how to deal with golf sandbaggers

Here’s how to deal with them.

• 1. Take pity. The sandbagger is, at heart, a sad and lonely figure, willing to sacrifice integrity and friendship for the sake of a soulless win.
• 2. Turn the other cheek.
• 3. Gripe and gossip.
• 4. Leave an anonymous note.
• 5. Give the cold shoulder.

Full Answer

How do Sandbagger golfers inflate their handicap?

One of the ways a sandbagger can inflate his handicap index is by selectively leaving out his best rounds of golf when he posts scores for handicap purposes. Another is to, more simply, lie about the scores he is posting (claiming higher scores than actually shot).

What is sandbagging in golf?

In this more subtle form of sandbagging, the golf sandbagger misuses match and better-ball play to inflate his score when the opportunity to inflate his score in a situation where the outcome is no longer in doubt. Barrett points out that the USGA Handicap System includes a number of buffers against golf sandbaggers.

How do you deal with Sandbaggers at your club?

The bottom line is – bad data in, bad data out. Here are some tips to shame the sandbaggers at your club into submission. If they fail to put in a good score, tape the scorecard to the GHIN machine in the Pro Shop. Also, tape it to their forehead.

What is an example of a Sandbagger?

As an example of how the term is used, one golfer might say of another golfer known or suspected of sandbagging, "Bob sandbagged his way to the second-flight championship last year." A sandbagger is considered by many to be the one of the lowest forms of golf cheaters.

How do I lower my handicap at golf?

9 Ways To Lower Your Handicap This YearGo To The Range. And keep going to the range. ... Practice Your Short Game, Too. When was the last time you practiced your short game? ... Check Your Equipment. ... Take Fitness Seriously. ... Play Different Courses. ... Play By Yourself. ... Play In Less-Than-Ideal Conditions. ... Keep Track Of Your Stats.More items...•

What is sandbagging in golf?

Sandbagging is a self-presentation strategy involving the false claim of inability. A golfer sandbags by intentionally inflating his or her handicap. Over 2,400 active recreational golfers participated in the study.

Is sandbagging cheating?

Cheating is defined as "act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, esp. in a game or examination." Sandbagging is a dishonest act carried out to gain a competitive advantage; therefore, it is cheating.

Is sandbagger derogatory?

Sandbagger (noun): a derogatory term for golfers who cheat by pretending to be worse than they actually are.

Is sandbagging the same as hustling?

Hustling and sand- bagging are similar in that both involve displays of relative weakness or low ability and can be regarded as attempts to persuade another to let down his or her guard. However, hustling is distinct from sandbagging in the prerequisite conditions.

What's the opposite of a sandbagger?

A reverse sandbagger, as you might surmise, is the opposite of a sandbagger. They're a golfer that has an artificially low handicap -- sometimes called a vanity handicap -- one that doesn't represent their current skill level.

How do I sand my handicap bag?

One of the ways a sandbagger can inflate his handicap index is by selectively leaving out his best rounds of golf when he posts scores for handicap purposes. Another is to, more simply, lie about the scores he is posting (claiming higher scores than actually shot). In this way, the golfer drives up his handicap index.

Where did the term sandbagger come from in golf?

It actually derives from a 19th-century offensive tactic of hoodlums using a sock filled with sand to bludgeon a victim and steal his money. In poker the term applies to a player with strong cards who holds back his bets to draw in weaker hands until raising the stakes in the last round.

What does sandbagging mean in sports?

purposefully underperformsSports Concussions and Sandbagging Sandbagging is when a test taker purposefully underperforms on a task in order to portray a lower estimate of ability or performance.

What is a sand Bager?

Definitions of sandbagger. someone who deceives you about his true nature or intent in order to take advantage of you. type of: beguiler, cheat, cheater, deceiver, slicker, trickster. someone who leads you to believe something that is not true.

What does it mean to sandbag someone?

b : to treat unfairly or harshly. c : to coerce by crude means. d : to conceal or misrepresent one's true position, potential, or intent especially in order to take advantage over : to hide the truth about oneself so as to gain an advantage over another.

Are you sandbagging?

When you use sandbag as a verb, it either means to protect with sandbags or to deceive or coerce someone to get something you want. When you pretend that you're terrible at basketball just so you can beat your cousin in one-on-one, you sandbag her.

What are the odds against a midteen handicapper shooting such a score?

The odds against a true midteens handicapper shooting such a score are greater than 37,000 to 1 (more on those odds later). Using an inflated handicap to unfairly gain strokes in competition is nothing new for golf.

What is the meaning of the phrase "before golf"?

Poker used the expression before golf, to describe a betting strategy in which a player with a strong hand lures opponents into wagering ever-bigger sums by acting as if he has nothing to work with. Then he knocks them out. In poker, however, ploys like that are the essence of the game. In golf, they're cheating.

