So...by now, with everyone's 2 cents..I suppose we're up to about $10. Anyway, I guess I'd be classed as one of those sandbaggers. So, let me give you 2 more cents worth. Before there were tiers, I played a ton of match play...mostly in the scored category. I actually didn't know there was an MPC. Then when I discovered MPC, I played some of those..enough to keep me in golf balls and buy a new driver and wedges--I put about the first $50 in myself. Then blitz's came around and I played a lot of those...then Alt. Shot, which I play most of the time. Recently, I've started playing MP's a bit more again. The point is, I didn't enjoy stroke play when I first joined with all the stalling and quitting and disconnecting and people just whacking the ball all over the place just to piss everyone else off. So, that's when I switched to MP. I have a lot of MP's against Pros (before the tiers) and Tour Pros and Masters. About 85% of all my MP were just scored. I will occasionally do a MPC now against whoever shows up. At that point, everyone can see my level and average. It seems that in MPC, it's common for a higher tier player to enter a game against me and it's all good. I like to be polite with a welcome and comment on good shots, etc. If they win the first hole, or second hole...they seem just fine with it, but, if I come back, or I win the first or second hole, many times they'll start to say how unfair it is. Well...guess what...it wasn't unfair when you accepted the game and proposed the wager (I always join a game--never set one up) or, when you won the first hole....but all of a sudden because you bogey two holes or I bridie one or two...it's now unfair? So, in any case, I always offer to cancel if anyone--regardless of tier, feels that it's unfair...even if I'm two up, or one up...or dormie..The creidts just aren't that important to me...I have a low average and am a high level...Mostly because, WGT doesn't seem to think that Alt. Shot, or Blitz, or MP should be considered as experience. They most certainly should be. I also catch flack for playing Alt. Shot sometimes...but, I'd play that game regardless of which tees I hit from or what clubs I have...I just enjoy alt. shot...but, if someone has a problem with that, I take no offense and will gladly drop or find another game. It's entertainment to me...not a mission...not a way to take peoples credits...not a way to "win" at a game for my own ego.
I think perhaps the biggest issue is that the game promotes moving up in levels...not moving up in tiers...bonus level points for consecutive days...points for playing, XP...clubs available at level xx.....I'd be fine with playing with clubs that are available to me while higher tiers can have others...In fact, I like my rapture irons just fine.
So, after all that...my opinion (although unsolicited) is that all tiers should have clubs that are available only to their level or higher......and, all games should be factored into the tier rating. I'd bet that 60% or more of Masters and below would all move up at least 1-2 tiers if they did factor those games in. And that would be fine with me. So, if you play with "baggers"..look at their average and level before you start a MP game...or even an Alt. Shot or stroke play. If it bothers you adn you decide not to play...well....No offense taken by this player.
Now..everyone go play and enjoy the entertainment with whoever you choose to play with/against.