get down with the handicap stuff at all. I'm a scratch golfer when playing well, and I've played competitive golf since being about 12/13. I'll probably join a club in the next few years, but moved to Charlotte 3 years ago and I just go around playing public golf and play in the odd CGA tournament.

I haven't (and won't be) joining a club around here because even if I did decide forking over the insane initiation fees (thanks, COVID) was worth it, I'd be waiting 7+ years before I could actually make a Sunday tee time... But I'm playing more with the CC crowd near me and yeah it does kinda change things. All the stuff I used to care about was gross, I also hover from scratch to a 2, so I never cared about a few index strokes. But that was when I didn't have kids and could play long-ass tournaments that killed entire days and were a long drive, maybe a hotel night, etc. Now that my competition fix is filled mostly by member-guests, one day outings, and gambling against (often douchey) country club types, it's both aggravating to play pretty well and still get curb stomped and/or not get picked up for partner stuff because your index is too low.

Plus it doesn't so much require sandbagging as it does just playing more strictly. It's funny, I have a crew that plays together all the time and I join them pretty regularly, they have a diverse handicap spread but all kinda did the same thing. They got super into golf, started practicing playing a ton and buying all the fun equipment, got into the vanity-cap race to get lower indexes, etc. They definitely started playing pretty legit early on, no more mulligans, counting OB shots as laterals, puffing up bad lies, etc. But we play matches all the time so you still have the gimmies, not finishing out because your partner is in with birdie, or ditching a blowup hole early if it's already decided. That shit can shave a few strokes off your real index no problem, which they noticed when they started getting their asses kicked in net events. So now they're headed in the opposite direction, making sure to putt everything out.
 
Maybe when I join a CC my feelings will change, but I just don't get down with the handicap stuff at all. I'm a scratch golfer when playing well, and I've played competitive golf since being about 12/13. I'll probably join a club in the next few years, but moved to Charlotte 3 years ago and I just go around playing public golf and play in the odd CGA tournament.

I felt the same way. Hated the idea of giving strokes (still do) but very much enjoy the social aspect of club tournaments.

I should also say that the team that won our member/member this year had a combined 12 mo low index of 0 and the member/guest had a combined index of about 6. Our course gets really tough around tournaments, and the greens were rolling a legit 13+ for both, so it evens out the playing field a bit for the lower cappers, particularly in a 3 day grind when a lot of the mid-high cappers are getting too drunk to function and can barely walk by day 3.
 
i'd be totes down to do any sort of competition. i'm sure there are good apps/sites that allow you to track stuff just online, right? could do some sort of season-long team competition. (and down to do anything in DC, as well). was tryna get my handicap into the teens last year and was feeling good about it but then busted my achilles playing bball like an idiot and now i'm garbage again.
 
I haven't (and won't be) joining a club around here because even if I did decide forking over the insane initiation fees (thanks, COVID) was worth it, I'd be waiting 7+ years before I could actually make a Sunday tee time... But I'm playing more with the CC crowd near me and yeah it does kinda change things. All the stuff I used to care about was gross, I also hover from scratch to a 2, so I never cared about a few index strokes. But that was when I didn't have kids and could play long-ass tournaments that killed entire days and were a long drive, maybe a hotel night, etc. Now that my competition fix is filled mostly by member-guests, one day outings, and gambling against (often douchey) country club types, it's both aggravating to play pretty well and still get curb stomped and/or not get picked up for partner stuff because your index is too low.

Plus it doesn't so much require sandbagging as it does just playing more strictly. It's funny, I have a crew that plays together all the time and I join them pretty regularly, they have a diverse handicap spread but all kinda did the same thing. They got super into golf, started practicing playing a ton and buying all the fun equipment, got into the vanity-cap race to get lower indexes, etc. They definitely started playing pretty legit early on, no more mulligans, counting OB shots as laterals, puffing up bad lies, etc. But we play matches all the time so you still have the gimmies, not finishing out because your partner is in with birdie, or ditching a blowup hole early if it's already decided. That shit can shave a few strokes off your real index no problem, which they noticed when they started getting their asses kicked in net events. So now they're headed in the opposite direction, making sure to putt everything out.

Aren't clubs up where you are also stupid expensive? Like put a kid through college type expensive?

I moved from Winston to GSO about 1.5 years ago and miss the vibe from Maple Chase. I joined Cardinal out here and hated it. Couldn't find a decent game unless I wanted to play with the high stakes guys who would rotate over from Sedgefield a couple times a week. I don't mind the competition but when you're up against a 2 time USGA champion, or guys who are on the KFT it's going to get costly no matter how many shots you are getting. And anyone who has spent time as a plus handicap knows you aren't begging for shots off other plus handicaps. It's undignified lol.

I left Cardinal last fall, partly because I couldn't find a reliable group to play with and partly because I really don't like the course much. It's harder than a wedding dick, and I don't necessarily want my brains beat in every round. I'm now just bouncing around as a guest at Sedgefield or Starmount, or heading to Forest Oaks or Bryan Park for daily fee play. I'm a huge fan of Bryan Park and the challenge it provides, but the average pace of play out there is easily 4.5 hours.
 
