Sss ?

golfdub

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I did my first handicap round today and finished +14, par was 68 but the secretary said it will work out +16 as the SSS is 66. Can someone explain what this is, I think it's some sort or difficulty rating so if par is 68 but because it's a simple course it works out at 66.

Is this correct ?
 
sss is the expected score of a scratch golfer on that course, from those tees, in normal summer conditions taking into account length, hazards etc etc

par is a totally nominal figure, generally based on length but sometimes 'tweaked' for difficulty
 
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I did my first handicap round today and finished +14, par was 68 but the secretary said it will work out +16 as the SSS is 66. Can someone explain what this is, I think it's some sort or difficulty rating so if par is 68 but because it's a simple course it works out at 66.

Is this correct ?

They'll be 2 shortish par 4 or 5's which it's expected a scratch player will be expected to birdie.
 
Where are you playing?

I bet I know it.

If 14 over is your best of the 3 cards, then 16 will be the h'cap.
 
Yes,

The SSS is the way that UK courses are 'normalised' in order that a handicap at one course is equatable to one at another course - whether the courses are similar or one is tougher than the other!

So if you played exactly to your handicap at Perivale, you would shoot 14 over and if you played tp your handicap at Carnoustie, you would shoot 19 over - as it's a Par 72 with SSS 75.

CSS (Competition Standard Scratch) sort of does a similar thing for any particular competition - and can go down 1 or up 3 from the SSS, supposedly allowing for the conditions on the day. Should it go up more than 3, then the comp becomes a 'Reduction Only' one.
 
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