Standard Scratch Score (SSS)

Each course, depending upon tees used, has a Standard Scratch Score (SSS).  For example, the Essex/Cambs off yellow tees has SSS 70 whereas the Cambs/Herts off white tees has SSS 72.  The SSS reflects course length and difficulty and is written on the course card.  When playing off forward tees in the winter, we normally use SSS of 67.

Competition Standard Scratch (CSS)

The handicap software looks at players' actual scores on the day and works out how many people played to a net score of SSS+2 or better.  It then allocates a Competition Standard Scratch (CSS) which might be anything from SSS-1 up to SSS+3.  So if the weather is poor, the CSS will be high (perhaps 73) and then everyone's net scores are compared to this before handicap adjustments are made.

Handicap changes

Every player with a net score which is lower than CSS gets a reduction PER SHOT according to the table below.  So if I had a net 70 in a competition where CSS is 73 and my handicap is 10, then my handicap reduction will be 3x0.2 = 0.6

If your net score is within the buffer zone, no change in handicap is applied.  In the above example, this would apply if my net score was 73, 74 or 75

Any score above the buffer zone gives the player a handicap increase of 0.1 - irrespective of how high the score is.

Reductions Only competitions

If players scores are very bad on the day, the handicap software might determine that CSS is SSS+4 or higher.  In this case, it is automatically set to a reduction-only competition - no scores can go up (by 0.1) but exceptional scores can cause handicap cuts (although this is generally unlikely).  For men's competitions at Heydon where the field is about 30-strong, we need roughly 2 or more players with handicaps 0-20 to get within 2 shots of the SSS for the course.  If this does not happen, the competition will be reductions only.

What competitions are normally handicap qualifiers?

We can use any competition which uses stroke play, stableford or bogey formats provided that full handicap allowance applies.  Special events which have longest drive and nearest the pin etc would not normally be qualifiers because these features might distort how a player might otherwise play the course.

Winter medals 'Non qualifiers'

Our Men's December, January and February medals are normally set to non-qualifiers.  The main reason is that with bad weather, it is easier to score poorly.  Most people want to keep their handicaps low and we do not want to put off people entering the medal because they want to avoid going up 0.1.  The second reason is that winter tees are well forward and it is almost a different course - especially with no rough!  We can adjust the SSS to a lower value to counter this but it is better to adjust handicaps automatically only using the main summer course layout and conditions.

General Play Adjustments

The handicap secretary can adjust any handicap up or down at any time if there is compelling evidence that such a change should be made - in addition the recommendation from CONGU is that an annual review should be conducted on all players and the handicap software provides analysis reports which point to those players which may need handicap adjustments.  General play adjustments are not implemented often and the player needs to show consistent evidence of good play over a period of time to get a General Play cut - not just a one-off good score.

How often should I be playing to my handicap?

The handicap represents the best score that is likely to be achieved - on an occasional basis.  It does not represent the average!  If your playing ability and handicap is steady, you might beat your handicap by 3 shots and (for category 2 players) this would mean a cut of 0.6.  With poorer rounds giving you back 0.1 shots, this means you should expect a good round like 3-under only once in every 7 rounds (one to go down and 6 to go up).