Handicap Query

Benicetomonty

Unusual situation has arisen of late, not sure whether or not to pursue it.

Last Wednesday, I shot 37 points around my home course off 2.7 exact (playing 3) handicap. The CSS that day was 34, so I got cut 0.3, bringing me back to exact 2.4 and playing handicap of 2.

On Friday, I played an open in Beech Park and struggled, shooting only 29 points and was well outside the buffer zone. I then played my home course again the following day, and when I swiped in, I was surprised to see the inevitable 0.1 from the previous day hadn't been processed, which meant I was still off 2.4 as far as the GolfNet system was concerned. I played on and shot a 76 gross,(+5) or 33 points net off 2 handicap.

And there my troubles began. Knowing I was going to be quite close to the buffer, I wrote a small note on my card explaining how the outstanding 0.1 hadn't yet come through and that I should've been off 3 for the comp on Saturday. I subsequently got in touch with our handicap secretary, and he explained that it was erroneous on my part to have done that and that, in essence, if the online system hasn't kept up with your scores, you can cut yourself before a competition, but you cannot increase your handicap, regardless of whether it is prudent to do so.

Which I'm ok with (well not really, since the whole idea of the current system is to update handicaps with every qualifying round and not at the discretion of a random away club's speed in closing competitions), but now the problem has arisen that has left me off a higher handicap than I technically should be.

If I had been off 3 on Saturday, I would have made the buffer zone. Off 2, I missed out and received another 0.1 which, added on to Friday's, has left me currently off 2.6. If the original 0.1 had come through on time, I 'd be off 2.5, which is incorrect based on the sequence of events (from what I can tell).

Am I wrong? Or can anyone clarify things for me? Would be interested to hear if something similar has happened to anyone else here and what the outcome was. Might seem insignificant but playing off a higher handicap than recent efforts have warranted doesn't sit particularly well with me...

OilBeefHooked2

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Unusual situation has arisen of late, not sure whether or not to pursue it.

Last Wednesday, I shot 37 points around my home course off 2.7 exact (playing 3) handicap. The CSS that day was 34, so I got cut 0.3, bringing me back to exact 2.4 and playing handicap of 2.

On Friday, I played an open in Beech Park and struggled, shooting only 29 points and was well outside the buffer zone. I then played my home course again the following day, and when I swiped in, I was surprised to see the inevitable 0.1 from the previous day hadn't been processed, which meant I was still off 2.4 as far as the GolfNet system was concerned. I played on and shot a 76 gross,(+5) or 33 points net off 2 handicap.

And there my troubles began. Knowing I was going to be quite close to the buffer, I wrote a small note on my card explaining how the outstanding 0.1 hadn't yet come through and that I should've been off 3 for the comp on Saturday. I subsequently got in touch with our handicap secretary, and he explained that it was erroneous on my part to have done that and that, in essence, if the online system hasn't kept up with your scores, you can cut yourself before a competition, but you cannot increase your handicap, regardless of whether it is prudent to do so.

Which I'm ok with (well not really, since the whole idea of the current system is to update handicaps with every qualifying round and not at the discretion of a random away club's speed in closing competitions), but now the problem has arisen that has left me off a higher handicap than I technically should be.

If I had been off 3 on Saturday, I would have made the buffer zone. Off 2, I missed out and received another 0.1 which, added on to Friday's, has left me currently off 2.6. If the original 0.1 had come through on time, I 'd be off 2.5, which is incorrect based on the sequence of events (from what I can tell).

Am I wrong? Or can anyone clarify things for me? Would be interested to hear if something similar has happened to anyone else here and what the outcome was. Might seem insignificant but playing off a higher handicap than recent efforts have warranted doesn't sit particularly well with me...

