I played the other day with my wife's cousin. He's a real loudmouth and thinks he is better than he is. Anyway, he shot a par 72 that day and I was extremely impressed. He didn't even really talk smack or anything which surprised me. After we were done we went into the clubhouse and I was talking to another guy I know and he was inputting his score (he didn't think I was looking) and I watched him input a 108 instead of the 72 he actually shot!! He and his dad are obvious sandbaggers and do the same thing in bowling leagues and are no longer allowed to bowl at any local alleys now. Well my partner and I got stuck playing these two tonight in leagues and we both played very well. I am a 13 handicap and he is a 7 so we had 9 strokes total. I looked at the card when we started and these two have a 15 and a 14 so 29 total. We were giving these guys 1-2 each on every hole so total 2-4 strokes every single hole!! That's fine if you really play to your handicap but these guys are much better than that. I shot a 33 after my handicap and my partner had a 36 after his. We got destroyed!!! Afterwards we go in and eat steaks together with them and they are saying how we would have killed any other team blah blah blah. And I say yea but the other teams deserve the handicap they are given! So he then tells me that he shouldn't have played so good because now he is gonna go down to a 29 handicap instead of 30! His dad then says I'll make up for it in thursday leagues I'm gonna make sure I shoot a 60. I sit speechless the rest of the time because I'm furious. I would really like to talk to the pro about this crap but it is my wife's uncle and cousin and I do like both of them so I'm torn. What would you do??? Also these two shot a 18 under in the member-member tourney two weeks ago

no answer for you my friend. every league has their kind. i find it funny every week when someone nets out 10-12 under par in my local league, while i seem to shoot within +/- 3 every week.

Yea I understand they are everywhere but do they all make it this obvious?? Most of the other members complain about them as well and nothing gets done. It's just stupid some people have no ethics at all.

I say kick 'em in the jewels and steal their wallets.

See how they like it.

Well, I would say, "The next time we play, we play scratch or we don't play at all. Then, and only then we will determine strokes on the back nine."

If that doesn't work, say this, "I know your better than your handicap, so we are going to cap the strokes given out. You get 75% of your handicap."

Or, "You can have your handicap, but you're playing from the tips, and we are playing from the men's tee. Or at least a 400 yard difference."

Or, "I'm a 36 handicap, soooo, you're giving me strokes now, kemosabe."

Personally, I would say, "Your handicap is bull, and I'll give you 2 a side, but your minimum score on each hole is -1. Meaning there is no such thing as Birdie for Eagle. Got it. You can only score -1 on any given hole. It's called reverse handicapping."

i see this with members at my course all the time. tournament winners shooting a net 52, once saw someone shoot a net 48... just phenomenal. there is simply no way to prevent lying and cheating...

golf is an individual sport. play your game and worry about your self, no one else

How about they both put down par on a long par 5 and both get net eagles because they get two strokes on that hole while my partner actually birdies it and gets net birdie and I birdie it and get net birdie??? Doesnt make any sense. And people can say just play your game but when this crap happens you can play your game all day long and it isn't gonna do you any good because they cheat and have a million strokes to save them that they don't deserve!

I was in a junior tournment today and one guy cheated in every way possible- lying about his scores, grounding club, moving ball ect. I didnt say anything since I wasnt keeping his score and the guy who was cared less. Whats really funny is he still shot a 110 lol!

That sounds like a good idea however they are my wifes uncle and cousin so that might not go over too well. Not to mention they are both quite a bit larger than I so it would probably end up worse than it is now.

Then you've got to kick them really hard and then threaten to do it again if they tell...

Just kidding (or am I?)

I think that philfan316 has the best idea. You at least put them on notice that you know they aren't being honest. It is really tough, but I think you've got to do something - you're responsible to watch out for the rest of the field too... they aren't just cheating you.

The problem is we all know what's going on and so does the pro, however the club won't do anything about??

Two words for you: Peer review.

This guy is a dumbass. Most sandbaggers will conveniently "forget" to record their low scores. This guy is stupid enough to post a phony score. Now there is a record of his cheating. You should contact the handicap committee and note this discrepancy. They should be able to sanction him and lower his handicap.

It's up to you. I know, family and all. F him. I hate scumbags like that.

