Player Handicaps

[Biffa]

why????? everybody is in the same boat? I don't get the thought process of some people. Have you all got to get big minus scores or something to make it worth playing??

Example - cubbies has already shot 2 x 31 in PGA9 this week which is better than his handicap and you dave shot effectively -3 in your 1st round nett if the event was handicapped, cubbies would be -2 after 2 rounds which would effectively as it stands right now put you 1st and 2nd on nett.

The Caddyshack event is set on 2 tough courses, i'd be surprised if anyone gets under their handicap - remember, it is the score you CAN obtain when playing to your potential.

I don't know, try to make things reflect more to real life and you wonder why you bother.

as for the shack, i will never understand why they would ever put a tourney on the courses they did considering most who
play their tourney are amateur players, all i can figure is they where setting it for a slow week. cause most when they see the leaderboard
then look at the courses and settings they will just skip it. not worth the time.

as for reflecting things to be more like RL, i have always had a problem with this type of statement
as this is a game, not real life and im not here to torture myself with a game im here to have fun not piss myself off
with some of the sets that have come out lately.
to each their own but that is where i stand.

I felt the same way when we were forced to move up a level, its a online game for fun which you should be allowed to play at whatever level you are comfortable at, this is the sites rules, as this new handicap seems to be, I ve chosen to only play tour rounds now and again since been moved up in fact ive just about stopped playing the game altogether as the enjoyment has gone for me, but rules are rules you either accept them or move on.

[Affo]

personally I dont have a problem with the handicap system.It is only used for 2 out of the many tours we have.
Just more of a challenge in the classics and caddyshack.
I think it would even itself out in the long run.
But heho everyone to there own.

Exactly Dunc, currently used for 2 whole events. It's a number and with everyone just playing for fun, no need for folks to worry themselves about it.

[NIBNOB]

NO Dunc....the main problem with these 2 tourneys is that the handicap system alienates the top players.......there should have been a limit on handicaps, say -4+4 from day one........dont get me wrong i dont mind losing(i have lost alot over the years to Step and Andy tnaf) the thing i abide is not having the chance to win.....-10 when others are sandbagging on +6 is not fair or just.........i like playing golf, just give me a chance to win in these handicap tourneys..ty

[JMK59]

NIB - after looking over Affo's handicap math, it seems the system is just begging to be "sandbagged", i.e. scores from outside the Classics are included in the calculation for handicaps to be used mainly for the Classics.

Example (using myself) - I play mostly Classics (handicapped) and Division. If I wanted to skew my handicap, I'd play one or two rounds a week in PGA 18, PGA 9, and Stableford to just "tank".

I would think using only Classics round to calculate a Classics handicap would be better, and only include rounds if from a completed tournament (all rounds finished). If you want your handicap to change, it would be incentive to finish all rounds.

A different approach - on a round-to-round basis, calculate your handicap based on your strokes-gained-vs-field (your gross score minus the field average for the round). This take into account the combination of course and setup difficulty for the round.

Finally...taking the high 12 of 24 scores (Affo's new proposal) is somewhat the same as only counting the rounds from the easy courses & setups, and will drive the average scores up about 5 strokes per round (based on the last 5 Classics tournaments I pulled into a spreadsheet). Taking the middle 12 only drives the scores up about 2 strokes.

John

[terbal]

I dont mind the handicap system at all what i do mind is when you are giving a handicap and play an event with that handicap you are told you shot to low so your score dosent count.

[Affo]

NIB - after looking over Affo's handicap math, it seems the system is just begging to be "sandbagged", i.e. scores from outside the Classics are included in the calculation for handicaps to be used mainly for the Classics.

Example (using myself) - I play mostly Classics (handicapped) and Division. If I wanted to skew my handicap, I'd play one or two rounds a week in PGA 18, PGA 9, and Stableford to just "tank".

I would think using only Classics round to calculate a Classics handicap would be better, and only include rounds if from a completed tournament (all rounds finished). If you want your handicap to change, it would be incentive to finish all rounds.

A different approach - on a round-to-round basis, calculate your handicap based on your strokes-gained-vs-field (your gross score minus the field average for the round). This take into account the combination of course and setup difficulty for the round.

Finally...taking the high 12 of 24 scores (Affo's new proposal) is somewhat the same as only counting the rounds from the easy courses & setups, and will drive the average scores up about 5 strokes per round (based on the last 5 Classics tournaments I pulled into a spreadsheet). Taking the middle 12 only drives the scores up about 2 strokes.

John

John,

Your score for each round is adjusted against the average of the field already, so easy setups are catered for.

Sandbagging is doable in most handicap computations. If the sad individual wants to do so, so be it, do it too much and get banned, tis only a comp game after all. If you wanted to skew your handicap by tanking one or two rounds a week, going to be a long haul job to skew enough to be worthwhile, again any sad individual wanting to do so can go do one.

The different approach you mentioned is effectively the power rankings I do/did. I used them for various things but people aren't interested (see unofficial handicaps pages on forums).

You offer people alternatives, way for different people to top a leaderboard and the interest isn't there, people are playing only for fun now it seems and i'm constantly told, which is of course absolutely fine...just don't then moan (not aimed at you John) when something changes when only trying to improve things.

[Affo]

I dont mind the handicap system at all what i do mind is when you are giving a handicap and play an event with that handicap you are told you shot to low so your score dosent count.

Terry, been through this in M&G or did you need a bigger audience?

You were unfortunate to shoot so well on an easy setup that you triggered the "Sandbagging" threshold. Just one of those unfortunate things. Not every eventuality can be catered for i'm afraid, the level is really low, you just managed to score very well on a high handicap.....hmmm....JOKING!! Others only just missed the number too as you can see from the leaderboard.

[Affo]

while on my soapbox, lol.

My handicap this week went from -9 to -11...impossible to lead anything surely you'd think. But wait, EVERYONE's handicap has changed in the same direction which means, as of this time stamp I joint lead the Caddyshack event...ignore the +6 nett score (don't expect to go -22 over those 2 courses!), it's about comparing to other players on this tough, tough setup, i'd call it "Calm Tuff Stuff", lol.

An example that anything is possible no matter your handicap number :)

[terbal]

i read everything but still bemused.

[terbal]

I dont mind the handicap system at all what i do mind is when you are giving a handicap and play an event with that handicap you are told you shot to low so your score dosent count.

Terry, been through this in M&G or did you need a bigger audience?

You were unfortunate to shoot so well on an easy setup that you triggered the "Sandbagging" threshold. Just one of those unfortunate things. Not every eventuality can be catered for i'm afraid, the level is really low, you just managed to score very well on a high handicap.....hmmm....JOKING!! Others only just missed the number too as you can see from the leaderboard.

So what you are saying Andy is i should have been sandbagging and missed a few putts on purpose?