[UPDATED] Swindle Handicap Revision from 13th January 2018

A happy new year to all (and yes that includes you Pistols, even the Sweetmans)

Couple things before I paste in Graham’s Swindle email.

Firstly, a bit of background on our Swindle handicap (as I see it).  Around the turn of the 18th century, Boney, Jezza and Mr Hogben amongst others settled on Surrey National as their home club (http://swashbucklersswindle.com/swashbucklers/background/).  With Bob’s spreadsheet expertise, a Swindle handicap system was then manufactured which has worked well for many years.

Those years have seen significant growth both in terms numbers and handicap range.  I’d happily defer to Bob’s opinion here, but I saw the aggressive handicap system we’ve used as a way to spread the money around… but arguably was conceived around an average handicap range of low double figures to low twenties.   As a result, over time some golfers (not just CAT1), are seeing their consistent play drive their handicap lower and lower to a point where the chance of winning is simply unrealistic.  Not fair asking for tenners week in week out.

Yes, everyone has their day, but there has been talk over the last couple of years to help ‘level the playing field’ somewhat.  Changes have been discussed for at least 2years now and with the new year efforts have been made to update the system and take the chance to add in reminders about some rules.  Please read Grahams email below carefully.

I do hope the perception isn’t that is being imposed by a ‘few’ on the masses – but if you’ve ever sat in a Swindle AGM (think clubhouse, alcohol, yelling, loud voices and a few tears!) then such changes have to be steered to get something actually done.  Changes are up for debate and though the changes are being put forward from the 13th, nothing says they can’t be tweaked further down the line.

Secondly point is to extend thanks once again on behalf of us all to Mr Adams and Sean.

Graham in organising the tee times and Sean processing the scores week in week out.  Please don’t take these guys for granted, they really do make our Swindle work and I think we all just turn up expecting tee times and handicaps all magically sorted.

Graham usually fancies a Carling and Sean a small red wine… but feel to escape before Graham starts telling a joke.

Posted from Graham’s email…

Swindle handicaps

It is very evident that some players, particularly the CAT 1 handicappers  are playing way below their club HC. To be playing off of +3 when you club HC is 4 makes it impossible to actually win anything. Indeed unless you are a vastly improving player, a HC of  6 or 7 below your club gives you little chance for everyone, so to be fairer we propose to implement the following changes in red:

1. Swindle HC movement up or down will be rated  by your CLUB not swindle handicap.  CAT 1 will move  0.1 per shot up or down, CAT 2 will be 0.2 CAT 3 – 0.3 etc. Example –  29 points scored  against a standard scratch  of 32 –  club handicap cat 2 you go up 0.6.  A cat 1 would go up 0.3.
2. Max movement per round + or – 2 ie No change to current system
3. Standard scratch no change to the current system
4. You can play up to one over your actual HC (but the “buffer” stays at +2 above the actual HC).
5. New members cut 2 shots from their actual handicap.
6. Ladies to receive 2 extra shots per round, these are recorded on the stableford score.  (This reflects their SS on the reds is 74, whilst gents white is 72)
7. To start the new system handicaps will reset to CLUB handicaps.

Other changes/ clarification

• Scorecards to be swapped at the start of the round recoding only marker and player scores to speed up play. Only one nominated player to record Barracuda/match play scores. Each player is responsible to submit his own score at the end of the round before buying drinks etc.
• No give-me’s. To speed up play if you are within 6” you must putt it in immediately regardless of matchplay side bets ie no realignment or touching the ball unless there is mud on it & playing partners agree.
• 2018 & 2019 R&A rule changes to apply.

Providing there are no serious objection we propose to implement this as from 13^th Jan. Your handicap category will be on the spreadsheet Sean produces as from 13/1/18. Having given it a lot of thought I believe this will be fair to everyone and also be recordable without a PhD in spreadsheet analytics.

UPDATE 6th Jan

So today is the last swindle with the old system, and I have also provided a new sheet with the revised handicaps going forward. Rather than reset this to club, it was agreed that we would rebalance your current swindle handicap based on your club category.

The easiest way to explain this is

• If your club is 5 or less, then the difference between your swindle handicap and club is a third of what it was.
• If your club is 12 or less, then the difference between your swindle handicap and club is two thirds of what it was.
• If your club is over 12 your swindle handicap is unchanged