This column is going to offend some people. Good. It’s good because the people it’s going to offend are the offenders.

I’m talking about those who carry exaggerated handicaps and make a mockery of what should be the great game of golf.

Golfers who play in the myriad of charity tournaments know what I’m talking about. You go into one of those events with anything close to an honest handicap and you’re doing just what you’re supposed to be doing – making a contribution.

Unfortunately, the contribution you’re making is to the men — and women — who have such inflated handicaps that an honest player couldn’t cheat enough to beat them.

The handicap system should be the best thing going in amateur golf. Think about it. If everyone carried an honest handicap, the tournaments would be wide open. Anyone playing would have a chance to win if he or she were playing well. The competition would be keen and the winning players could feel good when they picked up those trophies or gift certificates.

But seriously, how good can you feel walking up to the podium to pick up your prizes when you’ve played with a 20 handicap and shot 76 on your own ball?

I’m a member of a club where the handicap system is severely abused. Golfers are allowed to post their own scores in the computer when they’ve finished a round, and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been witness to a guy shooting in the 70s and posting a score in the 90s.

It’s infuriating, it’s sickening and it’s downright cheating.

Maybe I’m derelict in my duties by not saying something. But to whom do you complain?

I’ve made comments to the offenders within earshot of others and they just laugh it off. It seems that no one really cares, because odds are they’re doing the same thing.

In fact, I’ve climbed on the soapbox at a couple of men’s association meetings where the officers were looking for ways to increase participation in club tournaments, and lobbied for a handicap committee.

I pointed out that people didn’t enter the events because they knew of the blatant violations and they were tired of watching the same guys win everything.

My suggestion was to monitor the entries and cut the handicaps of players that we all knew were over-handicapped. But no one is willing to take this stand and we’re left with 20 people playing in a tournament that should have 100.

The argument the men’s association officers gave was that if they cut the handicaps, the guys they cut wouldn’t play.

My answer to that was, "Good. You don’t want them playing anyway. And for everyone you lose, you’ll pick up at least two with honest handicaps who now think they have a chance to compete."

But nothing seems to work. The next time you’re playing in a charity event be sure and check the winning scores. They’re unreal.

A player with an honest handicap has had a great round if he shoots even par net. So what does that say for the golfer who posts a net of 10 or 12 under on his own ball?

Team scores have gotten ridiculous. In events when handicaps are used, a score in the 50s is doomed to also-ran status. If you want to pick up the gift certificates, you’d better have a team that can shoot in the mid-40s.

I love tournament golf, the competition, the team camaraderie and the atmosphere. But there is little fun in beginning play with the knowledge that you can shoot the lowest round of your life and not even be in contention.

Unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse.

Golfers realize what’s happening and answer the challenge with their own inflated handicaps. Fight fire with fire, they reason.

What we’re doing is dishonoring a game of honor.