I am genuinely interested in the flaws of the USGA handicap system vs. the R&A handicap system. I'll point out a few things:

1. I played on a D-1 college golf scholarship. Not a lot of Europeans I know that had that amount of talent.

2. I took 8 years away from the game before getting back into it this January.

3. I had major surgery back in late October.

The club I am a member at owns 23 courses around the Atlanta area. I've played 15 of them and they are all quality courses that are pretty difficult. Actually the easiest course of them all (IMO) is a Fazio design called 'The Frog' and that has a 142 slope and has been the host of numerous prestigious events. I'm sure Yoda and Luke have played it and can vouch for it.

With that, I play different courses constantly because I have the ability to and I think it helps my game immensely. The past 2 weeks alone I've played 6 different courses. And next week I plan on playing 2 courses I've never played before. So I'm certainly 'taking it on the road.'

Most of my problems with the USGA's rating system is how they rank the handicap holes (almost always rank the par 5's the hardest and the par 3's the easiest, when they should rank them by average score over par in tournaments) and I think the slope rating is usually off. And in my case, most of the courses have had too LOW of a course slope IMO.

I really challenge anybody to go out and play Hamilton Mill in Dacula, GA. It is a tough track. Or Bentwater GC in Acworth, GA. Or Windermere in Cumming, GA. Heron Bay GC in Locust Grove, GA recently held the Atlanta Open there and former Tour player Dewitt Weaver couldn't break 80 there. I shot 76 there about 3 weeks ago (75.3 handicap, 7300 from the tips).

I play them all, from the tips and have scored as low as 67 on these courses and had three consecutive rounds in the 60's not too long ago.

I'm not really offended by the thought of dismissing the US handicap system and thus questioning my ability to a degree. But, I think it's a bit short sighted unless you've played the courses I play and shot scores similar to mine or better than I have.





3JACK

Good answer Richie, is it ok to copy and paste it to the site in question?

The other argument (they mentioned) is that knock up rounds in US count for handicap. So if you are relaxed playing with your mates, you will play better than in a competition round. They also say that you don't have to return every card - is that right? You could keep your handicap artificially low by not returning bad cards is the accusation I guess.

WOW, really surprised at how some people think. You can look at Richie's swing, and read his blog. It is OBVIOUS to me how much his action has improved and how much TGM knowledge he has gained. I don't care what the index says:

GREAT WORK RICHIE!

Kevin

I have only not turned in one round of golf and that was coming off an injury and I was hitting a couple of balls, so it really would not have counted anyway. Other than that, I turn in every score. Also, I usually play 2 times a week in money matches with a large group of friends, we play the ball down and we putt everything out.

The best I can suggest is that to somehow get on a course of one of my member clubs and see how you do, playing from the tips and playing it down. If somebody can tell me that they honestly think Hamilton Mill is easy to shoot under par on, then they must be on the level of play of Jeff Hull or better. And I have a tremendous amount of respect for Jeff's golf skill level.

For a list of the clubs I play, go to www.canongategolf.com.





3JACK

Only in the UK would someone want to keep their handicap artificially low! Socialists don't like money! (Inserted tongue in cheek) Over here everyone is looking for "shots!" And without a doubt Richie would be giving me a few! In all fairness to the golfers of the island that once ruled the world I would not mind seeing more of their brand of golf etiquette, especially pace of play.