I'm amazed you're off 3 and this is only news to you now, in the past you had to wait till the end of the calender month to get .1's applied.

big_drive

You'll get no where if you pursue it, I've seen it happen others on numerous occasions. I've seen away scores take over a week to be put through and as a result guys have played off a particular handicap when a .1 back would have given them a shot extra.
its annoying but that's the way it is

Russman

david-k wrote: »

I'm amazed you're off 3 and this is only news to you now, in the past you had to wait till the end of the calender month to get .1's applied.

The waiting until the end of the month was scrapped a few years ago.

Op, I don't know for sure so take this with a pinch of salt, but I'd say you should be off the 2.5
I'm basing this purely on the fact that the computer system is an aid, whereas the card is the "bible" so to speak with scoring/results. Its not your fault that the system, for whatever reason isn't up to date, you can't know that when entering a comp. I'd say its up to your h/cap sec to sort it out for you now...

Benicetomonty

david-k wrote: »

I'm amazed you're off 3 and this is only news to you now, in the past you had to wait till the end of the calender month to get .1's applied.

Not sure which part should've been news to me since we're both aware that the 'each month' system no longer exists.


"Op, I don't know for sure so take this with a pinch of salt, but I'd say you should be off the 2.5
I'm basing this purely on the fact that the computer system is an aid, whereas the card is the "bible" so to speak with scoring/results. Its not your fault that the system, for whatever reason isn't up to date, you can't know that when entering a comp. I'd say its up to your h/cap sec to sort it out for you now..."

I'd like to think you're right Russman, but will have to see how it plays out. Have updated my handicap sec, so hopefully something comes of it, even though big-drive might well be right.

mag

yep, happened me too. youre at the mercy of golfnet processing for 0.1s back.

OilBeefHooked2

Russman wrote: »

The waiting until the end of the month was scrapped a few years ago.

The end of month reference was to show that while the system now isn't perfect it's better than what it was.

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Not sure which part should've been news to me since we're both aware that the 'each month' system no longer exists.

I think it's odd that someone off 3 doesn't know how the HC system works and has never encountered this before, it's incredibly straight forward.
Congu are quiet clear about this, you must cut yourself when you beat CSS whether that particular comp is closed or not, if you can't find out what CSS is or it hasn't yet been calulated then you must use SSS.
In the case of .1s, you can not apply them yourself, you must wait for them to be processed by golfnet, afaik that's always been the case since the computer syetem came in to been.

big_drive

I'm 100% certain nothing will happen, have seen plenty examples of it before. And if you're handicap sec did reverse anything he'd be wrong, it would actually probably lead to even more problems with GUI/golfnet down the line as you'd then be deemed to have played off wrong h/cap in any subsequent comps.


It's certainly a strange one in many ways. You're expected to cut yourself for away scores but can't add on the .1's.

Player in my club last year thought you were also meant to add on the .1's even if they hadn't gone through system. He did so and came 2nd with 39 pts. Was then disqualified for playing off wrong handicap and having wrong h-cap written on his card. But he was also cut for the 39 pts

Benicetomonty

david-k wrote: »

The end of month reference was to show that while the system now isn't perfect it's better than what it was.



I think it's odd that someone off 3 doesn't know how the HC system works and has never encountered this before, it's incredibly straight forward.
Congu are quiet clear about this, you must cut yourself when you beat CSS whether that particular comp is closed or not, if you can't find out what CSS is or it hasn't yet been calulated then you must use SSS.
In the case of .1s, you can not apply them yourself, you must wait for them to be processed by golfnet, afaik that's always been the case since the computer syetem came in to been.

Assuming you're not missing the point (which is that I'm now off 2.6 when I should be 2.5), the system is therefore accommodating a situation where a golfer can play off a handicap higher than his/her ability at that time, which goes against every basic notion of fair play with which golf is associated. Which I regard as decidedly un-straightforward. You may well be right but I don't believe my view of this to be trivial.

DuckSlice

I know when you sign in with your card the computer asks you have you had any scores which would lower your handicap! I think you just have to wait for the .1 to come back through the system!

