The Sandbagger Trap

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Dear readers, every member-guest tournament has its share of late scratches - family emergencies, unforeseen business trips and mysterious “injuries.” At a club we’ll call Sand Ridge Country Club, one last-minute replacement partner turned into a $12,000 education in trust, reputation and one dangerous number: a guest's handicap.

Act I: The Setup

David Richardson (not his real name) was all-in: $2,500 entry, thousands in side bets, and everything staked on Sand Ridge's Duffy Waldorf Flight. Then, three days before tee time, disaster - his longtime partner slipped in the shower and threw out his back.

A business contact offered a solution:

"I know a guy. Marcus Webb. Sixteen handicap, solid under pressure."

Webb's GHIN checked out. His index hovered between 15 and 17 for two years. His intro call was smooth - asking about course conditions, local rules and even inquiring about the club’s handicap committee chair.

"The question about the handicap committee chairman was odd," Richardson later admitted. "That should've been my first red flag."

Act II: The Play

Tournament morning, Webb looked the part: understated Polo gear, worn FootJoys, measured routine.

The side action was heavy - $500 Nassau matches, $100 net skins, $1,000 low-ball. Webb didn't just agree to split it, he suggested raising the stakes.

"I didn't drive four hours to play for lunch money," he joked.

By the turn, Webb had four birdies against his 16 index. By day's end, he posted a net 58, obliterating everyone in the side bets. Richardson, meanwhile, stumbled to an 89.

Their team won its flight and qualified for the championship derby. But in alternate shot, Webb suddenly made uncharacteristic mistakes, dropping them to fourth overall - just high enough to avoid scrutiny, just low enough to keep eyes off him.

The real win was off the books: $12,000 in side bets. Webb took his $6,000 cut, skipped the awards dinner, and was gone before the last glass of cabernet hit the table.

Act III: The Hook

Seventy-two hours later, Richardson got the call:

"Dave, this is Tom Hartley from Meadowbrook. Did you play with a guy named Marcus Webb? We need to talk."

Webb wasn't Webb. He was Michael Weber - a tournament hustler banned from clubs across the West Coast. Real handicap: closer to 3. His MO? Inflate GHIN numbers, target desperate members, clean up on side action and then underperform in main tournaments to dodge attention.

Richardson made the only call he could - he returned every dollar. Quiet meetings, handshakes, awkward apologies. His $6,000 half of the winnings gone, plus the trust he'd spent years building at Sand Ridge.

"The money wasn't the worst part," Richardson said. "It was the look in people's eyes. Like maybe I knew."

The Aftermath

Sand Ridge implemented strict guest verification: two-year handicap history checks, reference calls to home clubs, personal vouching requirements, and financial liability for hosts. Richardson helped draft the policy - and watched it stop two fraud attempts within six months.

What he learned next was worse: Webb, er, Webber wasn't alone. A quiet network of hustlers worked the private club circuit - multiple aliases, fake GHINs, surgically targeted events.

Richardson became an unofficial fraud investigator, tracking names, warning clubs. His list grows monthly. He’s Yip Strickler without the fanfare and public shaming.

Weber still surfaces now and then - a new name, new story, same game. Last spotted in Palm Springs, same putting stroke and same “web” of lies.

Richardson still plays tournaments, but only with partners he's known for decades. His reputation survived. Barely.

The Lesson

In member-guest golf, your partner's handicap isn't just a number - it's your wallet, your relationships and your reputation.

Some hazards have rakes. Others show up smiling with a sandbagger's grin.

The next time someone offers you a last-minute tournament partner, remember this story and beware the Sandbagger Trap!

Poll Question

Last Week's Poll Result

If the GHIN Reaper came for you:

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤥 7.4 - but I post to a 12.1

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🎩 Legit 15 - I’m a Honest Abe

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🙋‍♂️ Before or after the member-guest?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ⚰️ Dead. I’d be dead.

So we’ve got an honest bunch in the CCC membership - that’s good to know. We never doubted you, but it’s good to get the confirmation, especially with the story you just read!

Lastly, if you are a newer subscriber don’t forget to catch up on past stories at ccconfidential.vip - and while you’re at it, tell a friend!