SOLO ROUNDS

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By Ralph M

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  • 8 Replies
  1. Ralph M

    Ralph M
    Annandale, NJ

    Military

    I WONDER IF THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME FOR THE USGA TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO EXCLUDE SOLO ROUNDS FROM HANDICAP CONSIDERATION.

    COURSES IN MY STATE (NJ) ARE CLOSED AS PART OF OUR GOVERNOR’S STAY-AT-HOME ORDER. HIS LOGIC, AS REGARDS GOLF, IS THAT THE CLOSURE PROMOTES SOCIAL DISTANCING. THERE IS NO INDICATION WHEN THAT DIRECTIVE WILL CHANGE.

    WHILE THE WORST OF THE C-19 CRISIS WILL HOPEFULLY PASS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION WILL SURELY BE THE NORM UNTIL THERE IS A WIDELY CIRCULATED VACCINE. MAYBE THAT WILL BE THIS YEAR; MAYBE THAT WILL BE IN 2021 OR BEYOND; MAYBE THAT WILL BE NEVER. IN THE MEANTIME, GOVERNORS LIKE MINE WILL FEEL JUSTIFIED TO KEEP COURSES CLOSED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING PURPOSES. COURSES WILL DOUBTLESS LANGUISH IN THE INTERIM.

    ADMITTEDLY, MY VIEW IS THRU PRISM OF SOMEONE WHO NEVER THOUGHT THE USGA’S POSITION MADE EXCESSIVE SENSE (IF SOMEONE “CHEATS” WHO ELSE IS REALLY DIMINISHED?). BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE USGA SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO ENCOURAGE ANY SORT OF PLAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?

  2. FRED L

    FRED L
    Centerport, NY

    In my town course on LI is still open. The clubhouse is closed and the pro shop locked. We pay thru their window. Carts are limited to 1 person per cart. Course cleans down carts after each golfer. My feeling is that on the course I have found more than enough distancing while playing. Even on greens and tees we kept more than 6' between us. Holes are elevated so we do not touch pins or have to lift ball out of the cup.
    Understand concerns though and hopefully they will stay open.
  3. John B

    John B
    Kenmore, NY

    I agree Ralph M!!! I thought it was a stupid decision when they made it. I actually putt everything out when playing alone rather than one of my buddies slapping a questionable gimme back to me.

    So I'll come clean - I am an honest cheater - I continue to post an honest score when I play alone - index is 5.7.
  4. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    We have 2 courses open in the county, but the city closed all courses. The course I played today has it down pretty good. You call for your tee time (no walk ins) clubhouse is closed. When you show up to play you call the clubhouse and give your credit card (or debit bank card number) score cards are in the empty starter booth.

    On the course they cut 2 holes approx. 2 feet apart. 1 with a flag in it for location, the other without a flag for playing if you choose to. No bunker rakes or ball washers. As for driving range, same thing call ask for either a small or large bucket, give card number & go hit what you think is a large or small bucket amount. The only thing open is the restrooms.

    It's a very different world right now & we all know it has changed how we & businesses think and may do so in the future when things come up like this again..

    Be safe everyone,
    DM
  5. Tosh.

    Tosh.
    Dundee,Scotland.

    All closed in Scotland........
  6. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    Good point Ralph. No one knows what the situation will be like when this virus diminishes enough to allow us to get back to some sense of normalcy. I never liked the rule the USGA put forth sometime ago. I think it is time to allow solo rounds as official handicap rounds.

    What say you, USGA?
  7. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    Mike M said:

    Good point Ralph. No one knows what the situation will be like when this virus diminishes enough to allow us to get back to some sense of normalcy. I never liked the rule the USGA put forth sometime ago. I think it is time to allow solo rounds as official handicap rounds.

    What say you, USGA?

    Do not think the USGA is on this site. Might contact them at their site and see what their response is.
  8. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    Chuck, hope you're doing well, as we all try to get thru this trying time. The USGA is pretty set in their ways. I'm pretty sure it would be a wast of my time, to ask their thoughts on amending that rule.

    On the other hand, you never know.......
  9. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    Just guessing ... USGA is probably trying to get more accurate handicaps for tournament pairings and that playing in groups of two or more will have players playing by the rules and carding true scores. Of course that assumes that people know the rules and know how to count in basic arithmetic. There are plenty of golfers who aren't so good with rules or counting strokes. Then too, many clubs have time limits for a round, a foursome may be getting behind the clock and start "gimme's" on the green, happens a lot at my club.

    Been a USGA member since 1970. Handicaps and course ratings have always been a sticky wicket.

    I tend to agree with USGA. Solo play should be considered practice.

    Hopefully the flu fizzles soon and things get back to normal chaos.

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