Golf Fore the Good

I admit it, I have a problem with people who don’t post their scores. Check out this “PROFILE OF A SANDBAGGER” as printed in Golf Digest.

The USGA’s Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) has tracked the tournament scores of thousands of golfers and has identified those who play consistently better in tournaments than their handicaps would indicate. From these scores the following profile of a manipulator has been developed:

Average handicap: 20 (low 7, high 43).

Rounds posted per year: eight (as compared with the national average of 21).

This profile is of a player who probably posts fewer than half his scores, or rarely completes a full round.

Scores best in two-day tournaments. Prepares especially for big club events.

Does not post “away” scores. The average golfer has posted four “away” scores among his bank of 20 rounds. The manipulator rarely has one score away from home. He practices away from home, but does not post his scores.

Beats his handicap by at least six strokes in tournaments play. The average golfer beats his handicap by only 2.7 strokes as his BEST score in 20 rounds. Fewer than nine percent of golfers ever beat their handicap by six strokes, and only two percent have ever beat it by nine strokes. Sandbaggers not only accomplish this rare feat, they manage to do it only in tournaments.

Tournament scores appear as only 10 percent of his record. He loads his record with many more non-tournament scores than tournament scores.

Scores many strokes higher than his tournament scores immediately before and after a tournament. The player who came out at the head of the list on the computer had only scores from 92 to 111 in 1982, posted a 105 on May 25, 1983, and his next two scores (both tournament scores, in July) were 76, 76. His next score was 106–an incredible ability to rise to the occasion.

The USGA predicted the computerization of handicaps and the slope and rating system would eliminate sandbagging. So when was the above profile written? 1985… seems some things just never change.