SCOTTISH SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

 The Scottish Senior Women's Open Championship took place at Eyemouth golf club from 25-27th June.  

Lesley Robertson finished in 7th place overall, in an international field of 70 players.

Well done Lesley on your great result.  

SCOTTISH GOLF APP

 Hello ladies

In the 2022 golf season we will again be using the Scottish Golf App to book golf, enter competitions and return scores. 

If reminders are needed about all the functionality on the app here is the link to the relevant page on the Scottish Golf website.
https://scottishgolf.org/scottish-golf-app/

This link to FAQs on Scottish Golf website may help to answer any queries or problems.
https://scottishgolf.org/scottish-golf-app/scottish-golf-app-faqs/

I would also like to highlight that its possible to use the app to message other club members by tapping on the "GolfsApp" button at the bottom right of the home screen.
If a member has agreed to share their information, phone numbers and email addresses can be found here by tapping on the members name.
Any incoming messages can be retrieved by clicking on the envelope icon at the top of the home screen,

Happy golfing!

Morag Cunningham
RCGC Ladies Captain

World Handicapping System - Bite Size - Day 9

 Soft and Hard Cap

A player’s Low Handicap Index is remembered within the handicap formula – this is the lowest Handicap Index they have held within the last 12 months. 

The Low Handicap Index provides a reference point against which the current Handicap Index can be compared.

This is to help ensure that the player’s current Handicap Index cannot stray too far away from their demonstrated ability, in too short a space of time

If the new Index is more than a certain number of strokes above the Low Handicap Index, the cap is triggered.

The soft cap suppresses upward movement when the difference between the new calculated Index and the Low Index is greater than 3. 

The increase is suppressed by 50% of any value over 3.

The hard cap prevents further upward movement by placing a hard ceiling at 5 above the Low Index.

The soft cap and hard cap procedures only start to take effect once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their scoring record

World Handicapping System - Bite Size - Day 8

 Exceptional Score Reduction

A score differential which is at least 7.0 strokes or more better than the player’s Handicap Index at the time the round was played.

Score can be from any format of play, competitive or general play and this is not restricted to competition scores.

When a player submits an exceptional score, the handicap formula applies an additional adjustment to the player’s updated Handicap Index.

This adjustment is in addition to any reduction caused within the 8/20 calculation.

The Handicap Committee can override the adjustment if they deem necessary.

World Handicapping System - Bite Size - Day 7

 Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)

At the end of each day, a playing conditions calculation (PCC) takes place automatically, behind the scenes, to determine if scores made at the course were significantly higher or lower than expected.

If scores were unusually low or high, a PCC adjustment of between –1 and +3 will be applied to your score differential calculation to reflect the playing conditions on the day.

When abnormal playing conditions cause scores to be higher or lower than expected on a given day, a Playing Conditions Calculation will adjust score differentials to better reflect the player’s actual performance.

This means that a higher score on a tough day may still be a good score and one of your best 8, used to calculate your updated Handicap Index.

The PCC considers all acceptable scores submitted on a golf course on a given day (all formats, competitive & recreational, 9 & 18 holes).

For a PCC to be calculated, at least eight acceptable scores must be submitted by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below.  The PCC is automatically applied within the calculation of score differentials for all players.

World Handicapping System - Bite Size - Day 6

 Course and Slope Rating

The Course Rating system forms the foundation for the Rules of Handicapping. The system enables handicaps to be portable by adjusting a player’s handicap according to the relative difficulty of the golf course being played.  

What is course rating?

An indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal course and weather conditions

What is a bogey rating?

An indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the bogey player under normal course and weather conditions

What is a Slope Rating?

A Slope Rating is the number which indicates the relative playing difficulty of a course for bogey golfers, compared to scratch golfers. 

It is the combination of the Course Rating and the Bogey rating that allow us to calculate the Slope Rating of a set of tees.

Details of these ratings for courses across Scotland will be available on the Scottish Golf Website and App from 2nd November 2020 for a course rating database lookup.

World Handicapping System - Bite size - Day 2

Handicap Index Calculation 

https://scottishgolf.org/calculating-your-handicap-index-under-whs/

One of the most common questions golfers will ask each other is, “what is your handicap?”

Under WHS, the way in which a handicap is calculated will change slightly, and golfers will receive a new Handicap Index.

A Handicap Index is designed to represent your demonstrated ability.  It is calculated by averaging the best 8 score differentials out of the most recent 20 within your scoring record. Can be made up of both competition and general play scores.

For example, see below the calculation for one of our own Handicapping and Course Rating team:

By taking Adam’s best 8 from his last 20 scores, his Handicap Index is calculated as 12.0.

If your record does not have 20 scores on it already, a modified calculation will be carried out to provide you with a Handicap Index.  The below table highlights how this will be done: 

A Handicap Index will be the measure of a player’s demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty (that is, a course with a Slope Rating of 113).

Your Handicap Index provides you with a portable measure of your demonstrated playing ability that is consistent with how all other golfers will be measured around the world. It can be used to track your progress and to play in a casual or a competitive round with any other player from course to course and country to country.

How do I get one?

For new players:

Once you have joined a golf club and you have submitted scores from a total of 54 holes, made up of 9 or 18-hole scores, you will be allocated an initial Handicap Index. 

You are then able to return competition and general play scores (pre-registered).

For existing club members:

We will be using you existing scores on you CDH record to calculate your Handicap Index

What is a score differential? 

The difference between a player’s adjusted gross score and the Course Rating, taking account of Slope Rating. It is the value ‘played to’ on a specific course on a specific day.

World Handicapping System - Bite size - Day 1

 Ladies

Scottish Golf is publishing a guide to the World Handicapping System in easy to read chunks every day over the next two weeks starting today.

Here is Day 1 "The Purpose of the World Handicap System"

https://scottishgolf.org/why-are-we-moving-to-a-new-handicap-system/

With WHS coming into play in Scotland on 2nd November 2020, many golfers across Scotland will be asking, “why are we moving to a new Handicap system?”

WHS aims to provide maximum enjoyment for all who play the game. The new system will enable players of any ability, from anywhere in the world, to play and compete with others on a fair basis. This will be the case whether in competition, or during a casual round.

WHS will encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap and once a golfer has their handicap, players of differing abilities, genders, and nationalities will be able to take their handicap to any course in the world where they will be able to compete on a fair basis.

Another key aim of WHS is that it will indicate, with accuracy, the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

R&A 9 HOLE CHALLENGE QUALIFIER

Played Friday 24/5/2019

4 pairs played on a lovely sunny evening, with, as seems common this May, a chilly wind.

Winners:       Kevin & Marissa Barr 38pts
RunnersUp:  Eunice Muir & Eleanor Cannon 34pts

Congratulations to Kevin & Marissa.
They progress to the next round at Milnathort GC on 13th/14th June.

ELEANOR CANNON INTERVIEW

The Future of Golf in Scotland Conference 2017 -- Highlights

Scottish Golf Strategic Vision -- We want your input

Scottish Golf’s CEO Blane Dodds has just completed a 9-venue roadshow of Club Consultation Forums across the country, outlining an exciting new vision for the future of golf in Scotland. 

The Draft Strategy Presentation is now available to read online, with an opportunity for clubs and members to feedback your views as part of the consultation process, before the end of July 2017.

Read the draft online -  CLICK HERE