May 28, 2009

AMHERST, VA — While the Captains Club finalizes preparation for its 9th Major Championship, a group of similar questions regarding tournament handicapping came to the business office over the past weeks resulting in an impromptu news conference to clear things up. Greg Long (i.e. Slick), Chairman of the Club, led the conference.

"Good Afternoon. Lacey put 10 post-it notes on my desk regarding the sudden jump of point distribution. I am here to clarify the recent handicap changes and answer your questions," Long said.

"Our 9th Major Championship will be scored just like the 1st back in 2001. We will be using points and each golfer will have their own set of points. The original goal was to statistically distribute points to all golfers so everyone would score 60 points per round. The Poststats business office was extremely confident that was happening over long periods of time. The Leaderboards of the past appear to reward golfers more accurately than the widely used USGA Handicap System.

The 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 tournament leaderboards (54 holes over 3 days) have Top 10's and Top 20's by points. The majority of the Top 10 (65%) participants were C and D players in respects to golf skill each and every year without exception.

The handicap system was accurate over long periods of time, but not accurate for just 54 holes. Poststats.com added target points to the handicapping in the winter of 2007. The computer started raising point targets for the best golfers.

The lower the stroke handicap, the more target points. The probability of an unknown high handicapped golfer at the Carl Spackler Open dropping 25% to 30% of this strokes over 54 holes is more than probable; it is relatively certain. An 'A player' that normally shoots an 8-over 80 must shoot a 13-under 59 to drop 25% of his average stroke total.

In regards to the initial target of 60 points, golfers with a handicap of +8 to +11 receive an elevated target to 62 points per round. Participants with a handicap +6 to +8 strokes are bumped to 63 points per round. Handicaps of +6 strokes have target of 64 points and +5 strokes get 65 points. Golfers with a handicap of +2 are targeted at 65 points per round. Ridgeway presently has a negative stroke handicap and receives 67 points.

In addition to golf skill, golfers who play the same course 70 percent of the time will be given an elevated target of 1 point. This change also came in 2007. These "home course" participants will be given 2 points if they play the same course 90 percent of the time. These golfers such as Mike Davis, Scott Zavinski, and Jon Munksgard almost always slip when leaving their home course. The point upgrade allows the entire tournament field to handicapped equally and remove scoring based on extensive course knowledge.

The 2007 and 2008 tournament leaderboards also have Top 10's and Top 20's by total points. Since the point targets were inserted into the handicap system, the Leaderboard majority flipped (70%) from C and D players to A and B players for both events.

Poststats.com believes the ability for +17 stroke handicaps and higher to win an event should be there, but only when dropping their scores by a percentage equitable to a scratch golfer.

These target changes implemented in 2007 assigned the highest point target to Jason Ridgeway with 67 points."

[Lacey drops off 2 more post-it notes.]

Long continued, "Poststats.com has adding another target increase in 2009 as a step to decrease Top 10 volatility and reward participants for posting scorecards. Golfers who post 7+ scorecards per year (365 days) including past events registered with Poststats.com will receive an additional target point. Golfers who post 12+ scorecards will receive an elevation of target by 2 points. Jason Ridgeway's (A player) point target jumps to 69 points and Rick Dosky's (D player) point target jumps to 62 points."

Each golfer in this grand event has two sets of points. One set was distributed on January 1 for the 2009 Virtual Tournament. Those should not be confused with our little get-together in Amherst. Virtual Tournament handicaps will remain the same until January 1, 2010 and determine the most improved golfer of this year. Presently, that is Scott Mealey.

Under the 'golf trip' section of the website is a link labeled "HANDICAPS". This is where players attending our 9th Major Championship can find their Poststats Points handicap. The purpose of our event is to determine the worst and best golfer using 54-holes based on real-time handicaps. Players can click on a name to see handicapping detail.

Are there any questions?"

Jay Glover of Virginia Beach conference called in, "When are points set for the tournament?" Slick replied, "When are you playing your last round before the tournament?" Jay answered, "I do not know." Slick replied, "Your points are updated after every round entered. It is done automatically with Poststats.com Scorecard Entry process. The cutoff is probably Monday night or late Tuesday night."

Glover replied, "There is not a set of points that will give me 62 points. Can I pick?" Slick replied, "Nope. The system distributes using priority and sets you at 60.6 points per round. You can see priority in the left column within your handicap analyzer."

Lacey Underall stepped in the room. Can my buddy Marty seriously win this tournament with 1 point for bogey and 2 points for par?" Slick replied, "Lacey. You are looking really good today. I really like your blouse." [Pause] "Back to your question... I am assuming you are referring to Mr. Zabonik. He scored 78 points during the final round at Rock Hollow. The round was the 3rd highest point total on record. Our event crossed 1,100 tournament rounds last year, which says a lot to be 3rd all-time.

I will take one more question."

Another reporter asked, "Do you have a favorite?" Slick replied, "To the best of my knowledge, we have never had a drunk champion.

I am not in the business to pick favorites, however Jason Ridgeway is my favorite this year. I believe Poplar Grove suits his game better than anyone attending if he plays aggressive. I will be disappointed if he is not putting for eagle four times per day. Holes 6, 11, 14, and 16 are easy birdies. He should even drive the first hole's apron everyday. We need to wait and see if Tin Cup or David Simms arrives.

I have gotta go."