Honest scoring

This is just a survey I thought might be interesting considering there is no reason for anyone to lie since this is the cyber world. How many people can truly say that after a round they have written down TRUE numbers? No mulligans, no changing the lie of the ball, etc. , just good honest scorekeeping.

This is a timely thread for me as I was faced with an "honesty" issue in my round yesterday...

Having teed off from the 11th, the fellow whose card I was marking and I had both found ourselves little more than 20m apart in the right hand rough off the tee, he was a little deeper in than I was and he was faced with the far more difficult shot, given he was on the wrong side of a tree.

Hunched over awkwardly and with little room to swing his arms freely, he seemed to take an "airy". I also feel that I know he knew that I saw it. I also think the other two members of our foursome had no idea of what had happened, given they were both over on the other side of the fairway. He then punched through out onto the fairway. Found the green with his next and two putted for what I thought was a 6. I was a little surprised to hear him call 5. I asked him "5 or 6...?" and he repeated 5.

Given I've only been a member at this club for 4 or so months, I'm still getting to know my fellow club members and I was unsure what sort of "reception" I might have been given if I'd really pushed the matter.

It is interesting isn't it, being right or being popular...

I think it was his responsibility to be honest, not mine to call him a liar...

__________________
Look at the Target, Look at the Ball, Swing... Dr Bob Rotella...

I hardly even keep a score anymore, unless I get involved in a club tournament some where. I don't need a score card to have a good time, or know that I played well. That being said, I know I play better when I do keep score. I know I see more scoring issues on the green, than any where else on the course. Most of the time it is when a person is addressing their putt, and inadvertantly touches their ball with their putter prior to making a stroke. The other thing I see alot of is the guy/woman who misses a putt, and then just picks the ball up with out holing it, and as they are leaving the green say "I would have made the next one". Then again, if they are just having fun day out in the fresh air, who cares. As for club golfers, and their own tournaments, I say bring it to their attention when you see a scoring infraction. Especially if the incident is going to bother you, and your game for the rest of the round. GJS

Winter rules are fair enough, the fairways get muddy, the ball plugs and picks up great clots of mud. In my club a notice is posted stating "Preferred Lies Today" Under the local rule you can mark, lift and clean then replace the ball within 6 Inches, but only if the ball comes to rest on the fairway, not in rough or hazards.

Mulligans etc, are OK for a group of mates or novices that agree the format, otherwise keep it true and penalise yourself where needed.

I learned the game many many years ago, the pro who taught me always advocated true scoring, as he advised: "The only person you are cheating is yourself"

Scragger brings up a tough point for me, personally.

I like to be right. I mean, I really, really like to be right. And I like people to know that I'm right.

However, generally speaking, I'm more concerned about my score than yours. Generally, I don't care how you play.

But in tournament golf, it's the scragger issue -> do you call the penalty (and risk being unpopular) or do you go along to get along?

I've come to the conclusion that I just need to keep my head down, and play my own game.

FWIW, I don't play gimmies or mullies. If someone tries to give me a putt, I explain that I like to hear the ball rattle the cup - it means I've made one good stroke that hole. What infuriates me is when someone knocks my ball towards me, and tells me it's good. The pace of play is not so important that we don't have time for me to make (or miss) a 3 footer.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

In terms of my own scoring, I will always call penalties on myself where they are there to be called. Regardless of the golfing situation. I am keen for my scores to reflect how I have played on the day.

That said, in the situation that arose on Saturday, had I still been playing at my previous club (where I had been a member for over 10 years) not only would I have called the airy, I almost certainly would have attempted to voice at least some derision for the culprit, either at the time it occured or in the clubrooms after the round. Where I come from, there are drink purchasing penalities for the offender for taking airies and 3 or more putts...

At my new club, I am still learning who is who in the zoo and who knows what in respect of the rule book. Like all clubs (I presume) there is a smattering of golfers who want to win at all costs, even if the prize is only a ball and a free round....

Cheers

__________________
Look at the Target, Look at the Ball, Swing... Dr Bob Rotella...

How is this for Honesty?

A player in my club returned a very good score during the first round of the Club Championships, it placed him in the first three on the first day.

He had to leave as soon as he completed his game. later during the day he called the club, while at home and reliving his round he worked out he had mistakenly declared a 5 on a hole that he had actually taken 6. He asked to be disqualified.

I score my rounds honestly but I also, after a round, go back and replay the round in my head. I find the shots that were just, OMG what the hell was I doing and imagine a better result. That usually puts me about for strokes under what I have scored. So I know how I am really playing and also how I would be playing if I was really playing sweet.

I don't do it to shots where I say miss a 175m green by 2 metres to the left. Thats just golf. I'm talking about say a chip where I have it all mapped out then I just screw it for some reason. (Basically I do it on shots I know I usually would make 9 times out of 10)

I think it's very important to know your real score, thats what determines how you practice for the next week. But, it's also good to know what you can look forward to if you do play to your potential next time.

Oh no,

I knew this would come back to haunt me sooner or later,

A few years ago, infact it was when when I first joined a club I played in the weekly comps, I addressed my ball in the trees to chip out and caught a twig which was underneath the ball, it moved about two inches, I just played it out and didn't mark the score down, 'luckly' I did not win or get in the top 10, but it haunted me for weeks after and I have never done it since.

At least I am honest...............now anyway.


Ian.

__________________
Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................

This time of year I only get to play once a week, in the weekly comp.
I always score this accurately and honestly.
If I am just out playing with my mates some summers evening then I dont really care too much and will often hit a second ball, etc.

I have never understood why someone would want to write down a number they did not score. What is the big deal about what others think? How well you score tell me nothing about what kind of person you are, cheating does. I am a scratch player, and I still don't understand why people feel like failures when they don't "live" up to their potential. I should have very high standards. As a matter of fact, I have no standards. I just play, and when I'm done I add up my score. Most days that is very good, but some days it is not. Big deal.

Play until the ball is in the hole. After all, shooting the course record doesn't count unless you hole all putts.

__________________
Pure as a mother's love!!!