Standard Scratch Review - Decision

What is the Standard Scratch Score?

The Standard Scratch Score (SSS) is a measure of the playing difficulty of a golf course for a scratch golfer under normal midseason course and weather conditions. It is determined in accordance with either:

• The Course Rating System of the United States Golf Association or
• The Rating System adopted by the English Golf Union.
The USGA Course Rating System takes account of the measured length of a golf course together with factors that affect both the playing length and the playing difficulty (obstacle factors).
The ten obstacle factors that determine the playing difficulty of a golf course are:

Topography Fairway Green Target Recoverability & Rough Bunkers Out of Bounds / Extreme Rough Water Hazards Trees Green Surface Psychological The factors that affect the course playing length are: Roll Wind Forced Lay-up / Dogleg Elevation Each hole on the golf course is evaluated on a scale 0-10 for each of the ten obstacles and account taken of the effective length correction factors e.g. the effective playing length of a fast running links course is quite different from that of a moorland course with soft fairways.

The Rating System of the English Golf Union also takes account of playing difficulty and length correction factors.

As a result of the above definition the Committee at the Manor requested a review of our SSS

In December 2007 officials from the Herts Golf Union visited the Manor of Groves to review the Standard Scratch Score for the White and Yellow Tees. The officials were impressed by what they saw and put together a report for further analysis to ensure that the SSS reflected the difficulty of the course.
The results have finally been received from the Herts Golf Union and with great regret I have to inform the Male Golfers at the Manor there is no change to the current Standard Scratch of 70 for the White Tees and 68 for the Yellow Tees.

So just to reiterate this means that with a Par 71 and a SSS of 70 you need to score 37 Stableford Pts to make par before any Competition Standard Scratch adjustments are made.

MANY APOLOGIES FROM THE COMMITTEE, WE TRIED TO HAVE THE SSS INCREASED BUT THE HGU THOUGHT OTHERWISE!