Keeping score - A One-Armed Handicap

This one is for the golf geeks... which is probably most golfers if we are being honest!

Before my operation, I had been playing off a handicap of 3 and I had been as low as 1. In the realms of club golf, without showing off, this is a pretty good standard! But playing one-handed is a completely different proposition.

Hitting a par 3 in regulation!

As I've explained in a previous article, I want to keep playing golf for its mental and physical benefits, but a big part of playing golf is about being competitive. I've made it a mission to get myself a new handicap - one which is broadly reflective of my ability - so I can:

1) Be able to measure my progress

2) Get involved in friendly matches and comps

3) Engage in all the banter and rivalry that goes with playing golf with your mates.

The Handicaps and Competitions Committee at Chislehust Golf Club were very supportive and understood what I was trying to do. There were endless back-and-forths between me and the H&C Committee and between them and the Kent Golf Union (who govern the game in Kent). It seems that no-one had previously tried to do what I was doing. Unlike when someone gradually succumbs to old age or a long term injury, my situation is fairly binary. I'm pretty good two-handed... not very good (comparatively) one-handed... and in a few months, I will hopefully be pretty good again. The general opinion from friends and fellow members was that it would make sense if my 3 handicap was frozen while I was playing one-handed and a new (temporary) record in the handicap system should be created.

However, the KGU didn't like this option and insisted I could only have one handicap. Eventually, it was decided that my new handicap should be 22, which was significantly better than I was capable of at the time. This was on the basis that I would hand in a few cards over the course of a few weeks and the handicap would soon gravitate towards my actual ability.

This means that I'm now basically just like any other golfer. I can play in friendlies, roll-ups and competitions with the only caveat being that I'm not allowed to win 'Honours Board' competitions - which I'm happy with. In the unlikely event that I do win something, I wouldn't want there to be any controversy.

Today I played my 10th one-handed round since I started keeping score. You can see the details below. There have been a few notable highlights! One solitary birdie... parring a par 5... hitting a 200 yard drive.

The trajectory is definitely moving in the right direction. Breaking 90 would feel like a great achievement and I think I can shoot 18 over par if I have a good day and cut out the silly mistakes.

I have no specific goal for the handicap. I'm just enjoying the thrill of being competitive again. The obvious question is what happens when I go back to two-handed golf. No-one seems to know the answer to that, but I'll worry about it when it happens!

It would be great to hear your thoughts on my journey and my progress! Please let me know in the comments section below.