| The arguments about golf handicaps, golf cheats, | | | | of competitions in the season, that way entrants |
| sandbaggers and bandits have been around as | | | | will have a current handicap that truly reflects |
| long as the handicap system. There is always | | | | their current golfing ability. For competitions that |
| someone who tries to gain an advantage but lets | | | | have entrants from different golf clubs it is |
| face it and tell it as it is; it's cheating pure and | | | | essential that handicap certificates are required |
| simple. | | | | prior to teeing off and before any winner collects |
| I'm not talking here about the golfer who regularly | | | | their prize. |
| plays in competitions, has a club handicap and one | | | | The golfer's home club should also be contacted |
| day goes out and shoots 10 under his handicap. | | | | and handicaps verified. If these entry conditions |
| We all have one of those rounds in us and | | | | are well know beforehand it should discourage |
| occasionally it does come out. | | | | sandbaggers from entering in the first place. |
| No, the true sandbagger rarely plays in weekly | | | | Of course there is another solution and that is to |
| competitions preferring to keep his/her powder | | | | do away with prizes altogether for certain |
| dry for the biggies; Captain's Day, President's Day | | | | competitions. For instance a Golf Club Open Day is |
| etc or travels to other courses and plays in club | | | | really only on the calendar as a fund raiser and as |
| Open Days. The thing these bigger competitions | | | | a showcase for the club. Invariably the entry fee |
| have in common is good prizes, the current limit in | | | | is modest and for golfers it is a inexpensive way |
| the USGA and R&A Rules of Golf is goods | | | | of playing different courses from the back tees |
| or services to a retail value limit of $750 or | | | | and usually in prime condition. By doing away with |
| £500. Well worth winning certainly and | | | | expensive prizes it would ensure only bona fide |
| unfortunately some people think well worth | | | | golfers who really want to play the course enter |
| cheating by fiddling their handicap for! Nowadays | | | | and keep the undesirable sandbaggers and bandits |
| there are many competitions that you can enter | | | | out. |
| that the first prize is a holiday or they are | | | | Is it any surprise that those competitions that do |
| qualifiers for a Grand Final in some exotic golfing | | | | have expensive prizes attract the most bandits? I |
| location. | | | | would suggest that in the long run they will |
| There are a number of solutions as I see it for | | | | struggle to attract golfers with genuine and |
| competition organisers; For internal golf club | | | | legitimate golf handicaps as they realise they have |
| competitions perhaps it should be a condition of | | | | very little chance of competing fairly. |
| entry that a golfer has played a stipulated number | | | | |