John, here is what was contained in the online document I just filled out verifying that I had a handicap and where my handicap is established…..
“I understand the handicap committee is permitted to utilize my lowest handicap index between September 1, 2018 and August 15, 2019.”
Think that should answer your question.

See you MB

Agree Josh! Played my last round of 2018 on October 6 and did not play again until second week of May here in Syracuse NY. We have had so much rain this spring that courses have routinely been closed. I only have 6 rounds in so far. May was actually the 3rd wettest ever. Handicap was 7.9 at the end of the year and trending up to 11 and I don’t hope for much improvement as this old body ain’t getting any younger.

I wish that a 6 month or even 2019 only were used. Speaking only for myself as I stated previously, we north residing golfers who may not get to play all winter I feel are disadvantaged already. The last 2 years at the WA I have finished at nearly the bottom of my flight, I feel a large part of this is that playing southern/Bermuda grass courses is quite a bit different than the northern courses I’ve played my entire life. Getting 5 southern rounds a year once a year and not playing 10-12 months a year is a handicap in itself. It would be great if past WA performance were somehow brought into the equation, but I realize this is probably not going to happen considering the size of the field.

I am seriously considering dropping out of the WA this year if my game doesn’t take a serious and prolonged turn for the better. There is no fun playing when I can’t even think about being competitive. I’ve seen enough in my 3 previous WA’s to know that the same type of handicap manipulation occurs here as everywhere else I’ve ever played. People here are probably just a little more careful because of getting caught.

I realize that Southern Bermuda grasses are much different. I hear people who are not used to putting on Bermuda greens complain about how slow they are. I play almost exclusively on Bermuda greens all year yet when I go to MB, the greens there this time of year are absolutely the slowest I play on all year. I just hope I draw courses that actually have grass on their greens and their traps have at least been raked/turned before we start play. In the past, I have drawn courses that failed in both of those categories.

For the handicap scenario and those of you living where your golf season is shorter, there have been a fair share of players who have won the overall championship from northern states. I realize not everyone can play golf every day but I think those who do so well play enough golf to get their game close to their handicap. Once daylight savings time starts, you kinda have to figure out a way to play enough golf to hone your game. Not saying it is easy to do.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Rick Kimbrell.

Rick, I think you and I were in the same flight last year and we got a couple courses that were not in the best of shape but I had expected that due to the winter of 2018. One of the courses we had was Founders and I find it interesting that they are still advertising like they have a great course, I seriously doubt it is. When I go down on vacation in July, I plan on going by to see if I can take a tour of the course to see what shape it is in. I honestly do not think they should have hosted last year. Some of my friens have already been down this year and are returning with good reviews of courses they have played. so I am keeping my fingers crossed for this year.

Rick, it was terrible in every aspect. I told the pro after playing it, he should be ashamed to accept any money for us playing there and told the WA staff they should not pay them at all. The WA staff have to take the word of the local club about its condition and this is not the first time Founders has had issues with the flight I was in. I will never to my money to play there. I tried to give them a bad review but it didn’t stay on their site for long, probably have a full time person checking and taking them down. I have been pleasantly surprise with what other people are telling me what they have experienced this year but they are like me, only play the better courses. Also have a buddy living and working at one of the better layouts and he is already lining up courses for vacation

Good attitude to take down Ed. Hope you do well.