Dirty Rotten Stinking Low-life Sandbaggers

“It’s better to deserve honors and not have them, than to have them and not deserve them” – Mark Twain Basically, there are two types of people in this world: dirty rotten stinking low-life sandbaggers, and the rest of us. Those who fall into the first category know how you are – and yes, I just called you out. Sandbagging at golf is cheating. It’s the complete antithesis of the virtues and values the game was built upon. Even uttering the word, and thinking of the countless examples I’ve had to deal with during my career, gives me flashbacks. Cheating at golf isn’t always as blatant as counting the wrong score, improving a bad lie, or miraculously finding a lost ball. Cheaters can be much more refined than that. I’ve seen pillars of the community turn in phony scorecards. I’ve seen barons of industry tank a hole or two in order to purposely score higher than their best effort. I know players who brag about keeping an inflated handicap in order to fleece their friends and perhaps get their name in the paper for scoring well in local tournaments. I believe I can speak for most golf professionals when I say we’re wise to your tricks. We know who you are, we know how you cheat, and we think you’re disgusting. The only person you’re fooling is yourself. Think about it – if sandbagging is cheating, then doing so to win money or prizes is stealing. Is that really the recognition you want? Do you want to be known as a liar, a cheat, and a thief? Then by all means, continue to manipulate your handicap and disgrace yourself and the game. Ah, catharsis! There are two types of sandbaggers: cheaters and reverse sandbaggers. Don’t be either. Cheaters A sandbagger will find an infinite number of ways to manipulate the system. Here are some of the most common that cheaters have used. They will: “Forget” to post their good scores. Intentionally miss short putts, or poorly execute other short-game shots when in a situation in which it won’t count for the team score. For example, stubbing a chip when a partner is already on the green, closer to the hole, and more likely to make a better score. Play poorly coming down the home stretch. Once the sandbagger has mopped up all of the bets (mid-back nine), a double-bogey, double-bogey, double-bogey finish is sure to follow. Post higher scores when they’re not in a game or competition. I’ve seen players repeatedly post lousy scores when they’re playing with their spouse on the weekend, or when playing recreationally – then rationalize the maneuver by saying they play better in tournaments or money games because they concentrate more. Post a score from the wrong tees. A player who shoots a score from a longer and more difficult course, then posts it to a shorter, easier one, just stole the difference in course rating between the two – possibly a few strokes. Reverse Sandbaggers Also known as a “vanity handicap,” these players don’t bother me nearly as much – unless they’re on my Pro-Am team! Really, the only player they’re hurting is themselves. But hey, they can tell their friends, guests, and clients that they have a single-digit handicap. Neat. Essentially, these players willingly give everybody else a several stroke advantage prior to teeing it up. Why anyone would do this is beyond me, but it’s very common. Reverse sandbaggers will: Neglect to post their bad scores. Usually the player will say something like “It’s not going to count toward my handicap anyway.” They’re missing the point. The handicap will factor those higher scores if there are enough of them. Regularly give themselves short putts. Short putts are often missed – it’s an inevitable part of the game. Avoiding them only hurts in the end. Take occasional mulligans – other than the customary “breakfast ball” on the first tee. Write a poor start off to a “practice day,” and quit keeping score. Sandbagging is cheating. Not following the rules is cheating. Some might think that sandbagging is a “lesser offense.” It’s not. They are two sides of the same coin: a lack of respect for the game and your fellow competitors. It’s simple really – abide by the rules. Nothing more, nothing less.