GOLF.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 May 1926, Page 8

GOLF.

‘• UNFAIR” HANDICAPS. A PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT. What makes golf such an unfair game—and 1 maintain that, in many wjys, it is a most unfair game —is the handicapping. 1 think that the whole system of handicapping shoukli be amended (wrtes Mausrce Laue-Norcott in an English exchange). Why is a man given some ridiculously inadequate handicap at golf—say, 14 —and compelled to use- it every time l lie plays ? The chances are he doesn’t feel like 14 every time he plays; any more than he feels like a chop every time he eats. Some days ho knows he call niaiiiage n. chop, and some days he knows just as positively that lie oan’t. It is the same with golf. Me 14handica'p men often feel that ai mere 14 is unsuited' to our mood of the moment. We feel far more like 18. Or even 20. When we feel like that we ought to he 20, I think. After all, wo know our own capabilities best. The truth is, handicapping committees forget tlxat there is another world outside the golf world. They don’t realise how much our.game is affected by mundane things. They think that what stops us from getting to the 1 greens in two are the bunkers, or our curious habit of lifting our heads in an abrupt way just when we are going to strike the ball. It goes fair deeper than that. Handicapping committees never inquire why we lift our heads. They make no' allowances for <a. man who starts quite involuntarily and 1 shakes his head) in a sad may because he has 1 just remembered that the gas company is going to cut his gas off this afternoon.

Personally. I think a man ougth to ho given a. fresh handicap every time lie plays golf. It could then lie fixed according to circumstances, just as his income tax is fixed.

When a man makes a return of his income he is asked in the fairest way if he has any encumbrances. If he has —if he possesses a dependent- relative or anything—the assessors make him a generous allowance at once. It ought to he the same with a man’s golf handicap. A man should he able to go to his club secretary and tell him quite, frankly why ho cainiot play very well that day. Then the secretary would ask him a. few pertinent questions and make his card like this : MAURICE LANE-NORCOTT. Handicap 14. Additional strokes allowed for reasons stated. Strokes. Wearing new scratchy stockings 1 Had nasty letter from tailor thi.s, morning 1 Wife revoked at bridge last night 1. Could not sleep, window kept 1 banging 1 Little blister on right hand i Sore heel 4 Smoke too much. Puff going up hill 1 Read “Master,son” 2 Caddie got an awful face 1 Owe money all round 1 10 Handicap 14 ' Grand! Handicap 24 If this were done, quite indifferent players could go out and l play even scratch men for balls with impunity. I must say it sounds' a very good scheme to me. If any club would like to try it, I will take six balls for the idea. Or even four for a- quick sale.