OilBeefHooked2

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Assuming you're not missing the point (which is that I'm now off 2.6 when I should be 2.5), the system is therefore accommodating a situation where a golfer can play off a handicap higher than his/her ability at that time, which goes against every basic notion of fair play with which golf is associated. Which I regard as decidedly un-straightforward. You may well be right but I don't believe my view of this to be trivial.

Assuming you now know how the system works, how do you propose to fix this anomaly?.

PARlance

Benicetomonty wrote: »

Assuming you're not missing the point (which is that I'm now off 2.6 when I should be 2.5), the system is therefore accommodating a situation where a golfer can play off a handicap higher than his/her ability at that time, which goes against every basic notion of fair play with which golf is associated. Which I regard as decidedly un-straightforward. You may well be right but I don't believe my view of this to be trivial.

It does seem a bit odd but that's the way it is.
If you take a similar scenario but change it slightly it throws a whole different perspective on it.
You're playing the day before and are closer to 32,33 points, you think CSS is normally 36 so play off 3 and then go onto win on a count back.
It later transpires that CSS was 75 for the previous day and you shouldn't have went up to 3 instead you were in the buffer zone, but you won a comp by playing off a higher HC by guessing.

Appreciate it's frustrating, but when you change the scenario slightly it's clear why they make sure all reductions are required and plus 1s can wait.
Your example is very unfortunate for you, but better for everyone else.

If its any consolation, you'd be fuming if you had started the process at 2.3, then you'd be 2.5 now when you "could" have been 2.4.

Benicetomonty

david-k wrote: »

Assuming you now know how the system works, how do you propose to fix this anomaly?.

I wouldn't have thought it would be that difficult to simply update the system retrospectively to be honest. I've no problem playing the competition on Saturday off 2, but can't see why the system doesn't just sort the whole thing out when the 0.1 does come through. Maybe that's simply a technical flaw that could be addressed?

Understand what you mean AJ, but to give you another hypothetical, I could go out and get cut 0.1 in my next event, and win the Captain's prize the following week off 3 when I should be off 2. It does work both ways, but neither is the correct way. Frustrating to say the least!

mag

before you played on that sat had beech park posted your away score....so its just a case of your handicap not being updated by your sec?

this is a particularly annoying one i find. i constantly hover between 4 and 5 and with some junior scratch cutoffs being 5 ive missed out on eligibility due to my sec not processing away scores that are outside the buffer. i think this is a flaw in the system and that you should be allowed to adjust when the away score is posted and its clear youve got 0.1 back.

kiers47

Fairly interesting situation op. let us know what comes of it if you pursue it.

ajcurry123 wrote: »

If its any consolation, you'd be fuming if you had started the process at 2.3, then you'd be 2.5 now when you "could" have been 2.4.

I'm not sure this would make any difference for his scenario aj as his playing handicap Didnt change until after the last comp thus his scores would have been identical.

PARlance

kiers47 wrote: »

I'm not sure this would make any difference for his scenario aj as his playing handicap Didnt change until after the last comp thus his scores would have been identical.

You're right there Ted

Rikand

According to my handicap secretary, it's about the dates of the competitions. So when the away scores are processed, it should auto-correct itself by looking at the dates.

Basically, when everything catches up, you should be off 2.5 and not 2.6 - but in the meantime, just play off whatever handicap is in the system when you sign in

Benicetomonty

Rickylovesuall wrote: »

According to my handicap secretary, it's about the dates of the competitions. So when the away scores are processed, it should auto-correct itself by looking at the dates.

Basically, when everything catches up, you should be off 2.5 and not 2.6 - but in the meantime, just play off whatever handicap is in the system when you sign in

All the dates are now listed in order Ricky so not confident this will happen. The home score on Saturday simply has me off 2.5, playing 3, within the requisite 1 shot from the css of the day, but still down for the 0.1. Glad to hear what your sec believes though, makes the most sense imo