How many strokes better is a round in golf?

Three strokes better: one round in 43. Six strokes better: one round in 323. (Remember, handicaps are based on the 10 best of one's 20 most recent rounds, and thus are a measure of potential, not of average performance. The average score for players with handicaps equates to three strokes over their course handicap.)

What is a sandbagger in golf?

Updated May 24, 2019. In golf, "sandbagger" is a derogatory term applied to golfers who cheat by pretending to be worse than they really are. Think of how a golf bet often begins: With one golfer asking another, "How many strokes are you going to give me?".

How can a sandbagger inflate his handicap?

One of the ways a sandbagger can inflate his handicap index is by selectively leaving out his best rounds of golf when he posts scores for handicap purposes. Another is to, more simply, lie about the scores he is posting (claiming higher scores than actually shot).

What is a golfer who deliberately misleads others about his ability in order to gain in some way

But a golfer who deliberately misleads others about his ability in order to gain in some way—to win a bet, for example—is a sandbagger. In the golf lexicon, a usage example of this version of sandbagger is: "Don't bet with Bob - he's a sandba gger.".

What does it mean to sandbag a golfer?

A golfer who has won by sandbagging is said to have "sandbagged" his opponents. The term did not originate with golfers, rather, it came to golf after originating in the world of street gangs and toughs. It first passed through to poker before finally being adopted by golfers.

Is a golfer a sandbagger?

Generally, any golfer who misle ads others about his ability level, claiming to be worse than he actually is at golf, might be a sandbagger. If the person is not trying to gain from that deception, no problem (he might not even be aware he is misleading others about his ability—maybe he just has low self-esteem or a sincere but incorrect view ...

What is sandbagging in poker?

Catch up on earlier installments. “Sandbagging” has nothing to do with stacking bags of sand on a riverbank to protect against flooding. It actually derives from a 19th-century offensive tactic of hoodlums using a sock filled with sand to bludgeon a victim and steal his money. In poker the term applies to a player with strong cards who holds back ...

What is sandbagging on a handicap?

Most people classify sandbagging on a handicap as outright cheating, but I’m not so sure. Cheating is carrying a tube of Chapstick in your pocket and whipping it out on the tee of a long, tight par 4 with water running down the right side. You grease up your lips, put the tube back in your pocket, pull your driver from your bag, and wipe your bottom lip with your forefinger. Then you discreetly brush that greased-up finger across the clubface of the driver. That little film of lubricant makes it impossible to slice the ball into the drink.

What is the difference between an 11 handicapper and a scratch player?

An 11-handicapper on a bad day really does play like a 16, you see, whereas a scratch player rarely plays like an 8. How much good my story does is open to question. The bottom line on sandbagging remains the same. If someone wants to manipulate his handicap, he’s going to find a way to do it.

Is golf a gentleman's game?

It’s rare when a handicap chairman actually calls you out on the carpet. Golf is a “gentleman’s game,” you see, and people in authority are reluc tant to make waves. Also, the smart sandbagger does not just monitor what’s going IN the computer, he knows what’s going OUT.

DavePelz4

One year ago I played in the Naperville city senior championship with approximately 150 players. It was my first true competitive event in 30+ years. The person who won the net was a 14 handicap who had posted 85 as his lowest round in a year. In the 2 day event he shot -24 net with gross rounds of 75-73.

barriec

Look man, I can remember my father tearing out what little hair he had because of sand baggers...30 years ago. I understand your frustration but here is the truth: Sand bagging is a dark unsolved reality of golf today, perhaps not tomorrow. Play competitively straight up for matches that matter and consider handicap events social laid-back events.

DavePelz4

I run a series of events for a group of 12 guys who play straight up. Without hesitation, I'd trust them on anything and our winner is the one who plays the best vs their index.

Sean2

I seriously feel your pain DP. I wish I were good enough to play in gross events. It's people like this that ruin competitive golf for those of us who don't have the HI to play in gross events. It's beyond annoying. I don't understand how these "winners" feel like they won anything at the end of the day.

Itsjustagame

Sounds from your post like there was a gross division. Just focus on that and ignore net. People are going to cheat- it's human nature. As several people have pointed out it's not really winning at all when you do it through cheating. Probably the only way to control handicaps is through active handicap committees at member clubs.

mark m

Dave: I did some hunting around and found the posted results and so on.

Ampire2121

I'm curious can you be considered a sandbagger if you play let's say blades for the majority (knowing you really shouldn't play them but you do it because of your ego/ etc.) of your tournament than decide to get GI irons next time out and post a score way below your handicap? Vice Versa as well FYI I hate sandbaggers and I feel your pain but like other has suggested there are no answers for now how to end sandbagging I did hear about the callaway handicap system.