Standard scratch score

Hi there

When tracking my handicap do I leave the standard scratch score as it is on the card???? The reason I ask this is that I have at least between 10 and 12 cards where i have scored between 36 and 39 points and not been rewarded by my handicap coming down. I have found this frustrating as at least 3 or 4 of them have been in very tough conditions (ie very very windy). I am not a member of a club and my hadicap has been calculated after laying nearly 40 different courses this year so its not as if I am entering club comps where the club can set the SSS.........Please advise?????????

Cheers Russ

I am sorry you found Chris Whatmores very kind response to your question, offensive.

So I will now give you a  response that will enable you to be offended.

First of all, seeing as you are not a member of a recognised golf club any handicap you may state, is not official and would not permit you to enter an open competition.

I am quite sure that the Golfshake software is correct in the way it works out handicaps, so it is obvious that what Chris said is probably the reason your handicap is not going down.

I am surprised that someone with your obvious abilities has not joined a proper golf club, as I am sure it would be far cheaper than paying green fees for 40 different courses. 

Personally, I don't care about points, I only care about my score in relation to par, period.  I care about getting 4 pars, 8 bogeys and 4 doubles.  That's my target and that's the only one I care about.   Stableford points mean absolutely nothing to me.

The other thing related to John's post about joining a "proper" club....why join one club when you can play 40 different courses is my take.  Unless that club is Kingsbarns or Gleneagles, I'd rather play a lot of different courses.  I've played Trent Park due to convenience about 15 times this summer and am getting a bit bored with it.  

When I lived in Boston, a friend of mine joined a private exclusive golf club and it was just plain boring to play that course every weekend.   

One can still play other courses when one is a member of a club, I most certainly do.

I might point out that all of the old established private golf clubs in England would require you to have a handicap certificate from your own club, just to pay a green fee. I can understand you getting bored with Trent Park as it is one of these new courses built to USGA specifications and everyone on this forum knows my views on them.

There are many nice courses where you live in North London. 

Exactly Wayne, I was born in Edmonton and lived in Wood Green for the first 23 years of my life, I had no car and used to go on the bus to many different clubs to play. In factI used to catch the 102 to Chingford and play the public course there. Essex in those days only had a few courses but now of course they have many.

Michael does not use a car but public transport and is probably only working over here temporarily, so does not see the benefits of joining a club. 

He complains about having to play on his own yet this could be avoided if he joined a club and met the members.

There have been periods when I have not been a member of a club but that never stopped me asking to join up with people. I have never played on my own, cannot see any fun in that. 

I am surprised that someone with your obvious abilities has not joined a proper golf club, as I am sure it would be far cheaper than paying green fees for 40 different courses.

'One can still play other courses when one is a member of a club, I most certainly do.'

I'm sure these statements condradict each other....but I could be wrong?

for people on a budget this can not always be possible & almost defeats the object of joining a club in the first place if cost is the issue.

John.

Not a contradiction at all, John, It would be far cheaper to pay membership than 40 green fees at the average course. If he then wishes to play other course then that is his prerogative.

It does not appear that he is on a budget the amount of golf he seems to be playing.

My golf costs me £10,48 per week by being a member and I can play another 52 courses mid-week for free. If I played once a week paying green fees it would cost me £31 per week.

as it is one of these new courses built to USGA specifications and everyone on this forum knows my views on them.

I'm going to start a new thread about this one.

As for my game, yes, I am limited to the TUBE.  Trent Park and Mitchum are the only two courses I've found so far that are very easy to get to and without the need for a taxi at either end.

Also, I don't mind playing by myself and have done it for a long time.

Mtcham is an excellent test.Michael, even the very short holes in the field over the railway line are not that easy. I have played there many times myself.

Hmmm, never thought you would think that a short course like Mitcham would be that good. But it is a test especially those strange holes over the tracks with trees in front of the greens! No bump and runs on those holes.

I played my all time round on that course last August/July with an 82 and a 39 on the back nine with a double bogey and bogey finish once I realized what my score was and choked. My first and still only sub 40 nine hole score. Points wise I had 48 which was really sick. It was the only time in my golf life where I almost understood what it must feel like to shoot scores like the pros on that back 9. And frustrating too that I have never repeated that performance.

Michael, I don't know if you are aware that they changed the course a little at Mitcham. What is now the first and second used to be the 17th and 18th. The first hole was the par three which is now the third. The overall length of the course is relatively short but have you taken into consideration that there is only one par five on the course and more than its fair share of long par fours like the 5th, 12th, 13th, 14th 15th, 17th where you had your double bogey with the high plateau green and the long short hole to finish. In actual fact also the 1st and second are two very good length holes.

I am sure you will agree with me that the greens there are probably the finest on any public course you will come across. Excellent turf to play the irons from and plenty of trouble on each side of the fairways. Having a good nine holes on one occasion does not merit anyone saying a course is easy.

Anyone who is in South London and wishes to play a very nice heath and heather type course with a links type feel and with greens that you will rave about, then I suggest you tke the opportunity of playing it. Don't let the total length of 5931 yds sway you. It is an excellent course and an excellent test, especially when the wind is up.

JP, I don't think I intended to say Mitcham was easy, because it is not. I just thought that a short course might be considered easy by some. And yes there are some very nice long and tough holes. I have not played there this season, but will have to make a point of going back soon.  But that 39 on the back nine was really more fun than I've ever had on a golf course precisely because that nine was not easy.

The other courses noted in this thread will take some time for me to research how to get there via tube/train.

Get the tube to Wimbledon and a short taxi ride to Wimbledon Common Golf Club, Camp Road. You have to wear a bright red shirt because the course is on common land, but it is the second oldest golf course in England and just like mitcham, may not be the longest but very difficult. One par 5 only again and some of the narrowest and longest short holes you will see. I might add that there is not a bunker on the course.

I used to be a member there for a period of three years and every time I played it I was never bored.