Jackson Reid
In golf, a ringer refers to a highly skilled golfer who does not disclose their low handicap and maintains a low profile. Ringers are often recruited by teams to improve their overall score. Ringer tournaments, also known as eclectic or selected score tournaments, are played over multiple rounds and days. Participants aim to improve their scores over time, with the lowest 18-hole score winning the tournament. While the term ringer is generally positive, sandbagger refers to a negative connotation of a golfer who plays below their handicap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tournament type | Usually played over multiple rounds and multiple days |
| Scoring | At the end of the tournament, golfers compare their scores and take the lowest score from each hole to create a new, single, 18-hole score |
| Player type | A person with a very low handicap who does not announce their handicap |
| Player skill | Naturally good at golf or someone who keeps a low handicap and a low profile |
| Tournament name variations | Eclectic, Selected Score |
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What You'll Learn
Ringer tournaments
A Ringer Tournament, sometimes called an "eclectic" tournament, is played over multiple rounds, usually over multiple days. Golfers participating in the tournament compare their scores in each round played, taking their lowest score from each hole to create a new, single, 18-hole score.
A golf association that has a Ringer Tournament running concurrently with its regular tournament schedule might post a "ringer board," charting each golfer's progress throughout the period of play. At the end of the designated period of play, the lowest of each golfer's scores on each hole of the golf course are selected. Those 18 low scores are combined into each golfer's "ringer score" or "ringer round," and the golfer with the lowest 18-hole total wins the Ringer Tournament.
Another common setting to play Ringers is on a trip with a group of golfers who are playing golf every day for several days in a row. In that setting, golfers can track their ringer scores and use the total to pay out a bonus bet to the winner of the "Ringer Tournament."
The winner of a Ringer Tournament is the player with the lowest total of their ringer scores. There are no tiebreakers.
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Ringer scores
A "ringer" in golf is a person with a very low handicap who does not announce how skilled they are. They are usually naturally talented golfers or people who keep a low handicap and a low profile. Typically, a ringer is someone from another golf club who the opposing team has not met before.
Ringer tournaments, sometimes called "eclectic" tournaments, are played over multiple rounds, usually over multiple days. At the end of the tournament, golfers compare their scores from each round, taking the lowest score from each hole to create a new, single, 18-hole score. For example, if a player makes a 4 on the first day, a 5 on the second, and a 3 on the third, their ringer score for that hole is a 3.
Ringer tournaments are a fun format because they allow players to improve their scores over time and see what they can achieve on the golf course. They also teach golfers that some holes will continually beat them up, and they need to work out a plan to manage those holes better.
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Ringer vs sandbaggers
In golf, a ringer is a person with a very low handicap who does not announce their handicap and does not always appear to have a low handicap. In a team event, a group may recruit a ringer to help them score lower. Being a ringer is generally considered a good thing, as long as the player's handicap is kept honest. A ringer tournament is a fun format that allows players to improve their scores over a few days.
However, a sandbagger is a golfer who claims to be a higher handicap than they can actually shoot. For example, they may say they are a 20 handicap but then shoot 79. Sandbaggers do not enter all their rounds into the USGA Handicap System, so their handicap is not an honest representation of their ability. The term sandbagger is considered negative in golf, whereas ringer is not.
The key difference between a ringer and a sandbagger is their honesty. A ringer may not announce their low handicap, but they are not dishonest about their ability. On the other hand, a sandbagger deliberately misrepresents their handicap to gain an advantage.
While a ringer may keep a low profile and not talk much about their game, they are not trying to deceive anyone. They are naturally good at golf or keep a consistently low handicap. In contrast, a sandbagger is trying to manipulate their handicap to gain an unfair advantage over other players.
