GolfStinks

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Do Golf Handicaps Lie?

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It’s no secret some golfers lie about their handicap. But can the handicap system itself be a bit deceiving?

I keep my own handicap – it’s not that hard, you just have to play at least five rounds of golf and then understand how to calculate it (more about that later).

But what if you play all your rounds at the same course? I’ve played many rounds in charity tournaments with guys who claim a handicap far better than the skill they displayed out on the links.

Do they lie? No their handicap does.

Invariably, these guys are members of a private club and all the scores they use to calculate their handicap have been calculated from that one course.

Sorry gents, your handicap is biased. I play a different course nearly every time. But if I played the same 18 holes day in and day out, for sure I would learn all the nooks and crannies, the dos and don’ts of that course. My scores overtime would get exponentially better.

Better scores translate to a lower handicap, which leads to bragging rights among the foursome. But go to a new course, and suddenly your 10 handicap looks more like a 15. What happened?

Golf happened! No two golf courses are alike. And that fact is perhaps among the most unique and defining features of this game – that to truly test your metal, you must play all that golf has to offer – not just the same tract of turf over and over again. But by only playing the same course, you’re doing your handicap (and yourself) a disservice.

Another wee issue I have with the handicap system is this whole five rounds thing. Statistically, I would think the more rounds you include, the more accurate your handicap. But there are many who say all you need is five.

Personally, I think the 5-round rule is so people can obtain a handicap faster. But to me, five rounds just isn’t enough – so I calculate my handicap from my previous 20 rounds. In case you didn’t know the formula for a handicap, here it is:

1. Play 20 rounds of 18-hole golf.
2. For each round, use this formula to calculate a handicap differential: (Your Score – The Course Rating) x 113 / The Slope Rating
3. Take the 10 best differentials and average them.
4. Multiply that average by 0.96.

Presto – you have a handicap. Can I poke holes in this formula? Sure – for example, who decided 113 was the “standard” slope rating and what was their logic? And why 96%? Are we assuming a 4% margin of error or something?

But despite these quasi-questionable values in the formula, nothing will skew the accuracy of a handicap like having your 20 scores coming all from one course.

I enjoy calculating my handicap every year and I feel it’s a pretty accurate reflection of my skill level. I just don’t think everyone can say the same thing about their handicap.

Free Pair of Golf Sunglasses Anyone?

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Not too long ago, I purchased a pair of sunglasses for golf. At nearly 100 bucks, I was hoping I would get plenty of rounds out of them. Alas, my new sunglasses lasted a little over one season before I dropped on them on the cart path and scratched the lenses.

While I can’t fault the sunglass company for this mishap, I can fault myself for getting such an expensive pair. Now don’t get me wrong, many people spend well over $100 on sunglasses, but if I’m going to keep them in my golf bag and take hundreds (the way I play) of swings per round with them, a pricey pair shades may not necessarily be the way to go.

Enter a site called the SunglassWarehouse.com. While these guys have a surplus of shades for multiple uses, I like how they have an info page specifically for golfers.

Not only does this page explain why golfers should wear sunglasses (UV protection, etc.) but it also claims wearing certain sunglasses can actually improve your golf game! According to the site: “Some sunglasses will protect your eyes from above UV rays, and at the same time help your game by improving your view of the fairway.”

Not only that, but the right polarization can help you read the breaks in the green better. And, according to the site, all golfer shades must have a snug fit, to keep them from slipping down your nose at address.

OK, so by now, I know what you’re thinking – can the type of sunglasses really help my golf game? Well, I wondered the same thing and the good folks over at Sunglass Warehouse sent me a pair to test out (see photo at top). Actually, they sent me two pairs – one pair to test out and one pair to give out – to one of you!

I recently played my first round of the season. With no leaves yet on the trees to block the sun up here in New England, I thought it would be a perfect time to test my new shades. I also carried a pair of “sport” sunglasses that did not have polarization – just to see if there was a difference.

Sure enough, the polarized sunglasses were actually an improvement over the non-polarized sunglasses. In direct sunlight, I could see the fairway and green much better. In addition, the fit was just right – snug enough to stay put, yet not uncomfortably tight. On top of all this, they are UV 400.

So yes, a little thing like which sunglasses you choose can help you be a better golfer. And the beautiful thing is, these types of sunglasses don’t have to break the bank (or to put it another way, if you drop them on the cart path and scratch the lenses, it won’t hurt your wallet as much).

So – how do you win a pair for yourself? Just go over to the Golfstinks Facebook page (“like” us if you haven’t already) and “like” the post on our wall called “Free Pair of Golf Sunglasses Anyone?” That’s it! We’ll select one random winner from all those who like that Facebook post!

Good Luck!

Has Tiger Become Just An Average Golfer?

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I want to start by giving some praise to ESPN.  I’ve been tuned into Sunday Night Baseball for about 30-40 minutes as of right now, and the only time I’ve seen the word “Tiger” is in reference to Detroit. 

Not for nothing, but when a golfer finishes tied for 40th, fifteen strokes off the lead and doesn’t break par once in four days…that’s the way it should be.  I should see the names Watson and Oosthuizen more than any other name today.  I should see those names so often that I’ll actually learn how to correctly pronounce Oosthuizen! 

But that brings me to my actual point.  Has Tiger fallen far enough that he can now be considered not much more than an average golfer on the tour?  When you really look at it, the stats show exactly that.  Despite a second place finish at the Honda Classic and his win this year at The Arnold Palmer Invitational, that’s his only win since 2009.  Follow his win with a +5 showing at The Masters, and his last win at a major dates back to the 2008 U.S. Open, though he has had some strong showings in between.

