Qualifications : Handicapped sports

I'm not talking about the special Olympics or other sports for the handicapped (although that is another problem in itself) I am talking about sports where a poor competitor is given an advantage over the better ones "just to make it fair"

Golf and Sailboat races where the competitor is given a handicap to somehow level the playing field. At least they don't do this at the top levels. But were is the spirit of competition when the results of your previous achievements are used against you on the next challenge?