Handicaps are supposed to make golf fair. They give players of different abilities a way to compete on equal terms.
When everyone is honest.
But every golfer eventually runs into a sandbagger, someone who deliberately carries a handicap that is higher than their true skill level. They do this by posting bad rounds, leaving out good rounds, or “finding their swing” with ease only when money or prizes are on the line. It’s one of the few universally disliked behaviors in golf, and for good reason: it undermines the integrity of every match, league and club event.
If you’ve ever walked off course wondering, “There’s no way they’re really 14…”this guide gives you six clear signs to watch out for.
1. They rarely post all their results
Sandbaggers tend to post results selectively. Maybe they “forgot” to enter a good round. Maybe they post everything except the days they played well.
The handicap system is built on transparency. It is designed to handle your good and bad rounds, so you are expected to post every round. When someone doesn’t do this, it’s the first sign that their handicap may not reflect reality.
2. They only play to their handicap when money or prizes are at stake
Some golfers handle pressure very well. This makes them focus more and pay attention when they need it. However, one of the biggest red flags of a sandbag at work is when the casual rounds are a struggle, but the tournament rounds are something else entirely.
Most golfers swing a little and that’s normal. Even if you play better, there is pressure every time. But when someone routinely beats their handicap by multiple strokes just during events, that gap starts to look strategic.
3. Their random round errors seem … convenient
While this is less common, it comes up all the time in online chats and forums. Players who:
- Short outside rim shots only in occasional games
- play hero shots that never work
- rack up to double without looking worried
Then when it comes to the Wednesday league or the Saturday morning set, the slow swings get stronger. When bugs disappear right when it matters, you’re likely seeing disabled maintenance, not real inconsistency.
4. Their handicap remains high despite “good golf” appearing frequently
If someone regularly shoots well below their index but somehow never sees their handicap drop, that’s an inconsistency worth noting.
According to the World Handicap System, a player’s eight best rounds from the last 20 rounds determine the index. So if they really play well often, their handicap should be adjusted. If not, either the good rounds are not being posted or the “bad” rounds are suspiciously inflated.
5. They move up a set of tees but still shoot the same scores
Most golfers move up a tee to make the course more playable. Sandbaggers do it for a different reason. One of the quieter handicap-filling strategies you’ll see in the clubs is a golfer who usually plays in the middle or back, suddenly posting most of their rounds from a shorter set, but their scores barely change.
Here’s why it’s a problem.
If you score the same score from easier tees, your handicap actually increases. The course rating and slope are lower, so the differential gets worse, not better. A higher index means more hits on net events.
If someone’s choice of machines doesn’t match their game, or if they’re changing their cargo boxes a bit too often, it’s a red flag worth paying attention to.
6. They win very often in net formats
Winning now and then is normal. Winning regularly is unlikely. Consistently winning net events is a red flag for almost any club handicap committee.
Most golfers have hot streaks, but no one should dominate net events over and over unless their handicap gives them a significant advantage. If a player continues to walk away with prizes, they may not be hot streaks. Could be sandbagging at work.
Final thoughts
Not every golfer who suddenly plays well is a sandbag. Improvement happens and streaks happen. But when some of these signs accumulate, the patterns begin to look intentional.
If something goes wrong, the best solution is transparency. Encourage posting of each round, double check score histories and rely on your club or leagues handicap committee when necessary. The handicap system only works when everyone respects it.
Post Are you playing a sandbagger? 6 red flags to watch out for appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
