The golf handicap is not intended to be an average as in bowling.  I like to think of it as a measure of the players potential.  It shows how well you can score on a good day.  I'd like to see a similar system used in bowling.  It would make sandbagging much more difficult.
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If ignorance is bliss, then knock the smile off my face.

Ishmael has a point here. Example: If you would take a percentage of highest series a bowler score's in a league for a season and use that as their average for tournaments. You might just eliminate sandbagging all together and handicap tournaments might be on a equal playing field. A system based on your scoring potential.

1.Absolutely a composite of all averages is the fairest!

2. Sandbagging could never be eliminated, The best sandbaggers are just so good at it!  What can you prove?

3. In golf 1/2 of the scores are thrown out!! Stupid  Wow, this was awesome for me! As a golfer who most of the time scored within a 5 stroke range on my home course if not only 3!!  (mediocre putting great every day striking) I loved to beat the scratch players as the courses got harder.

REgards,

Luckylefty

Sandbagging is as bad in golf as it is in bowling. Golf may have even more sandbaggers.

The biggest difference I see around here is that some golfers will cheat to lower their handicap so that they can enter certain events that require handicaps less than some number. It takes a 2.3 handicap index or less to enter our state amateur. I’ve seen players who refuse to turn in high scores so that their handicap remains below this. They will suddenly start playing winter rules on the last hole to make the score invalid, etc.  

Few amateur golf tournaments around here use USGA handicaps. The players are grouped into flights based on qualifying scores. In the Championship flight and First flight all the participants are trying their best.  But below that it is sandbagger heaven. You will see guys shoot 95 - 95 in qualifying then 79 - 75 the next week. These guys know the system. What it takes to get bumped out of a flight and play it to the hilt each year. You see the same names every year.

This would be like bowling a tournament and your average for the tournament was the first 3 games thrown. You would then be placed with other bowlers of similar scores and you would bowl them scratch the next 3 games to see who won.

As long as there is money to be won, participants will cheat to gain an advantage. That can be cheating to get additional handicap or cheating at the game itself.