Thousands of golfers who filled in a massive NCG survey say they have either suspected or experienced cheating while playing.
Of the 3,250 people who filled in our Club Golf Survey, over 2,000 said they were either aware of: known cheats at their club but couldn’t prove it; known cheats at their club and had proved it; or lots of people who deliberately cheated at golf.
The numbers will be pause for thought for club committees trying to maintain the integrity of competitions.
NCG’s Club Golf Survey was sent as part of our daily email newsletter. Over the coming weeks we’ll continue to reveal surprising data on crucial clubhouse issues such as what golfers really think about the World Handicap System, dress codes, the Rules of Golf, and much more.
But with lots of players often having stories to tell about golf cheats, and potential manipulation of the World Handicap System continuing to cause controversy, we asked you:
“Which of the following statements accurately captures your views on cheating on golf? Tick any that apply”
While 45.7 per cent of respondents (1,486) said they weren’t aware of anyone who was deliberately cheating at their club, that number was overshadowed by the numbers who either suspected it or knew it. 39.5 per cent (1,285 respondents) agreed with the statement that “there are a few known cheats at my club but we can’t prove it”, 16.5 per cent (535 respondents) said “there are a few known cheats at my club and we have proved it”, while just over 6 per cent (199 respondents) agreed that “I know lots of people who deliberately cheat at golf”.
The survey allowed people to click more than one answer if it applied to them, which is why the overall percentage is more than 100.
What are your experiences of a golf cheat?
On our facebook page, we asked you “what’s the worst form of cheating you’ve seen on a golf course?” Some of the replies were eye-opening.
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Graham Arnott wrote his was “a player walking into the woods to find his yellow Vice golf ball and then hacking out a white Titleist, only to claim we must be mistaken about what golf ball he was playing with”, while Roy Hollick explained: “A guy with a ball number 66 and marked with his initials hit his ball left into bushes, everyone looked and looked and the amazingly he found it 30m closer to the hole where no-one else was looking…
“Then one of the 4 found his original, same markings , number 66 and his initials. Fair to say no-one would sign his card and he didn’t turn up for day 2.”
Alan Mowat explained his humorous golf cheat scenario was “one of my mates magically finding his ball in the rough, when I was currently standing on his actual ball”, and this must have been an awkward moment for D LuxGolf Tours: “Played in a tournament and a person in my group helped to search for my ball. No luck unfortunately. Three holes later on the tee, he places a provisional ball on his tee. To my amazement it was my lost ball. From three holes ago. Let’s just say I refused to sign his card and he wasn’t present at the presentations.”
Finally, Billy Wright added this tale of golf cheat awareness which uncovered some ‘wrongdoing’. He said: “Whilst on the green of a par 5 waiting for my turn to putt, I glanced back down the fairway to see how close the following 4 ball was, one player was stood by a tree and I clearly saw him kick his ball into a playable position.
“I immediately shouted, ‘what are you doing you effing cheat’. He did an about turn and buggered off. He was a member but never showed his face again.”
Now have your say
Have you experienced cheating on the golf course? How did you deal with a golf cheat? Get in touch with us and let us know with a comment on X.
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