Matchplay Ireland

If it were me I'd withdraw.

Winning off 9 in round 1 then finding out you should have been playing off 5 as per rules(no matter what the confusion) then to be told sure you will just play off5 in the next round has the whole competition rotten to the core.

That's my opinion and nothing personal tones. I just don't see how it's just brushed away so flipintly but nothing surprises me in golf anymore in terms of handicaps.

PARlance wrote: »

Was last weekend the Finals?
And this weekend, The Grand Finals?

Their T&C'S state that you play off 5 at the grand finals!
So maybe you were entitled to play off 9 last weekend?

Here's the link to the T&C'S for anyone else
http://www.irishopenmatchplay.ie/index.php/terms-conditions
Rules 4 is misleading and daft, Rule 15 would suggest that you were perfectly entitled to play off 9 last week.
Maybe they've just changed the wording.

I actually was thinking the same

bustercherry wrote: »

I actually was thinking the same

Would be interesting to know the full story.
We can start calling for Tones' head and spouting venom then I suppose.
Sorry to disappoint you in the meantime

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

+1 to this, while it's possible that tones69 was one of a small few who weren't asked the question about the two shot drop at check in, it seems most unlikely, especailly when levitronix and his playing partner were asked.
While in the short term it's possibly massively disappointing for you tones69, in the long run you'll have your honour and reputation intact, the only honourable thing to do is step down.

If that rule 15 has just been changed since Tones contacted them then it's incredibly poor form from the organisers.
Won't do much for the credibility of a tournament they're trying to get up and running.
They refer to last week as the finals and this weekend as the Grand Finals. So at present he has broken no rules.

But that contradicts what we also know what happened last week, that Levtronixs and others were asked if they were 2 shots lower. Doesn't make sense.

If I knew I had broken a rule then I'd withdraw.
If the organisers then told me they made a mistake and were going to change the rules then I would still hope I'd withdraw but I wouldn't kid myself by saying it was an easy decision.

It's a bit of a shambles really. Rule 4 still states that handicaps are frozen for the duration of the event. It still contradicts rule 15. So there's still a case that Tones could argue he should be playing off 9 according to Rule 4.

Ultimately, any mud sticks so I'd be bowing out but I'd have a serious gripe with the organisers.

ForeRight wrote: »

If it were me I'd withdraw.

Winning off 9 in round 1 then finding out you should have been playing off 5 as per rules(no matter what the confusion) then to be told sure you will just play off 5 in the next round has the whole competition rotten to the core.

That's my opinion and nothing personal tones. I just don't see how it's just brushed away so flipintly but nothing surprises me in golf anymore in terms of handicaps.

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

+1 to this, while it's possible that tones69 was one of a small few who weren't asked the question about the two shot drop at check in, it seems most unlikely, especailly when levitronix and his playing partner were asked.
While in the short term it's possibly massively disappointing for you tones69, in the long run you'll have your honour and reputation intact, the only honourable thing to do is step down.

Norfolk Enchants, the wording of your post above is a bit incriminating implying that Tones was asked about the two shot drop on check in but failed to disclose it. Was that your intention?

Anyway I don't see what withdrawing or stepping down would achieve. No one would be aware of the reasons for the withdrawal apart from possibly those reading here. I can't see the organisers publicly stating the reason why he withdrew. His honor or reputation is not at stake here by continuing to play, he qualified and played according to the rules given at the time. It's purely bad organisation and in the hands of the organsiers to resolve, not Tones.

Tones I hope you go on to win the grand finals outright playing off 5. Maybe question why there was an arbitrary two shot limit before the new handicap became applicable in your winners speech. A one shot cut should have the same impact in my book.