Could it be due to the knee injury suffered in 2008?  I think many people would attribute it to exactly that.  Couple that with the distraction of his more recent off-course issues, and you can see an obvious decline.  Even worse is that he is now 36 years old, right around a time when most pro athletes begin, or are already into, a physical break-down.  Obviously though, golfers are in a different category as there is not the same serious physical strain on the body as with some other sports.  But with younger players joining the tour every year, Tiger appears more and more beatable all the time.

I’m certainly not saying that Tiger is done.  I believe he’s far from it.  But what I am saying is, though the media will have you believe we are still watching the Tiger of several years ago, he is no longer the threat to win every time he sets foot on the course as he once was.  But to me, that’s good.  I prefer to see a wide open field in a tournament that anyone can win on any given weekend.  With so many great golfers on the tour, it’s nice to see some attention being given to them rather than the guy who finished so far back that he didn’t even matter.

But I’m sure many will not agree.  Many believe there needs to be one dominant player on the tour for others to gun for.  However, I don’t believe it’s about the other golfers.  It’s about the fans.  The fans need to be introduced to other golfers on the tour.  And by having a field that’s much more open than it may have been in the past, what better time or way to get it done? 

Tiger worked miracles for the PGA and they have reaped the benefits for sixteen years now.  But sooner or later, he’s not going to be there anymore.  So before it’s too late, they may want to take action to promote these many other golfers who have caught, and soon, will surpass the great Tiger.

Swing ’til you’re happy!
                     

Does Augusta Think Girls Have Cooties?

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When I was a kid our families would get together at our grandmother’s house every Sunday. Coming from a large Italian family, this was a good way for all the aunts, uncles and cousins to see each other. Just like clockwork the older members would sit around the kitchen table drinking espresso and pick at some sort of cake or pie while the cousins would go off and play. And just like clockwork, the boys would either make some sort of a make-shift fort in the backyard or occupy a back room and then implement a “no girls allowed” policy.

This story reminds me of Augusta National Golf Club. A male-only golf club since opening in 1933. Here’s the kicker; a woman can play Augusta only if she is invited by a member but can’t become a member. What’s so secretive that only 300 or so “invited” male members are privy to? Well, well, well Augusta…the day of reckoning has come.

In the past, IBM’s CEOs were normally given memberships to the club (Note: IBM sponsors the tourney). But what if IBM’s CEO is female? Uh-oh! Enter Virginia Rometty. IBM’S new CEO and guess what? She’s a women. Sounds like Augusta is in a little bit of a pickle. Not to mention, Obama and Romney (in a rare instance) both agreed they should allow female members. Yikes, talk about pressure.

I’m pretty sure if women really wanted to be granted membership at Augusta they could get it. Females are damn good at persuasion. How often does a woman buy a man an engagement ring? There you go. I’ll bet if women used a bit of third grade reverse psychology it might work. You know, “We don’t want to be in your stupid club anyway…it smells. We’re starting our own.” The boys laugh it off and tell the girls to go start their own club but in the back of their minds they really want to know what the girl club is doing. Then the boys notice “Hey, they have sandwiches and cake. We don’t have sandwiches and cake.”

I like sandwiches and cake.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

Related posts: Male-Only Golf Clubs: Sexist Bastards or Constitutional Right?

Why You’re to Blame for Slow Play

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Ever get stuck golfing behind shanks, hook, skull and slice? Of course you have. It sucks, doesn’t it? Well, chew on this: Someone in your foursome is probably to blame, if not yourself.

More on that in a moment. But first, let’s state the facts:

  • Slow play is a serious problem in amateur golf
  • Slow play is a serious problem in professional golf
  • Slow play is never tolerated, yet is rampant everywhere

That last fact is perhaps the most important. I’ve played a ton of golf courses and almost every one has a statement on their scorecard (or on a sign) regarding slow play (e.g. “slow play is not tolerated” or “keep up with the group in front of you” or something to that effect). Why?

Well, because slow play is everywhere. It’s not isolated to a select few – I would even venture to say it afflicts about 1 in 4 golfers. Now I don’t have any data to backup my statement (not sure any even exists), but think about the foursomes you’ve played in – probably at least one person in each foursome could be labeled as a “slow player.” Sure, sometimes you’re able to push this person along gently, but other times you find yourself waiting on them (especially while the group behind you is waiting on the tee).

In any event, slow play is rampant. So much so, the powers that be in golf created the Tee it Forward campaign, which, as we stated in a recent post, was implemented mainly to curb slow play.

So who’s to blame?

Well, I say 3 in 4 golfers are to blame. Not the slow player, but the rest of the group (e.g. you). Slow play is a direct result of poor etiquette. Someone, somewhere, at some point introduced the slow player to the game of golf. It was up to that someone to instill the fundamental rules of etiquette in that new golfer – including an emphasis on slow play.

We are all responsible. We must make it a point (right up there with don’t step on someone’s line) to teach about the poor sportsmanship of slow play. This lesson needs to be learned right at the beginning – DO NOT hold up the group behind you – if you’re hitting your 12th shot on one hole, perhaps it’s time to pickup and move on to the next hole (your score doesn’t matter at that point anyway).

But there has been a lax in teaching proper etiquette to new golfers. It’s obvious – poor etiquette and slow play can be found in every foursome – and we have no one to blame but ourselves. Keep this in mind the next time you’re introducing golf to someone new.

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