Let’s call sandbaggers what they really are: CHEATERS
Sandbaggers are slime bags. CHEATERS.
Ironically the handicap system which is designed to make the game fair for all golfers is the one which is abused and makes it unfair for honest players.
I paid an $80 dollar entry fee to play in a local amateur competition, the Wingpointe Amateur yesterday. I was excited to play in this event, as I haven’t played in any state golf association tournaments like this in some time other than the Salt Lake Amateur, which is run differently. I forgot the reason I decided not to play in these state tournaments but today I was reminded why. I guess I’m back to not playing in “net” state tournaments.
I struggled a bit today, but on a tough course fired a 76. I came in as a 3 handicap and my course handicap put me up to a 4. The tournament’s flights were broken down to champ flight which was gross, handicap 0-3 and then two flights which were 4-9 and 10-X. The winner in my flight shot a net 63. If that player was a 4 handicap like me, that score differential would have been 11 and he would have had to shoot a gross 67. Likely, the player who shot the 63 was a 9 handicap who shot 72. That’s a 9 differential. Let’s take a look at the USGA’s chart showing the odds of shooting an exceptional tournament score:
| Handicap Range -> | 0-5 | 6-12 | 13-21 | 22-30 | GREATER THAN 30 |
| Net Differential | odds | odds | odds | odds | odds |
| 0 | 5:1 | 5:1 | 6:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 |
| -1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 8:1 | 7:1 |
| -2 | 23:1 | 22:1 | 21:1 | 13:1 | 10:1 |
| -3 | 57:1 | 51:1 | 43:1 | 23:1 | 15:1 |
| -4 | 151:1 | 121:1 | 87:1 | 40:1 | 22:1 |
| -5 | 379:1 | 276:1 | 174:1 | 72:1 | 35:1 |
| -6 | 790:1 | 536:1 | 323:1 | 130:1 | 60:1 |
| -7 | 2349:1 | 1200:1 | 552:1 | 229:1 | 101:1 |
| -8 | 20111:1 | 4467:1 | 1138:1 | 382:1 | 185:1 |
| -9 | 48219:1 | 27877:1 | 3577:1 | 695:1 | 359:1 |
| -10 | 125000:1 | 84300:1 | 37000:1 | 1650:1 | 874:1 |
So if the net 63 winner was in the handicap range 6-9, the odds of him shooting that score were 1 in 27,877. If the net 63 winner were in the handicap range 0-5, the odds of him shooting that score were 1 in 48,219. Let’s call it what it is, CHEATING.
The winner of the 3rd flight was a 17 handicap who shot 77, one shot worse than my gritty 76. The chart above doesn’t even go as high as a 12 differential. Closest odds are one in 37,000. Yeah, that’s likely. Can you believe that two players in the same tournament both overcame odds between 1-28,000 and 1 and 1-48,000? The odds of both of those happening at the same time have to be worse than the odds of winning the powerball.
“The Doctor”
There’s a guy who USED to be in my men’s leauge. He was a doctor and quite well off financially. The reason he left our league? We started punching in his scores, low 70’s, into the state handicapping system. He flat out told us, “I can’t win any state tournaments if you guys punch in my scores.”
Here’s a guy who doesn’t need prize money. He could afford any golf gear he wanted. Yet, he still CHEATED by not posting his low scores and by not carrying a legitimate handicap so he could “win.” Sounds like a loser to me.
“James Taylor”
I remember another CHEATER I became aware of. He had registered with the local golf association a handicap card under the name “James Taylor.” Not only is that the name of a sappy guitar player/singer, it is not this guy’s name. “James Taylor” won a net event and the $700 in prize money for first place. I hope the guy gets the shanks with the clubs he bought using his ill-gotten prize money.
“Match Play Champion”
A good friend who is also very frustrated with sandbaggers CHEATERS told me his latest bad experience. He was playing in his club’s net match play event. He made it to the championship match against a player who was a 13 handicap. That 13 handicap shot a round in the low 70’s and crushed his opponent, my pal, for the championship. Upon looking at his scoring record in the state handicap system, something which is publicly available, he hadn’t punched in a single golf score in 3-4 YEARS. He kept telling my buddy “this is the best round I’ve shot in years…” Yeah, right. You are a dirt-bag cheating liar.
