What is

[namvet66]

When putting together a team for a tourament what is meant by A,B,C, and D players?

Heard this the other day and not sure what they are talking about.

 

[DaveE]

When putting together a team for a tourament what is meant by A,B,C, and D players?

Heard this the other day and not sure what they are talking about.

It's a way of ranking players in order of their ability or handicap. The A player is always your best player or lowest h/c then B and so on. I'm playing in a charity scramble tommorow as the D player which means I have the highest handicap of the group. Hope this clears it up.

 

[namvet66]

DaveE, Thanks, that clear that up for me. I appreciate your help.

 

[Bravo]

And Nam, carrying "the mantle" as the A player can get you down bc the B,C, and D players "expect" you to deliver.

This past Sunday, we played two fivesomes against each other. The bet was to take the "best Two" balls from each Fivesome. This would be the scores for each team. I was one of two A players on my team.

Well when you are playing a fivesome against a fivesome with net scores - you're gonna have a TON of pars. An 18 handicapper will get a stroke every hole - so every hole they bogey is a net Par for the team.

What this means is the A players need to roll in a few birdies to make the difference.

I missed 7 makeable birdies (admittedly had 7 pars on these holes but it really didnt help much) and our team lost $11.

If you play in a scramble or other such event- you will not have much pressure because you will have many additional strokes due to your handicap....

Speaking of handicap - are you turning in your scores to establish a handicap for yourself??

 

[namvet66]

Handicap

Bravo,

Thanks for more info on A thru D players.

No I have not been turning in my scores. Can you fill me in on this process some more? I would like to start.

 

[buddha33]

And Nam, carrying "the mantle" as the A player can get you down bc the B,C, and D players "expect" you to deliver.

I played in a four-man scramble tourney a couple of years back. It was a work tourney, but we were allowed to invite friends and family to participate. That's where my friend comes in: A scratch golfer who can bomb 300 yard drives like it's nothing. I was so proud to have him play on our team

Pre-tourney, our whole team was enamored by the concept of a "scratch golfer". The expectations were so high on this guy that he had no option but to disappoint. He did. I think we used half a dozen of his shots. Everything else was pretty ugly because he played so tight.

I'll stick to being the 'D' player, thanks.

 

[bdcrowe]

I'm usually happily comfortable in the B slot. I take a good deal of pride in having a good % of my shots used, in having others on the team look to me in certain situations, but also not feeling as though the whole world is riding on my performance.

What folks must also recognize is that everyone can add to the team. Even high-handis usually have one part of the game that is OK to good. If you suck off the tee, and you suck on approaches, maybe you can pitch and chip them close to compensate. Or maybe you can putt out of this world.

Also, if a team doesn't put too much pressure on themselves, and doesn't let expectations dictate their round, they should be OK and have a good time, no matter the outcome.

 

[buddha33]

What folks must also recognize is that everyone can add to the team. Even high-handis usually have one part of the game that is OK to good. If you suck off the tee, and you suck on approaches, maybe you can pitch and chip them close to compensate. Or maybe you can putt out of this world.

Agreed. I usually play the 'D' slot, which means I'm the worst of the foursome. However, I do play a critical role in getting my tee shot in the fairway so the others can let it rip. I am also the second best putter of my normal foursome, so I help out on the greens too.

It's a good feeling to contribute; especially when it's a clutch putt to get birdie or save par.

 

[DaveE]

Bravo, you're right about pressure being placed on the A player. It's especially true when they are also a long hitter.

Today's scramble is interesting because our A player is also the shortest off the tee. One of the reasons they wanted me to play with them is for my drives. I'm not that long, it's just that I'm longer than two of the other guys and long enough for this course.

Our order off the tee will be A, B, D, C., then our order from the fairway will then go back to D,C,B,A. Overall I like the position of D player because of the pressure you mentioned. I've too many good players crumble, as Buddha mentioned, from the unreasonable expectations placed on them.

In any case today will be fun & it's for a good cause. The proceeds support a foundation named for one of our neighbors who died suddenly a couple of years ago at a young age. He was only 2 years older than me. I'll report back on how we do.

 

[Bravo]

Bravo,

Thanks for more info on A thru D players.

No I have not been turning in my scores. Can you fill me in on this process some more? I would like to start.

OK - Nam this is important bc it "establishes" you as a certified golfer of a certain skill level...

1) First you must register yourself at a local course that offers handicapping services for players. Call your local courses and ask them if they offer computerized handicapping services and ask them how much they charge.

Ideally, they will be a part of the GHIN system - which is a U.S. national computerized handicapping system.

2) You will pay a small, annual fee and register with/through this local course. (The course pays a fee to GHIN for each golfer) They will issue a GHIN number to you.

3) Then, each time you finish play, you can go to a computer terminal at whichever course you play (OR through the internet at the GHIN site) and post your scores.

4) Your USGA handicap is determined by taking the 10 lowest of your 20 most Recent scores. The good news is that you CAN go ahead and post these recent scores you have been telling us about. This will be a super way to get a head start on getting in the 20 scores you need.

5) After you have played the required number of rounds - GHIN will produce a handicap Index for you. This index will be used to compute a Course Handicap for you - at each course you play - depending on the relative difficulty of that course. For example my index is 7.5. This translates into a Course Handicap of 9 for me at my course bc it is a relatively difficult course. If I apply my index to a course that is relatively easy, my Course Handicap can be an 8 or a 7. So you are able to determine your Course Handicap right before you tee off - according to that Course's Slope....

6) Each and every month, GHIN will produce a new Index for you, based on the additional scores you put in the system the prior month. GHIN will also produce a handicap card for you that you can take with you to tournaments as evidence of your handicap.

I am going to Scotland next summer to play several courses which have hosted The Open Championship. The REQUIRE that I furnish - in advance - my GHIN information to them. My GHIN information certifies me - worldwide - as having a certain level of play. I Must bring my GHIN card with me, before they will allow me to tee off.

It is not uncommon in local US tournaments also - for them to request your handicap index before entering you into a tournament. Having a GHIN number - is your passport to this and clears away any misunderstandings about your skill level....

http://www.ghin.com/

 

[namvet66]

lOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO CARRY YOUR BAGS?

Bravo,

Thanks for handicap info, I will register at my course.

If you give me your travel schedule for Scotland next year, I will arrange to take time off to carry your bags for you ....after all the help you have extended me this is the least I can do LOL

 

[bdcrowe]

Bravo,

Thanks for handicap info, I will register at my course.

If you give me your travel schedule for Scotland next year, I will arrange to take time off to carry your bags for you ....after all the help you have extended me this is the least I can do LOL

Just make him a millionare. If it is too late, and he is already one, just make me one. I'm sure I've helped in some way in the past, if only by being a model of what kind of person NOT to be.

PS, no rush on the millionare thing...

 

[DaveE]

Well, we didn't win the scramble & almost predictably our A didn't play as well as usual. He didn't play badly just felt the pressure a bit.

The outcome was probably inevitable. The highest h/c on the winning team was lower than our A players. We had fun though and the money went to a good cause.

I meant to include this. The winning group was playing right behind us. We were putting on a short par 4, (355yds) when we hear a thud and turn to see a ball roll up about 30 yds from the green. We were pretty impressed until we here the next thud and a second ball rolls up not 5 ft. from the first. Now were really impressed and then thud, a third ball lands just as long and not 15 ft. from the other two. Like I said, the outcome was decided before the first shot was fired.