If I paid money to play in a league and lost to someone whom I and the pro knows is cheating I'd demand a refund. You don't have to say anything to the guys cheating, just the pro or whomever is running the thing. It's not fair to you or anyone else that pays to compete in something they can't win.

If you're worried about family issues maybe you can secretly let someone else in the league know what's going on and let them call them out. And that person needs to tell EVERYBODY.

Wow! I've played in the Omni member-guest for the last 5-6 years and it always seemed like the members' handicaps were proper. I must have just had the good fortune to avoid the bad ones....so far.

Have you called them out?

I know they are in ur extended family but what they are doing is flat out wrong, and everyone is suffering from it.

Better to have you call them out (someone who could be a little nicer) then have some other jack@$$ at the course find out and really rip them a new one...

Pretty much explains why I no longer play in net events and don't even belong to my club's golf association anymore (although someone posting a 102 when they shot even par is a bit extreme). With the exception of the club championship, all tournaments are net (prize is given out for first low gross and that's it) and everyone knows who the handicap cheats are (both sandbaggers and vanity), yet virtually nothing is done about it.

How's this for a story, one of the known cheats who is a 10 handicap is playing a better ball of partners match (net of course) and is one or two over through 15 holes where the match ends. He then proceeds to miss bogey putts on 16 and 17, then drives the 18th hole only to putt away from the hole (I kid you not) and 3 putts for bogey. His opponent gets in his face and tells him that he's carding a 4 on that hole for him.

Screw these people. I'm tired of the "bad guy" in these situations being the guy who plays by the rules. The losers who cheat need to be called out on it.

remember, karma is a b****.

it'll come back to bite them in the arse one of these days.

patience.

-a.

LOL...No kidding. I play in several events a year that have a gross and net competition. While I dont' have the game to compete in the gross portion, I have no illusions of winning anything in the net. When I as a 17 shoot 95 or 96 and see 13's shooting 75 or76, I know I have no chance. I just compete for myself to play and score the best I can and not worry about everything else.

Yea I give them crap all the time but generally try to be decent about it. However last night after the match while we were eating I said a few things and told them it is BS but they just plain dont care. After I give him some sh** about his handicap he then tells me and I quote: " 30 handicap...that's nothing. I'm gonna get it up to about a 36. (that is the max for our league)" I just sat there dumbfounded at the fact that he just said this in front of almost the entire league and even a couple of other guys were joking with him about it!! Everyone complains about them but won't do anything so I figure I'm gonna have to. BTW the pro was sitting in the dining area when this conversation was going on and there is no way that he didn't hear it!!

No "30 handicap" is shooting 72 on a regulation golf course and, or, posting a 108.
I do not believe any part of your story.

I don't care what you think! I played with him while he did it and then watched him post the false score. I am saying he is not a 30 handicap he is more like an 8-9 handicap. If you think noone cheats like this then you are very mistaken. I took the time to make up this whole long story and then type it up because I have nothing better to do?? Are you serious right now?

Yes, I am serious. For different reasons people do enjoy posting at golf forums exaggerated stories. For example , tales of 280 3-wood carries , 120 mph plus swing speeds, 6 hour rounds, sandbagging cheating etc....
In truth the guy carries his 3-wood 225, which by the way is a well struck shot. And the agonizing slow play day was not "6 hours" but more like 4:45, and the outrageous sandbagger is a guy who scores 79 but posts 85. But, since the truth does not sound all that impressive the poster decides to embellish.
Anyway, there is absolutely no chance that a player with the skills capable of shooting 72 is ever going to shoot 72 and then "post 102". If I had to guess as to what really happened during your round I would say your "8 or 9 handicap "u ncle had a good day putting, scored a true 77, and you looked over his shoulder to see him posting an 83.

You can think what you like... He shot a 34 on the front and then on 10, 11, and 12 (two par 4's then par 3) he shot 5 over for those three holes. He finished the back 9 with a 38 for a 72 total. Unless I missed my math class back in 1st grade that seems to add up to 72. Also this guy has no scores in the handicap system under 97. Did I ever think he was capable of shooting 72? No way. As I said in my first post he thinks he is much better than he is. However is he much better than his handicap indicates. I was just as amazed as he was that he shot that well. I am a 12-13 handicap and I had a couple of good days last year that I shot 75's with a couple of missed putts that I easily should have made and could have shot par. Do I think there is anyway that I am going to shoot par right now? No but some days just don't make sense.