Not What Golf Stands For
Cheating goes against what golf stands for. Golf is supposed to be an honorable game. We golfers police ourselves, call penalties on ourselves.
Solution?
My solution is to no longer compete in competitions that sandbaggers CHEATERS play in. That ruins it for me because I want to compete in state golf association sanctioned events. I’ve found a couple of leagues which combat CHEATERS by having their own league handicapping policies and punching in every score. I’ll compete there, and perhaps in tournaments which have “gross within flight” type competitions. That helps reduce the problem but still doesn’t stop a person who plays like a 3 but pads his handicap up to a 10.
Do Nothing?
It amazes me that people just sit back and let it happen. If you were cheated in business you’d probably take legal action. If you were cheated in your marriage you’d probably divorce. You get cheated in golf and do nothing?
Your Thoughts?
Do you have any solutions? I’d love to hear them. There’s a Wall Street Journal Article which discusses a system which sounds interesting.
First Look: 3UP Golf Balls
Written by: Tony Korologos | Friday, June 7th, 2013
Categories: Golf Balls • Golf Gear • Miscellaneous • Site News
Categories: Golf Balls • Golf Gear • Miscellaneous • Site News
I have to admire the tenacity of some golf entrepreneurs. Even though there are billion dollar companies out there making golf balls, Rob Zimmerman and 3UP Golf decided they’d join the fray. I have a dozen 3UP 3f12 golf balls to try. They’re a three piece ball meant to perform and feel like a balata but also produce modern distance. I’d like that.
As an extra cool bonus, $3 of each dozen sold is earmarked to a golf related charity. Cool. Buy high performance golf balls and support a great cause. And rather than a typical cardboard box, these balls come in a nice bag which would be great for carrying golf tees and other stuff around in.
In hand the balls look sharp and have what looks to be a dimple pattern close to the 330-332 dimple designs. The balls feel very tacky so I can tell they’ll produce a ton of spin around the greens.
I’ll put them in play as soon as I can and start working up my review.
Great Father’s Day Golf Gifts Over $50
I recently posted an article for those of you shopping for Father’s Day with a budget of $50 or less, Great Father’s Day Golf Gifts Under $50. Today’s Father’s Day gift guide is for those with a larger budget, $50 and up. What’s the limit? Let’s find out. In my gift guide I will include products I’ve reviewed here at Hooked On Golf Blog and a link to the original review so you can get some detailed information and product links.
Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip Golf Shoes – $190
The Ecco Tour Hybrid combines classy traditional wingtip dress shoe design with a hybrid golf/street sole. You can wear these beauties to work or the golf course. Ecco is famous for great performance and high comfort and the Tour Hybrid Wingtip meets that expectation.
Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip Golf Shoe Review
FootJoy M:Project Golf Shoes – $145
Not just one shoe recommendation in this article. Equal opportunity blogging here. I’ve been digging the light weight and high performance of the FootJoy M:Project golf shoes. These are a departure for my pals at the normally conservative FootJoy, and a good one. My M:Projects are quite possibly the most comfortable FootJoys I own and likely my primary choice for the hard ground in St. Andrews next month.
FootJoy M:Project Golf Shoe Review
Rukk Net – Portable Golf Practice Net – $199
I had this net setup in my basement over the winter and it really gave me a great way to keep the golf swing somewhat loose during those long winter months. Now that the weather is warmer, I have the net setup in my back yard. Sometimes I secretly wish the net would fail and my errant practice ball would find the cranium of the neighbor lady’s yelping poodle. I can dream. The Rukk Net is super solid and can handle shots from every club in the bag, but I wouldn’t recommend putting into it. Setup and teardown is a breeze, just a few seconds.
Ecco Leather Golf Belts – $100
Ecco is widely known for the superb leather they use to make their fine shoes. They own their own tanneries. That same fine leather is now available in these super stylish leather golf belts which come in three colors. I have a white and brown one. They’re fantastic.
