If we’re standing on the first tee and you ask “how many strokes are you giving me?” you’ll receive a simple answer: “none”.
The golf handicapping system is supposed to allow golfers, of disparate ability levels, to compete on an equal playing field. In theory, it should work fine, in practice, it rarely does. This post is coming from someone who’s been bitten time and time again by playing with higher handicappers who insist on receiving what’s coming to them. Please excuse the frustration and sarcasm found within.

The Trend Is/Isn’t Your Friend

If you’re a scratch golfer, chances are you aren’t going to be trending too much lower. What’s easier: for a scratch golfer to ‘shave’ 3 shots off their game, or a 25 handicapper to chip 3 shots off? Obviously, the 25 handicapper has the advantage. When you have more shots to play with in your handicap, it’s easier to trend downward. When you don’t have any shots to play with on the low-end of the handicap spectrum, you’ve only got one way to trend: upward.

Those Dangerous Ten Handicappers

I currently play between a 1 and 3 handicap on any given week. Playing against a 10 handicap, and giving 7-10 strokes is a dangerous proposition. A 10 handicap is fully capable of making birdies, staying away from big numbers, and has obviously put in time practicing to achieve their current skill level. If an opponent birdies their stroke hole – I lose. Regardless of how well I play the hole (barring a hole-out eagle). If the opponent pars their hole – I need to birdie to tie.
Not all low handicappers are created equal. Play styles come into effect here, and the handicap system favors one over the other. I’m not a birdie machine. I make lots of pars and generally don’t make a lot of mistakes. In match play, results get skewed.
The golfer who make a triple-bogey on a hole just loses the hole – not 3 shots. As such, the golfer who makes big numbers on a few holes (and is steady through the rest) is at a HUGE advantage. His handicap may say 10, but in reality, his match play handicap should be 3. One could make the argument that there should be separate match play handicaps as compared to stroke play.

Course Ratings Are A Joke

Anybody who’s familiar with golf handicaps know the phrase of “his handicap travels well”. It’s used to describe someone who plays a course which is very difficult. As such, their handicap is much higher. Even though, the course slope/rating system is supposed to account for that. If that player goes to a course which is easier, even though the course rating is lower, their handicap will far outweigh that delta in course rating.

Why Should I Pay For Your Mediocrity?

To get to a low single digit handicap requires practice. A LOT of practice. If I ever had the opportunity to tee it up with a PGA TOUR professional there’s little chance I’d ask for strokes. Even if offered, I’d want to play straight up (the wager would reflect the obvious disparity in talent). Why? Because playing with someone better than you is a reward unto itself. It’s how we learn. It’s how we aspire to be better players. How does being ‘beat’ (I use that term loosely), by someone who’s clearly a less skilled player, anything more than demoralizing?

What’s The Solution?

If you agree with my assertion that there’s no such thing as a level playing field using the current handicap system, how can players of differing ability compete against one another? If the gap is larger than 5 strokes, I’d argue that you can’t – and shouldn’t. Play with players who are of similar, but slightly better, skill level as your own. Play straight up without the use of strokes. Balance the teams out so each team/group has roughly the same composition of players (if possible). Sure, one guy may have a good day – but that’s the point. That guy’s good day shouldn’t be diminished because someone with 10 strokes had an “OK” day.
Net golf isn’t for the player who wants to become a better golfer. It’s for the player who wants to get into your wallet. Play better golf – play straight up.