The golf season here at the ranch is just about fully underway and will be when we can finally say goodbye to what seems to be about 4 weeks straight of high school tournaments.
Anyway, as more and more join the regular Wednesday and Thursday MGA games, pace of play becomes more of an issue. Last week, before starting our Thursday game, the MGA president had a few words about posting legitimate scores. Play the ball down, no gimme putts, and play ready golf. If everyone followed those directions, there’s no reason that the round or any round should take more than four hours.
Well, you’d have thought he’d poked someone in the eye with a sharp stick. The ESC handicap issue was mentioned – why keep playing if you’ve reached your max ESC score for a hole? Well, for one, your ESC score for a hole only gets applied after the round when posting your score. Here at the ranch, we post scores hole by hole and the GHIN system automatically adjusts your actual score with the ESC score when applicable.
Besides, consider if $$$$ is involved. What you shoot is what applies when figuring out prizes but it’s adjusted for handicap purposes.
Now, how about the time it takes to play a round. I still believe that you can shoot 72, 102, or 122 and still complete play in 4 hours. What get’s things all out of whack is the 35 handicapper plumb bobbing a 3 footer for an 8!
How about 1.) hit the ball; 2.) find the ball; 3.) hit the ball; repeat 2 and 3 until the ball falls in the hole the start over with 1?
That work for you?
