SAND BAGGERS
You know what really tees me off?.... Sand Baggers!
Let's flash back to every handicap tournament you've ever played in your whole life. You're sitting at the awards dinner and they announce that the winner of the low gross is... "Joe Bag o' Donuts" with a well earned 76! Everyone politely applauds. "Nice round, and it was windy out there..."
Now it's time to announce the winner of the "low net" portion of the tournament. If you're not familiar with the "low net" award, it's given to the guy who shoots the most under the score he's given his word is his average, or handicap. (Imagine a handicapped long drive competition for example. The winner hits a 350 yard drive, slightly up hill, when his entry form said his average drive is 250 yards. So his NET long drive would be somewhere in the vicinity of 450 yards or so. That's basically what the "low net" award is given for at these tournaments.)
"And the winner of the LOW NET trophy....last years runner up....with a net score of 58!, Bob Sackamano!" A groan goes through the crowd amidst some polite applause. Someone always yells out "Sand bagger!," and everyone laughs. But Bob hops out of his chair and runs up to get his award like he just won the Club Championship. What a crock of..........
We all know this guy sandbagged his handicap! 58? 60? even 62 or 63. It's ridiculous! Handicaps are supposed to even out the playing field so everyone can compete. How is a low handicapper going to compete with guys that are shooting 10 and 15 strokes under their inflated handicaps. Quick answer, they can't.
Anyone who shoots more than 8 shots below their handicap should be disqualified. Period. Handicap tournaments are a sham to begin with. How can a tournament be fair to everyone when the winning score is 10 or more under par? I'm a 2 hdcp. I'd have to shoot 62 for the opportunity to lose to this guy on a match of cards!
Guys who sandbag and do what we all know to be impossible, don't SUCKATGOLF, they just plain ol' suck.
...boy, this was the most bitter one yet. Too much caffeine before sitting down to write this I think.
I'd better go yell at the dog a little to calm myself down.
