"Golfer sues over handicap adjustment"

Thanks to Lawrence Donegan for re-Tweeting Mark O'Regan's Independent story on "Irish pensioner" Thomas Talbot's multimillion dollar suit against the Hermitage Golf Club, which reduced his handicap by 7.8 shots between 1999 and 2004. And seems to have cost him his family, who haven't spoken to him in six years.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Talbot explains the personal toll the past few years has taken on him.

“This case has been going on for the past six years,” he said. “It has been hugely stressful. I didn’t care so much about the handicap issue, it is more the principle of it.

“I’d turn up for a competition and there would be nobody to play with. I have learned the hard way that friends are a funny species - they’re never there when you want them.”

Or maybe they don't like giving 5 a side to a sandbagger? Just wondering...

Hermitage GC says under GUI Rule 19 it had to reduce his handicap if it believed it was too high relative to his ability. A ruling is expected within two weeks.

Mr Talbot concluded: “I went up to Portmarnock Golf Links on Saturday and joined as a five-day member.

“My handicap is now 21.”