Tones69 wrote: »

Dont really feel the need to be here justifying this and justifying that, its already sorted. As already stated, as was in rule 4 that all hcaps are frozen from april 28th for the duration of the comp. A LOT of people thought this was the case, and originally it was.
An awful lot of confusion and andrew confirmed that for me on the phone. People on the desk taking hcap certs on the morning knew the scenario on letting people know on hcaps but nothing was said. There was no talk of the 2 shot drop allowance over the whole tournament which has been goin on a long time now. And to that domo lad there im not retaliating to that or i will be banned, AGAIN

i remember the discussion on irish open matchplay website back in march/april . tones is correct. handicaps were frozen. that was the rule. the gui use your lowest from previous year. so it is kind of similar. going from 9 to 5 in one year is good and honest golf in comparison to alot of fellas holding their handicap or getting .1's.

playing off 9 when you know your a current 5. must be difficult to keep a straight face when shaking hands with opponent. not the competitors fault, but the competition committee for overseeing handicaps as poorly as in last weeknds case in carton house.
lads played for months to get there, seems highly unjust but id imagine there are several guys who made big h/c reductions during the year and cleaned up nicely last weeknd. GUI handicaps there for a reason, don't see why these competitions cant use them correctly.

stitcheddepin wrote: »

playing off 9 when you know your a current 5. must be difficult to keep a straight face when shaking hands with opponent. not the competitors fault, but the competition committee for overseeing handicaps as poorly as in last weeknds case in carton house.
lads played for months to get there, seems highly unjust but id imagine there are several guys who made big h/c reductions during the year and cleaned up nicely last weeknd. GUI handicaps there for a reason, don't see why these competitions cant use them correctly.

Why would it be hard to keep a straight face? As others said, that's the norm in many GUI events. So "these" competitions don't use current HC's but neither does the GUI use current ones in plenty too.

I'd prefer to be playing Tones, an honest golfer who will be off 5 next year in this rather than another guy that's stayed off 9 all year but might be just as good a golfer as Tones.

PARlance wrote: »

Why would it be hard to keep a straight face? As others said, that's the norm in many GUI events. So "these" competitions don't use current HC's but neither does the GUI use current ones in plenty too.

I'd prefer to be playing Tones, an honest golfer who will be off 5 next year in this rather than another guy that's stayed off 9 all year but might be just as good a golfer as Tones.

I think its just ridiculous that in a handicaped event, its not your current handicap.
Playing a square match when your handicap is 5 shots better than your opponent is crazy, its defeats the point of handicaps in the first place.

Slightly off current topic. But whats the story with teams beaten in the last 32 of the singles appearing in the draw for the last 16? Its not even if Team A beats team B and A can't make it this weekend, then B gets brought through. It appears to be a totally random selection of 2 teams getting through.

Also, has there been any information on county and overall prize? all i've seen so far is just there will be prizes for county and over all winners.

I've enjoyed the competition so far. Only played one practice round in Carton, but was lucky my opponent had only played the front 9 in his practice.

Tones69 wrote: »

Dont really feel the need to be here justifying this and justifying that, its already sorted. As already stated, as was in rule 4 that all hcaps are frozen from april 28th for the duration of the comp. A LOT of people thought this was the case, and originally it was.
An awful lot of confusion and andrew confirmed that for me on the phone. People on the desk taking hcap certs on the morning knew the scenario on letting people know on hcaps but nothing was said. There was no talk of the 2 shot drop allowance over the whole tournament which has been goin on a long time now. And to that domo lad there im not retaliating to that or i will be banned, AGAIN

Haha ..you getting banned AGAIN says more about you then it does about me Tones.

My strong spirit of fair play does not allow me to wish you good luck on the weekend but I do hope that you enjoy the day out.

I believe that there will be TV cameras there on the day which I would imagine will appeal greatly to someone like you

Don't forget to give us a wave!!

pissedasanewt wrote: »

I brought my current handicap cert, although I was never asked for it. I think I was only asked what my current handicap was without having to show proof.

I wasn't aware of the two shot reduction rule either. Who reads terms and conditions?

I think the communication on that could have been a little better. Such as..bring your current cert along with you because anybody dropping more then two shots over the year must play off their current handicap.

You were required to bring two handicap certs to sundays matches current and original with you just as you were required to have your cert at the start of every match during qualifying