is almost certainly some sandbagging going on there. The lower handicap golfers usually aren’t playing for net. Many tournaments will often award a low gross winner and low net winner. That way the 2 handicaps don’t have to shoot -10 to keep up with a sandbagging joker who says he’s a 16 and goes out and shoots 75.

Most tournaments I’ve played in now have three different flights so high handicappers are playing against other high handicappers and the low guys are playing each other. I like that a lot more than just handing out the trophy to low net.