 | Don Farquhar is Head Golf Professional at Rolling Hills CC, a position he has held since 1988. Don has earned several distinctive awards: 1991 South Central Section Golf Professional of the Year, 1994 South Central Section Merchandiser of the Year, 2003 & 2004 South Central Teacher of the Year and 7 Time Kansas Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year. Don has competed in 5 National Club Professional Championships and qualified for the USGA Public Links Championship. Don is also a member of the Titlist Custom Fitting Staff. Don may be contacted Rolling Hills Country Club Pro Shop, (316) 722-1181, 223 Westlink Drive, Wichita, KS 67209, or by e-mail at dafarquhar@pga.com. |
Golf
2002-06-01 17:41:00
Are handicaps a joke?
Answer: The current handicap system that the USGA has in place is only as accurate as those scores that are entered into it. Many believe that it is a flawed system. The truth is, if everyone posted all of their scores, both high and low, then it would be a much more accurate reflection of a players handicap.Often times a high handicap player will not post a score because he feels that it is too high and won't matter. Some players will only post low scores because they want a low handicap. When they don't post their high scores they are only fooling themselves. On the other hand, some players only post their high scores in order to keep a high handicap for the purposes of playing in tournaments. The people are often labeled ‘sandbaggers’, a label that is hard to shed.The players handicap is a measure of his potential, not his average score. The system recognizes the player’s lowest 10 scores of his last 20. This is why it takes so long to effect one’s handicap. In order for the system to work, all scores must be posted. You'll have a much better understanding of your golfing ability. Keep all of your old handicap cards and use them to chart your progress over the years. Hopefully, if you are taking lessons you will see that improvement during your season. Remember, your handicap is a measure of your potential.
