Why do all golfers lie about their handicap?

Question

I have never played with a ten handicap who even had the ability to shoot 80. Ive played with dozens of so called 10 handicaps , and in fact most can't break 90 consistently. Do you lie about your handicap? If so, Why lie low? I really wanna know. If you lie about a low handicap, wont you get beat every time? I just don't get why in a game of integrity, so many people would tell such egregious lies. Have you experienced this?

Answer 1

I don't.  I'm around an 18-20 handicapper.  Heck, when I'm playing competitively, I need all the help I can get.

Answer 2

they don't lie about their handicap.

they just want to be that handicap.

They think their handicap is better than normal because he wants to show off.

stupid people

Answer 3

handicaps are calculated using the best 10 rounds from your last 20 rounds..  so if you play the same course and shoot 82 for the first 10 rounds and shoot 90 on the last 10 rounds, your handi will still be 10..  i'm a 8 handi, but out of those 20 rounds, i might shoot anywhere from 75 - 90..  it depends.. but i do lie higher..  i always say that i'm a 10 handi.. :-)

Answer 4

I don't lie about my handicap I have just had about 6 good low 80s rounds and I have a 10 handicap.  Just because you have a high teens and are an old fat c**p doesn't mean that you need to acuse better golfers of lying

Answer 5

I don't why. I'm fairly new to golfing and would never try to lie about my handicap. (28). I've only been golfing for 9 months and can tell you that I have experienced people telling me how great they were. But once we started playing, I was not impressed, in fact, it kind of bothered me what BS people will try to pass onto you. I think the reason people BS about their handicap is because they will probably only golf with you once and you'll probably never see them again. Couple that with the popularity of golf all the sudden, the sheer added numbers means more BS artists. Glad to hear you are calling them out though.

Answer 6

It's called "Sandbagging" and lots of weekend warriors do it.  They want to give the perception that they are better than they are on the course.  Anyone who plays golf by the rules doesn't do it.  I play to a 10 handicap, and am proud of it!

Answer 7

Handicap calculation is based on a combination of some of your best scores entered so it may be lower than your actual average score. Also, don't forget that the handicap number is added to the par of the golf course and not the rating. I think you are right about the integrity of the game though. People lie and cheat in golf too often and it is just not right, not to mention that it is unfair to opponents in tournaments or even daily play.

Answer 8

Well I don't know change your avatar I hate that one are you supposed to be angry?

Answer 9

A lot of websites ask you to enter your golf scores and they calculate your handicap but not all the sites I try give me the same answer. So a lot of these people might be telling you their handicap according to the website they use or maybe their best score ever or maybe their average score at that course. A lot of factors go into calculating your handicap (slope, rating, 20 round minimum..etc.) that's why I tell people I shoot in the 90's to 110's. I guess it should only matter if your competing for money or in a tourney!

Answer 10

First, people dont understand the handicap system.  You will only play to your handicap 1 out of 4 or 5 rounds at best.  It's a potential based number, not average.  It's not odd for a 10 to shoot 90 from time to time.

Answer 11

people at my club lie the other way. they are called "sandbaggers". they say their handicap is higher than it is to get strokes in handicapped tournments. if you say you have a 20 handicap and shoot a 80, you score a 60...h**l of a score

Answer 12

I would not know why those people would lie that way either, they must not do any on course betting with their friends when they play.

I have seen something like this before, some people who golf in 9 hole leagues, get a league handicap for 9 holes and they say this is there handicap.  Which, not correct, but to be somewhat realistic, you would have to double their 9 hole handicap for an 18 hole handicap.  These people do not fully understand how the golf handicap is calculated.

Answer 13

I've noticed it's kinda like fishing, drinking and lying go hand in hand

Answer 14

Its not that people lie about their handicaps its that nobody really follows the rules of golf! When people go and play they don't bother taking penalty shots or they play more then one ball, or they take mulligans. Of course the score is going to be lower when people play like  this. Then come tournaments they shoot way above their handicap.

People who lie about their handicap high are called sandbaggers. These are people who play and put a higher score on the records to give them an advantage. I say all cheating is bad in a game like golf but if sandbaggers make me more mad then people who don't play by the rules when they are playing for fun

Golf is a game of integrity and frankly most people dont care. Its bad that at my local  curse they need to higher scorekeepers for tournaments so people play by the rules

Answer 15

I've never lied about my handicap nor played with anyone who has(wow you used the word egregious).  Anyway, with the sport of golf becoming as popular as it has, more people who don't necessarily know the rules of the sport or don't have much integrity are playing golf.  You see it in the galleries at tournaments.  Who ever heard of people getting liquored up at a golf tournament in the 1970's.  I sure haven't.  I have a friend who still plays with mulligans and I don't.  I just laugh it off.  I don't have an official handicap, but I am fairly sure of where I am.  I'm somewhere between 14-16.  Some people may actually have the handicap they speak of.  Golf is one of, if not the most humbling sport.  I typically don't talk any trash when I play golf because of it.  It's definitely the sport where you should shut up and play.