I felt the same way. Hated the idea of giving strokes (still do) but very much enjoy the social aspect of club tournaments.

I should also say that the team that won our member/member this year had a combined 12 mo low index of 0 and the member/guest had a combined index of about 6. Our course gets really tough around tournaments, and the greens were rolling a legit 13+ for both, so it evens out the playing field a bit for the lower cappers, particularly in a 3 day grind when a lot of the mid-high cappers are getting too drunk to function and can barely walk by day 3.

My proudest tournament moment ever was winning the member guest when my partner and I had a combined +3. We had to play nearly flawless golf to pull it off.
 
what do you guys think of Dr. Kwon?

I have seen the name a bit, don't know his work. The below are instructors who not just identify the things pros do well, but can explain it in a way that you can translate to your own game:

- Monte Scheinblum
- Lucas Wald
- George Gankas (his delivery is a bit adhd for me, but he knows his stuff)
- Athletic Motion Golf (AMG)
- Adam Young is interesting about how to practice and visualize things, very little technical instruction
 
Aren't clubs up where you are also stupid expensive? Like put a kid through college type expensive?

I moved from Winston to GSO about 1.5 years ago and miss the vibe from Maple Chase. I joined Cardinal out here and hated it. Couldn't find a decent game unless I wanted to play with the high stakes guys who would rotate over from Sedgefield a couple times a week. I don't mind the competition but when you're up against a 2 time USGA champion, or guys who are on the KFT it's going to get costly no matter how many shots you are getting. And anyone who has spent time as a plus handicap knows you aren't begging for shots off other plus handicaps. It's undignified lol.

I left Cardinal last fall, partly because I couldn't find a reliable group to play with and partly because I really don't like the course much. It's harder than a wedding dick, and I don't necessarily want my brains beat in every round. I'm now just bouncing around as a guest at Sedgefield or Starmount, or heading to Forest Oaks or Bryan Park for daily fee play. I'm a huge fan of Bryan Park and the challenge it provides, but the average pace of play out there is easily 4.5 hours.

I really like Cardinal, probably better than Sedgefield tbh, but I'm a Dye fan in general. It is very hard from the tips though. Also have a soft spot for Bryan Park, as we won our state championship there. Trying to think of another public non-Pinehurst course in NC I like better and don't think there is one.

Did you use your rounds at ONSC when you had the McConnell access? I need to do much better at taking advantage of the reciprocals.
 
I really like Cardinal, probably better than Sedgefield tbh, but I'm a Dye fan in general. It is very hard from the tips though. Also have a soft spot for Bryan Park, as we won our state championship there. Trying to think of another public non-Pinehurst course in NC I like better and don't think there is one.

Did you use your rounds at ONSC when you had the McConnell access? I need to do much better at taking advantage of the reciprocals.

I just did the Cardinal Only membership, so no McConnell access. My favorite course in Greensboro is Starmount, but they tripled their initiation fee right before I was looking to join.

And yes, I would agree that Cardinal is a better course. It has more architectural merit in my eyes, without the pretentiousness.

Love Dye. Oak Hollow is always a fun muni play for that reason. I'm doing the mid Am Q there next month.
 
Ha I definitely played Oak Hollow and Bryan Park when I was at Wake. They were both quite good.

Most rounds we did at either Reynolds Park, such a Maxwell gem that would be great with a restoration, Winston Lakes, Tanglewood. There was some dogtrack that used to be close to campus but closed, Grandview? Then a buddy joined I think Pine Brook or something like that we played a bit.
 
I have seen the name a bit, don't know his work. The below are instructors who not just identify the things pros do well, but can explain it in a way that you can translate to your own game:

- Monte Scheinblum
- Lucas Wald
- George Gankas (his delivery is a bit adhd for me, but he knows his stuff)
- Athletic Motion Golf (AMG)
- Adam Young is interesting about how to practice and visualize things, very little technical instruction

familiar with all except for Lucas Wald - I will check him out

i really like Monte

i have made pretty good progress with the tour striker plane mate
 
Ha I definitely played Oak Hollow and Bryan Park when I was at Wake. They were both quite good.

Most rounds we did at either Reynolds Park, such a Maxwell gem that would be great with a restoration, Winston Lakes, Tanglewood. There was some dogtrack that used to be close to campus but closed, Grandview? Then a buddy joined I think Pine Brook or something like that we played a bit.

Grandview or Long Creek would be the dog track. Neither exists anymore.

Pine Brook became Maple Chase CC about 8 years ago under new ownership.

There was an investment group that wanted to take over management of Reynolds Park from the city about 10 years ago. Their plan was to close for 9-12 months and do a massive renovation, but the city balked at it because the revenue from Reynolds Park subsidized Winston Lake. So they let the former owners of Grandview manage it instead.
 
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