How often do we hear words to the effect of "It's not fair I have to give away all these shots"? I know this is a common view among the low handicap players I know. This interests me because in my opinion the handicap system is one of the best things about golf.
In a recent match at my club I had to give my opponent 17 shots. Some of the low handicap players thought I had no chance in this match because I was giving my opponent nearly a shot a hole. As he hit a long and straight drive down the first hole there were even some laughs. The match turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and closest I have played. Neither of us were ever more than 1 hole ahead and it finished on the 18th.
I was able to enjoy this so much because of the handicap system. The truth of life is that most people do not like being significantly less able at something than others and in many situations this leads them to quit. I often wonder how many 20 handicappers would not play the game without the handicap system. So many people are competitive and if they are finishing 20 shots behind someone then they are going to question why they are trying. Part of the reason I enjoyed this match was because I got on well with my opponent and without handicaps he may not even be playing the game.
I also enjoy handicaps because they provide a track of how I have been improving over time. I love feedback on my progress and a handicap provides just that. I got my first handicap aged 10 and it was 36. Each time I think about that I realize just how much I have improved over the last 10 years. I can not think of any other sports where there is hard evidence of how much a player has improved which is just another great thing about handicaps.
Handicaps also enable the game to grow with the player. 5 or so years ago I was playing off around 20 and due to handicaps I had just as much chance of winning something then as I do now even though I am playing off 3. If I was a tennis player who started at my local club, as I have with golf, I may have needed to leave to seek stronger opposition elsewhere once I became one of the best players in the club. While I do go out of my way to play with scratch or near scratch golfers it is for different reasons and I have not had to leave my local club because of a lack of challenge.
I think a lot of the dislike for the handicap system among low handicaps is caused by competitiveness. I understand that it is not nice to be beaten by someone who has shot 10 shots higher than me. I have been in that situation too but I am not angered by it. I am a very competitive person but I do not mind losing because I am only competitive with myself. I play competitions to test myself. I always want to do better than the previous time, that could be putt better, hit more fairways, or even just enjoy myself more. I every time I am beaten by someone who has taken more shots than me I just hope they are enjoying winning as much as I did when I was in their position.
I would be really interested to hear other people's opinion on handicaps so please leave comments. I know I will continue to enjoy the level playing field they offer.
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