I can't speak to most of the people who posted in this thread as I don't know most of them. But i know Sean (11BC2), who I've watched from when he started playing in April 2015. And Ezzy belonged to the CC I am a member of until she left to join her current club because she wanted to go up against the best players around.
I can't stand idly by and watch while they are possibly accused of cheating, sandbagging or anything else. I can vouch that both of them learned this game by hard work and dedication, taking the time to map their clubs and balls. And practice, practice, practice. I've played rounds with Ezzy and she has a gift for this game. She leaves an old dinosaur like me in the dust.
I played a social AS game with ct, gsoup and manderson1152 last night. They all play better than I do, but we all had a good time. No one looking to get one over on someone else. And no one berating someone when they had a bad shot. As ct said, key word "social".
ScottHope, Robert1893, Born2BeSting, alosso, Alanti, YankeeJim, to name a few of the usual posters, not necessarily in this one thread, all seem to have no axe to grind, so to speak. They all pass along good advice to anyone who will listen. And all have shown more patience that I can muster at times in answering the same questions over and over again.
PaulTon has brought a great bit of humor to the forum that has been missing since we lost Andyson. As well as organizing that great Tribute Tourament to our friend Dennis. Even if he does have a sharp tongue at times.
I've been the receipient of gifted equipment. From a complete stranger. And it wasn't because I paid $$ thru the back door to get it. I've also helped out a few people in my CC with equipment. Because I wanted to help them out. And I wanted to "pay it forward" for the gift I received. No money crossed my palms for doing this.
I don't play RG's because I know there are way too many good players who could easily out score me. I've never had anyone offer to sell me "gifted" equipment but I tend to only play seriously in my CC, and socially with friends. I don't look for random games any more, and I never play for credits. I think it's sad that some people have so little self esteem they have to try to beat the system, or cheat to win, but I figured out a long time ago I can't fix the whole world. I don't have to accept those things into my life. If I had evidence that someone was cheating I would report them.
Best thing I can close with is to say I agree with ct, and Ezzy and still hope that WGT will get more serious about cleaning up the game. Even though I agree with aloss in that "we are WGT, hope is futile", at least at times.
phred952