Ladies Golf News in Scotland, the West of Scotland and Renfrewshire
Hosted by Scottish Golf’s Club Business Manager, Iain Evans, golfers from across Scotland had the opportunity to hear from, and pose questions to, David Kernohan, Handicapping and Course Rating Officer at Scottish Golf, Gordon Crae from Gourock Golf Club and Joe Persh, Head of Development and Technology at OCS. -- Go to the Scottish Golf Website for More
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| Kylie Henry -- Photo courtesy of the Ladies European Tour |
The last day for “counting competitions” for 2020 MGR Medals was 31 October.
Due to the travel restrictions in place, and members residing in different local authorities, they have taken the difficult decision to pause the competition. It is obviously disappointing to have to take this action, but they feel we are doing so to comply with the guidance and in the best interests of their members. READ MORE
FROM SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE YESTERDAY
Scottish Golf is now in a position to provide all affiliated clubs with further guidance relating to the Scottish Government’s COVID protection levels by local area. The latest version of our COVID-19 Guidance for Golf Clubs and Golfers can be found on the Scottish Golf Website.The updated guidance is summarised as follows and unless otherwise stated are effective from yesterday 2nd November:
From Thursday 23rd October Scottish Golf started the World Handicap System (WHS) transition process of golfer handicaps as we move to implement the new WHS. The main part of this transition was the calculation of every current CONGU Handicap into a WHS Index and golfers may have noticed their projected handicap has changed several times over the last few days as we aligned the data from the two systems.
To find out more about how we have generated initial handicap values that are as accurate as possible, please click here to access the WHS Initial Handicap Index document. This document also aims to answer some of the additional questions members may have around the process.
LANARKSHIRE LADIES
1 Madeleine Macgregor (Hamilton) 1327 points
2 Megan Docherty (Bishopbriggs) 1173
3 Jackie Carty (Hollandbush) 1163
4 Anne-Marie Livingstone (Cawder) 1133
5 Yvonne Welsh (Playsport) 1095
6 Melissa Boyle (Cawder) 1075
7 Katie Graham (Hamilton) 1066
8 Jennifer Weir (Cawder) 1058
9 Lesley Watson (Cathkin Braes) 1046
10 Joy Mottram (Carnwath) 1042
11 Jan Kidd (Carluke) 1038
12 Susan Woodhouse (East Kilbride) 1035
13 Suzanne Woodman (Cathkin Braes) 1021
14 Hayley McPherson (Bishopbriggs) 1014
15 Alice Brown (Bothwell Castle) 1002
LANARKSHIRE LADIES CLUBS
1 Playsport 943
2 Bishopbriggs 931
3 Wishaw 921
4 Cawder 898
5 Carluke 897
RENFREWSHIRE LADIES
1 Isabell Donnelly (Gleddoch) 1150 points
2 Lynn Forsyth (Paisley) 1061
3 Susan Morrow (Caldwell) 1060
4 Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle) 1051
5 Susan Ramsay (Haggs Castle) 969
6 Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle) 968
7 Gillian Lavety (Old Course Ranfurly) 947
8 Birgit Clark (Old Course Ranfurly) 930
9 Moira Holt (Caldwell) 929
10 Ann McKenzie (Old Course Ranfurly) 927
11 Sandra Bell (Old Course Ranfurly) 905
12 Susan Ferguson (Caldwell) 903
13 Marion Downie (Old Course Ranfurly) 898
14 Jennifer Owen (Old Course Ranfurly) 889
15 Fiona Macphee (Old Course Ranfurly) 888
RENFREWSHIRE LADIES CLUBS
1 Caldwell 926
2 Haggs Castle 920
3 Old Course Ranfurly 893
4 Paisley 834
5 Gleddoch 779
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
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.
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.
Day 6 - 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.
Under WHS, one of the key aims is to provide golfers with more opportunities to submit counting scores.
Some of the factors that will mean a score is considered acceptable for handicapping purposes, as outlined in the new Rules of Handicapping, include:
Players must pre-register their intent to submit a score in general play for handicap purposes. General play is a significant benefit under WHS, allowing golfers to, so long as they pre-register and play the game by the WHS requirements, submit any round of golf from any golf course on the globe. This is a massive opportunity for golfers who wish to consume their golf this way all year round and opens up new opportunities to maintain and obtain a handicap. General play scores can be submitted directly through the Scottish Golf App.
Such pre-registration must be made before the player starts the round, and in the manner prescribed by the Handicap Committee or Scottish Golf.
To find out more about the key features of WHS, click here.
It is therefore important that a player submits their score as soon as possible on the day of play, after completion of their round and before midnight (local time).
Golfers must input their gross score for every hole played. If a golfer’s score is not submitted on the day of play it will not be used in the Playing Conditions Calculation.
A golfer will be able to view their new Handicap Index on the Scottish Golf Platform (via the Scottish Golf Website or App) or through their own golf club.
Under WHS, one of the key aims is to provide golfers with more opportunities to submit counting scores.
Some of the factors that will mean a score is considered acceptable for handicapping purposes, as outlined in the new Rules of Handicapping, include:
Players must pre-register their intent to submit a score in general play for handicap purposes. General play is a significant benefit under WHS, allowing golfers to, so long as they pre-register and play the game by the WHS requirements, submit any round of golf from any golf course on the globe. This is a massive opportunity for golfers who wish to consume their golf this way all year round and opens up new opportunities to maintain and obtain a handicap. General play scores can be submitted directly through the Scottish Golf App.
Such pre-registration must be made before the player starts the round, and in the manner prescribed by the Handicap Committee or Scottish Golf.
To find out more about the key features of WHS, click here.
Your Course Handicap will be the number of strokes a player receives, before handicap allowances, from a specific set of tees as determined by the Slope Rating:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index x slope rating/ 113
For example, for a golfer with a Handicap Index of 12.0, playing a course with a Slope Rating of 127, the calculation would be:
12.0 x (127/113) = 13.5 (14)
Note - This is the handicap you will put and your card and use when submitting a score, this the important handicap to remember!
The Playing Handicap adjusted for any handicap allowances or Terms of the Competition. It represents the actual number of strokes the player gives or receives for the format of golf being played
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance
For example, using the above example where the golfer has a Course Handicap of 13.5 and playing a competition with a 95% handicap allowance, the calculation for Playing Handicap would be:
13.5 x 0.95 = 12.8 (13)
Note- This handicap is solely used for the purpose of calculating competition results or when working out allowances for a specific format of play.
Handicap Allowance
The percentage of a Course Handicap recommended to create equity for all players participating in a specific format of play. See below a list of all formats of play and the recommended. Go to the Scottish Golf Website
The Finalists were Lorraine Campbell (Cardross) and Laura McGeachy (Haggs Castle) v Karen McIlvaney (Hilton Park) and Audrey Adams (Hilton Park)
In a close encounter Lorraine and Laura won at the 17th Hole - Many congratulations
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.
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. This 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.
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).
We will be using you existing scores on you CDH record to calculate your Handicap Index
