I try to never pick up as a matter of principle. I don't like to think that I quit, or the hole got the best of me. I'll only pick up if I'm holding up my group or the group behind me. I don't have a magic number, but if I'm over 10 strokes that usually does it. However, on the occasion that I do get that high up in stroke count on a hole it's highly likely that 3 of those are penalty strokes. I won't spend a lot of time looking for a ball if it's hit too far out of the fairway, so just because I'm at 9 or 10 strokes doesn't mean I've swung the club that many times or really taken up all that much time.

Mind you, as I start playing more seriously this may change, as I'll be required to put forth more effort to find an errant tee shot. Right now I usually play a more "resort style" golf.

bkuehn1952 wrote:

Bryan K wrote: bkuehn1952 wrote: Bryan K wrote: I don't ever pick up. Why? Attempting to not be critical, what benefit do you see in hitting that 11th or 12th shot? Plus, if I pick up, even with equitable score control in effect, the round is no longer eligible to be used towards my handicap. If playing out a hole beyond single digits helps your game then I can't disagree with your first point. As to the matter of recording a score for handicap purposes, you are not correct. Excerpt from USGA Handicap Manual: A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation. Once someone exceeds their course ESC, it is perfectly acceptable to pick-up and record the ESC. If one were to pick-up prior to reaching their ESC, then one is required to estimate the most likely score and then turn the score in for handicap purposes.

Gotcha. And I knew this too. It just didn't click.

bkuehn1952 wrote:

Excerpt from USGA Handicap Manual: A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation. Once someone exceeds their course ESC, it is perfectly acceptable to pick-up and record the ESC. If one were to pick-up prior to reaching their ESC, then one is required to estimate the most likely score and then turn the score in for handicap purposes.

I did not know that. I assume this doesn't work for most tournament play? At WAHC it was play-until-holed I thought. Example first day of the tourney I ended up with a 12 on a par 4 meltdown. (similar big number holes happened each day...) At the time, the ESC max for me would have been 7 I think.

jfurr wrote:

I did not know that. I assume this doesn't work for most tournament play? At WAHC it was play-until-holed I thought. Example first day of the tourney I ended up with a 12 on a par 4 meltdown. (similar big number holes happened each day...) At the time, the ESC max for me would have been 7 I think.

You are correct. In most tournament formats one plays until the ball is holed, regardless of the score. My comment was soley with regard to normal day to day play.

bkuehn1952 wrote:

You are correct. In most tournament formats one plays until the ball is holed, regardless of the score. My comment was soley with regard to normal day to day play.

10-4. Yeah, I agree should be a difference in a regular round for handicap purposes vs. stroke play tourneys. Under pressure "stuff" can happen.

edit: also, when I entered my scores from those rounds into my club system for handicap I applied ESC - even though on the day of the tourney I carded real score.

...and to answer the original poll question... I pick up on a blow-up hole when it will slow the pace of play for our group or there is a group behind coming up. Otherwise, play it out - bruises and all. But it does miff me when a guy scoops up his remaining 2 or 3 foot putt sometimes, having missed lots of those.