Hello there...new member. Help with handicap

[Cymro14]

Hello all. I'm a late starter to golf and have currently been on a maximum handicap of 28 for the past two years. Although I regularly score 35-38 stableford points in competitions. My handicap has not moved at all. Can you explain to me how the process works as it seems very complicated to me and I am am keen to get down from 28. Many thanks.

 

[pbrown7582]

hello and welcome.

what is par and sss at your course? it sounds as if SSS is less than par at first glance.

 

[patricks148]

Hello all. I'm a late starter to golf and have currently been on a maximum handicap of 28 for the past two years. Although I regularly score 35-38 stableford points in competitions. My handicap has not moved at all. Can you explain to me how the process works as it seems very complicated to me and I am am keen to get down from 28. Many thanks.

you have to shoot below the CSS to get cut.

 

[Cymro14]

Par on the course is 72

 

[pbrown7582]

Par on the course is 72

and Standard scratch?

 

[Rooter]

Par on the course is 72

On the card you should have an SSS number too, this is the Standard Scratch Score.This is the number you handicap will be calculated from in a supplimentary round (ie you have your card in hand, have advised the pro or handicap sec you are going to put a card in)

Then you have the CSS (Competiotion Scratch Score) which again your handicap will be calculated from, and this is based on the course that day.

So if your course is par 72, but the CSS that day has dropped to 70, you need to base this as your benchmark..

sorry, got bored of typing, but hope this helps.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Briefly.......

Each course has a standard scratch score (SSS)
You have to play in a "qualifying competition" to get any adjustment - most competition golf in summer will be "qualifying".
On the day, depending on the scores returned from the field the Competition Scratch Score (CSS) is calculated.
The CSS can be SSS-1, SSS, SSS+1, SSS+2, SSS+3 or SSS+3 reductions only.
If you score less than the CSS (as a 28 handicapper) you will be cut 0.4 for each shot under.
If you score higher that CSS+4 you will go up 0.1 (Max 28.0).

Suspect you may have had one or two 0.4 cuts but gone up several 0.1's in between? Your exact handicap is shown on the competition results sheets and the handicap list in the clubhouse so you should be able to track these adjustements if you check after each comp.

Oh, and welcome to the forum btw

 

[Cymro14]

Great thanks for that. Glad I found this forum.

 

[pbrown7582]

The reason SSS is important is because if it is below par say 70 with par 72 then 38 points is only playing to your handicap you'd need 39 to get cut 0.4 and so on.