Out of interest, what would you prefer:

a) To beat a good low handicap player because of your higher handicap..

b) To play the same good player off scratch - play out your skin, give the better player a cracking knock but lose..

For me personally it would be "b". Winning because of a higher handicap just don't seem like victory to me some how...

NWOT.............

b without a doubt.

I would opt for option C

B for me too Robbie.

I find playing a low handicap player forces me to be more controlled in my swing, and therefore play better.

I remember one game I played 5 yrs ago, the player I was with happened to be playing well and I was hoping that i was matching him (4Ball) as i wasn't scoring his card I didn't know how close I was hoping to be.

At the end of the game I was told he had scored 41 points and though S*** I'm nowhere near that as I didn't feel I'd played that well,  better than normal but not that well.

Result I scored 44 points off 18 handicap and won the comp

Hence the reason i still believe I can get my handicap down to a reasonable standard.

I agree with all of you it would have to be b.

Yes the handicapping system is there for a reason, but there is nothing better for your confidence than beating a "better" player from an equal playing field 

At the moment, I think I would take a win anyway it was given to me - that will be especailly true at the North V South!! I do agree with everyone tho, if you beat players because of your high handicap then your not going to improve, however if you play against a better player, lose, but are forced to raise your game then thats where the improvement starts!

Never mind Luke, I'm sure it'll start happening after the NvS - not during obviously.

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Just like John Pettitt has been saying all along Colin...And I agree

Id choose B.

the comps were playing at the moment although my handicap is 27 I think i lose alot of that even before it gets converted to 3/4 think the higest handicap is 21 before it gets converted into 3/4.
So while technically its not quiet option B i know that im not having as many shots as i should be getting and last week we finished 3rd. gave me lots of confidence just been able to compeate with the big boys.
Knowing that when i get my shots back id be up there with the points, but also knowing that my handicap should be coming down.

Theres nothing better than playing with a better player than you and nearly matching him shot for shot. Its good to be an underdog

The sad thing about this topic is that after the higher handicapper has beaten a low man, he gives out the impression that he is the better player.

There is so much room for improvement at the higher end of the scale than there is for those lower down.

My old club in Somerset used to split all competitions into divisions thus levelling the playing field somewhat.

good idea John, as least then each group is equal

the thing is though the high handicapper may play a round like that every 10 say where as the low one will constanly playing good rounds.

Agreed, Matt, that is usually the case with high handicappers, but because there are so many of them , if it is not one it is another, so the low man is always struggling against them.

If you ever get to single figures you will begin to realise what it means.

The difference between a 2 handicapper and a 1 handicapper on paper is one shot, but in golfing terms the difference is quite dramatic, as it is also from 1 to scratch and beyond.

Totally agree John, the boys off scratch and + handicaps are different world.

I would imagine that it more important to play well against the course rather than 'beat' anybody (they could have a bad day), I am happy playing well and if somebody plays better then so be it.

Saying that, I usually justify this to myself that I would need to practice more.

I see you think like I do, Philip, you only have control over your own game and if someone is better than you on the day then so be it.