Cobra Golf – Amp Cell Driver – $299
I’m not necessarily into matching my golf clubs with my apparel. I AM into crushing my driver long distances and hitting about 80% of my fairways. That’s exactly what I’m doing with the Amp Cell Driver by Cobra Golf. This is a very sharp looking adjustable driver which comes in four colors. I chose red and it is a beauty. It is also a beauty when I outdrive my friends opponents…
Miura New Wedge Series – $$$$$
I didn’t want to even hit this wedge for fear of putting a scratch or ding in it. I almost just mounted it on the wall in my office here at HOG World Headquarters. This club is a thing of beauty only surpassed by the incredible feel and performance it produces. Miura’s clubs are not for those on a limited budget. If you have to ask how much this club is, it is probably out of your budget range…
SkyCaddie Breeze Golf GPS
GPS technology is getting better and better, and less expensive. For you golfers who like to use GPS units, the SkyCaddie Breeze is a solid and inexpensive choice. The unit comes pre-loaded with 30,000 courses, tracks your scores/stats and measures club distances.
Sun Mountain Micro Cart – $199
This review is a little old but this cart still rules. The Sun Mountain Micro Cart is a 4-wheel golf push cart, “trolley” for those of you in the UK. The unit folds to a very small and manageable size for the trunk or the garage. Note: I have the new “sport” version of this cart and I’m in the process of reviewing it now. Stay tuned.
Sun Mountain Micro Cart Review
Golf At Black Mesa Golf Club, New Mexico – Affordable
For my final and grand Father’s Day golf gift idea I’m recommending you book dad (and me) a trip to New Mexico to play golf at my favorite course in the USA, Black Mesa Golf Club. There are two golf courses in the world which have made me consider moving to be close to them, the Old Course at St. Andrews and Black Mesa. It is THAT good.
Black Mesa Golf Club – Hole 15 – click to enlarge
Dad can stay in the Santa Claran Hotel in town, a nice new hotel built by the Santa Clara Pueblo.
Black Mesa Photo Gallery (322 images, until I go back and shoot more)
Golf on TV This Week
Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, June 6th, 2013
Categories: Champions Tour • European Tour • LPGA Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
Categories: Champions Tour • European Tour • LPGA Tour • PGA Tour • Pro Golf
PGA Tour
FedEx St. Jude Classic
TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
TV
Thursday & Friday 3-6 p.m. Golf Channel
Saturday & Sunday 1-2:30 p.m. Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. CBS
Notables in the field: Dustin Johnson, Charley Hoffman, Ian Poulter, John Daly, Tim Clark, Padraig Harrington, Gary Woodland.
Champions Tour
Regions Tradition (Major Championship)
Shoal Creek, Alabama
TV
Thursday & Friday 6:30-8:30 p.m. Golf Channel
Saturday & Sunday 7:30-9:30 p.m. Golf Channel
In the field: Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer, John Cook, Craig Stadler, Kenny Perry, Fred Funk, Duffy Waldorf (who recently won on the PGA Tour), Jay Hass, Jay Don Blake.
LPGA Tour
Wegmans LPGA Championship
Locust Hill Country Club, Rochester, New York
TV
Thursday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. 12:00 noon (tape delay) Golf Channel
Golf Book Review: An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course
I first have to apologize to my lovely lass (Scottish for lady/wife) for pretty much ignoring her a couple of nights ago. I only had about 30 pages left in my latest read An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course
An American Caddie in St. Andrews: Growing Up, Girls, and Looping on the Old Course
I like how Oliver had several plots going at the same time during the book: The caddie life, the college life, family life, and love life. No matter what happened in any of those parts of his life and where they took Oliver, St. Andrews called him. I understand the call. Ever since going there the first time, it as been calling me to come back. I’ll be there in one month for a beautiful week. Can’t wait.
Without giving the story away, there are great moments and sad moments in the book. On no less than three occasions I had tears in my eyes, and not the Bill Murray Caddie Shack kind. Following Oliver’s birdie putt on 18 toward the end of the book I had to pause and gather myself before I could continue. Deep breaths…
Conclusion
Oliver’s story is a delightful account of a one person’s unique journey through a crucial developmental time in his life, spent at one of the most magical places on this planet, St. Andrews. The writing is brilliant (Scottish term) and the insights on the Old Course caddies are fantastic. I remember back in 2011 when I was walking with my caddie John Boyne (mentioned in the book) and a fellow caddie on another hole signaled to John by holding up his player’s golf club high in the air and waving it. Now I know what that means!
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