Then don't steal their wallets.

I guarantee that, after the kicks, they will be significantly shorter than you for a fair bit of time.

Rope, you give meaning to the word obnoxious.

Or should you be referred to as Frozen Troll?

The OP's story can't possibly be true. Nobody shooting 72 "posted 102". Now in his most recent post the OP is claiming his uncle the 30 handicap played the final 5 holes 3 under ? Calling bs is not "trolling", it's keeping things real.

It's certainly possible to shoot a 72 and then post a 102. You don't know how this particular club operates or not.

I'm not saying that the OP is entirely accurate.

But you're making some assumptions that you can't back up.

I don't understand your confusion on the subject. Do you think it's physically not possible to type in "102" into the computer when posting your score, or do you think nobody who shoots 72 would have the nerve to post a 102? (Note, the guy entered 108, not 102, but I digress).

Have you not read the giant thread on cheating?

Hell, people murder each other every day, so it's not a stretch to think that someone would purposely post a wrong score to jack up his handicap.

The 2nd problem in this whole thing is the league who continues to put up with this crap. Make it simple, kick the guy out.

I am not confused by the subject. The OP's story is an extreme exaggeration of whatever did actually happen. That's it, pure and simple. Frankly I am surprised so many on this forum believed his tale. Anybody who shoots 72, or knows someone who shoots par golf, understands a 72 scoring player is experienced, has some skill, has some respect for the game, and would never artificially inflate his posted score by 30 shots. Yes, there are some handicap cheats who may add a few shots to turn a 6 handicap into a 9, and lots of posers who deduct a few shots when posting to turn a true 5 handicap into a 2 for bragging purposes, but nobody with any golf skill is adding 30 shots. It just would never happen.

baggers do not cheat to win they cheat to win prizes gift certs and sometimes money.

They might as well be bank robbers for all I think of them. Report them if you want it will not do much good.

A thief is just a thief the rest is geography

Just like elite baseball hitters who have grown up around, respect, and love the game of baseball would never stoop to taking performance enhancing substances, right?

I know people who cheat at games where the prize is $0.25, and guys who lie to win a $0.10 snip on the golf course. For some people, winning is all, regardless of how they do it. And even if the story is inflated, so what? I feel sorry for anyone who gets rooked out of prizes which they deserve by playing honestly.

Since it's family, you can't go that route. However, you could talk to the pro, suggest you are concerned with sandbagging, and make a few suggestions. In our league:
- The handicaps are done off the actual team scores off the score cards
- No player gets to determine their own handicap - it carries over from year-to-year, unless the player is new. A sandbagger can claim a handicap at the beginning of the year, but again, they don't get to put in their own scores, and their handicap can be adjusted backwards by the club if needed
- You have a men's league handicap set on your play in men's league only. You can't fudge a CPGA handicap, then use it for league.

Maybe he may be open to these suggestions. If not, I'd find a new league, and let everyone know why you are leaving.

Sad if the pro would let them get away with this.

How about not playing with them at all? Extended family or not, if you are so bothered by their lack of moral fiber, then just simply stop playing with them.

Played in a club tourney once and witnessed blatent cheating from a player in the group (i.e. taking a 6 on a par 3 after losing 3 balls OB off the tee and taking a "drop" by the green, not putting out). This was only my second tourney ever so wasn't sure on what to do, especially since no one else in the group said anything. However, when I saw that he actually turned in his scorecard and was in the running for winning (net event), I went to the tourney organizer and informed him of this issue. This was resolved in a very quiet manner. No one was put on the spot nor publically called out. Needless to say, I have subsequently refused to be placed in the same group as this person and has never played with this person again.

Golf is a game based upon integrity. Most have it while a few don't. I'd say just stop playing with them. Actions speak louder then words.

This is the stuff of pure delusion.

I was an assistant at a course once and had a guy that was just like this. He'd shoot 1 or 2 over and post 9-13 over so he could play to an 11 in the club events. The problem is everyone knew how good he was since he played with a group of guys every week. So when tournaments came around we'd just tell Bob if he wanted to play he'd be playing to an index of 4. Oddly enough he never wanted to play. If your wife's cousin is shooting around par and posting over 100 you're not the only one that knows. And trust me everyone knows he and his dad are clowns. By inflating his handicap so dramatically he's taken any chance of legitimately winning anything away from himself.