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Ringer in team events
A "ringer" in golf is a term used to describe a highly skilled golfer who is brought into a team under false pretenses, often to improve the team's overall performance. In the context of team golf events, a "ringer" strategy can be employed to gain a competitive advantage. Here are some ways in which a "ringer" can be utilized in team golf tournaments:
- Foursome Strategy: One common scenario where the term "ringer" is used is in foursome team events. A foursome typically consists of two pairs of golfers competing against each other. A team captain or organizer may bring in a "ringer" as their partner, who is a highly skilled golfer. This "ringer" may be someone who hasn't been officially disclosed as part of the team, adding an element of surprise. The expectation is that the "ringer" will significantly contribute to the team's success by consistently outperforming the opposing pair.
- Eclectic Tournament Strategy: In an eclectic tournament, also known as a "ringer" tournament, each player's best score on each hole during multiple rounds is tallied up for an overall 18-hole score. In this format, teams can strategically utilize a "ringer" player to maximize their cumulative score. By having a "ringer" on the team, the likelihood of achieving lower scores on individual holes increases, ultimately boosting the team's overall standing in the tournament.
- Best Ball Tournament Strategy: Similar to an eclectic tournament, a "best ball" tournament involves selecting the best ball on each hole from multiple rounds played by the team members. In this format, a "ringer" can be leveraged to increase the chances of achieving the best scores on each hole. The "ringer" player's exceptional skills can significantly enhance the team's overall score, making it a strategic advantage.
- Handicap System Exploitation: Golf tournaments often employ a handicap system to equalize the playing field for golfers of varying skill levels. A "ringer" player may have a low handicap, indicating their superior golfing ability. In team events, a "ringer" with a low handicap can be strategically placed within a group to balance out higher-handicap players. This tactic can help the team collectively improve their scoring potential and overall performance.
It is important to note that while utilizing a "ringer" in team golf events can provide a competitive edge, it may also carry a certain stigma. The implication of bringing in a "ringer" suggests that the player may have entered the event under false pretenses, or that their affiliation with the team was not fully disclosed. This could potentially lead to accusations of unfair play or even cheating, especially if the "ringer" significantly outperforms the rest of the field. Therefore, while employing a "ringer" strategy can be advantageous, it should be done with careful consideration to maintain the spirit of fair competition.
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Ringer board
A "ringer" in golf is a term used to refer to a highly skilled golfer who may have entered a golf event under false pretenses. The term "ringer" is also used in the context of "ringer scores" and "ringer rounds", which refer to the lowest 18-hole score achieved by a golfer across multiple rounds or tournaments.
A "ringer board" is used in a Ringer Tournament, also known as an Eclectic Tournament, to chart each golfer's progress throughout the period of play. The Ringer Tournament is played over multiple rounds, usually over multiple days, and sometimes even multiple tournaments. Golf associations or leagues are common settings for Ringer Tournaments as they often involve a set schedule of multiple tournaments over an extended period.
At the end of the designated period of play, golfers compare their scores in each round played, selecting their lowest score from each hole to create a new, single, 18-hole score. This new score is their "ringer score" or "ringer round". The golfer with the lowest "ringer score" wins the Ringer Tournament.
A "ringer board" would, therefore, display a compilation of the best scores of all the golfers participating in the tournament. It allows golfers to track their progress and see how they are performing relative to their peers. The "ringer board" can be used for wagering purposes, with golfers betting on their "ringer scores" and the winner taking the bonus pool or an agreed-upon amount from each golfer.
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Frequently asked questions
In golf, a ringer is a person with a very low handicap who does not announce their handicap and does not appear to be a low handicap golfer. Typically, a ringer is a naturally talented golfer who keeps a low profile and is recruited by a team to help them score lower.
A ringer tournament, also called an eclectic or selected score tournament, is played over multiple rounds, usually over multiple days. At the end of the tournament, golfers compare their scores from each round, taking their lowest score from each hole to create a new 18-hole score.
A ringer score is the lowest score a golfer achieves on each hole of a golf course over multiple rounds. For example, if a golfer scores a 5, 5, and 4 on the first hole during three rounds, their ringer score for that hole is 4.
Being a ringer in golf is generally considered a good thing as long as your handicap is kept honest. Ringer tournaments are fun because they allow golfers to see their lowest possible score over multiple rounds and improve their overall performance.
