I carry a handicap because I play in tournaments. 90% of the men who play in our seniors group at our course could care less about having a handicap. Handicaps will never stop sandbagging. Too easy to establish a high handicap and cheat. If you have ever played in the World Handicap Championships at Myrtle Beach you will know what I mean. It is referred to as the sandbaggers tournament. Once caught you cannot come back. Sorry to get off the subject.

I will continue to post my scores, every score and follow the rules, and let the governing bodies determine how they are figured fairly.

I've carried a GHIN handicap for the past 30+ years. Played in some State/USGA tourneys along the way and our Club requires anyone playing in any tourneys, including guests, to have a GHIN handicap to compete. Chuck is right, you're never going to stop the sandbaggers. To some it's a sport. I enjoy playing straight up, although you can't always do that. Regular group all trusted and accurate handicaps. Most of my Club is that way too. Most.

Don't know why the USGA keeps insisting on fixing things that are not broken. Now the handicap index is going to go to 54? Wasn't too long ago it was 36. Then moved to 40. Now we're going higher. Loved giving 15+ strokes in men's league the last couple weeks for 9 holes, BUT... these were accurate handicaps by these guys who although not the best golfers were the best to play with. Great individuals, and we had a great time. Will always hate sandbaggers though

Too many sandbaggers out there... no character and no integrity whatsoever. AS said already, straight up is the only way to go IMHO unless it's with your regular group.

The World Golf Handicap makes sense to standardize the world.

There used to be a difference in handicap calculation between the USA and Canada which made for interesting results and matches in local tournaments.

There are and will always be dishonest golfers....that said, it's tough to be playing a match against someone you know is 2 or 3 strokes better than their handicap indicates. You know the golfer that somehow has a career weekend every tournament.........LOL. I've seen that twice this season.

There is a golfer in my club who will not enter any scores if it is 2 weeks or less before a tournament, especially if the scores are going to lower their handicap. If their scores are higher....entered the same day. I'm not going to monitor every golfer in my club to confirm they enter all their scores.

All my scores are entered, good or bad; so my handicap is a honest one.

There will always be golfers very adept at playing the handicap system. They know who they are and everyone else knows who they are. Never going to change.

I don't see how the handicap system does anything to make the game more welcoming, to paraphrase the USGA leader. The USGA seems to go out of their way to alienate golfers.

The only reason I do keep one is because it's required for tournaments at the club. I follow the rules, I post accurate scores. Only time I don't post is on the off chance I'm playing alone. Doesn't keep me from being honest about my score, because I'm following the rules.

Our club has a serious issue w/ Handicap vanity. A lot of guys only turning in good cards and tossing out bad ones. I turn everything in, if I play 18 holes. Needless to say I've done extremely well in tournaments and weekend cash games in my flight because my handicap is spot on and not propped up to make me feel better about myself when having drinks at the club bar.

I just returned from Australia playing golf in Melbourne and discussing this with many of the golfers. In Australia handicap scores can only count if they play in tournaments or a "comp" day which is a like a mini tournament. Period.

I know that at my club the standardization will be great for people that play globally and want to play one another. It seems to be an issue from some to get enough scores in under the tournament system in Australia.

Thus, this new system should be excellent for everyone around the world.

IMHO, Chris