CSS for dummies

Can anyone work out what the CSS would be for the following competition scores? Course par is 70.

Pts (hcap)

39 (10)
38 (3)
37 (+1)
37 (12)
36 (13)
35 (4)
33 (9)
32 (4)
31 (13)
31 (9)
31 (13)
31 (7)
30 (13)
29 (15)
28 (9)

No, but in any case you would also need the SSS for the course. Assuming that is 70 looks like 69/70, but that is based on "look and feel" rather than calculation!!!!!!

The SSS is 69.

68/69?

puligny, how did you arrive at that number?

Well - a couple of cat 1s at or just above 36pts - most others (cat 2 and 3) within buffer or better, so it just looks like around SSS or maybe a bit below. Certainly if I had played in it that would be my working assumption - but I emphasise not based on calculation. I am going to settle on 68?

You are right with 68, good guess.

I want to know the calculation behind it so I can understand it better.

I have a gripe that the SSS is wrong and I am growing increasingly frustrated with playing well and not getting any reward for it.

JPX - I know it is complicated and don't profess to understand the detail of CSS. SSS is an assessment based on what a scratch player would be expected to score, and I suppose is as close as we get to the slope rating used in many other countries.
Good luck in your search for enlightenment - if the answer runs to less than 10 pages and is reasonably comprehensible let me know!!!

Thanks puligny, maybe someone else will be able to shed some light. It's not just me but some others at the club are dis-illusioned with it. I played with the 3 handicapper who was overjoyed with his 38 points as he is 2.5 exact, so naturally assumed he'd done enough to get down to 2. He' not a happy chap!

I was +1.2 before this comp and after 37 pts I'm now +1.1

I would have thought you would have been in the buffer zone with no change.

Eh? If you've scored 37 points and gone up... The CSS must have been ridiculously low. 37 is one under handicap so a gross 67?? For that to miss the the buffer the CSS must have equated to a 64!!!
I'd check that you secretary ( or whoever does your scoring) has o level maths!!!

There is a PDF file here - http://www.congu.com/faqs/css.pdf - that explains it.

Basically you remove any cat4 scores from the list, then calculate the percentage of the remaining scores that are SSS+2 or better.

That percentage is looked up in a table in the CONGU handbook and the table gives you how many shots the SSS is modified by to give the CSS

SSS+2 would be 35pts I think so it looks like 11 of 21 counting scores, meaning just over 50%. That 50-something percentage must've translated in the magic table to be reducing the SSS by one

Just read it again, yes something's wrong, you were one of only 2 Cat 1 players that beat their handicap. Also missed the bit about you confirming CSS as 68. I just don't therefore see ANY scenario under which you could tick up point 1.

I really shouldn't try to work out stuff before my 1st coffee of the morning. 37 points probably meant gross 69. Even so with CSS at 68 that's still surely buffer zone? Or is the Cat 1 buffer zone only one above CSS?
With the 3 hcp 38 Pts would equate to a gross 71 (-3) = net 68?

JAS

Cat 1 players do only have a one shot buffer to CSS - it's tough at the top.

There is no buffer for cat 1, if you're over the CSS, be it by 1 or 21 you get 0.1 back. I've shot 68 gross and my pal shot 71, I was 1 over the CSS so I get 0.1 back, and he stays as he was.

It's annoying because I depend on my hcap to get me into EGU events, so seriously considering not entering club comps anymore, which is a shame.

At least the CSS should be higher at Woburn next week for the English Amateur!!!

JPX

Cat 1 players do have a one shot buffer, then 2 shots for Cat 2 (and I think 3 and 4 as well?)

D4S - you are correct for cat 1 and 2. Also +3 for cat 3 and +4 for cat 4.

Can you explain what you mean by a 1 shot buffer for cat 1? As whenever I have been 1 over the CSS I have always got 0.1 back. If what your saying is correct then that shouldn't happen?

The only thing I can think of is that if you are the + handicapper in that list, perhaps that equates to a "category 0" golfer and therefore no buffer zone at all?

As far as I'm aware, what you say above is correct and that a cat1 golfer would have a one shot buffer zone.

I've been unable to find what the rules are for + handicappers but maybe the "cat0" theory holds

There's another link here - http://www.handicapmaster.org/handicaps/Unified_Handicapping_System_Page2.php - which backs up what we've been saying here (including the bit about cat1 golfers having a one shot buffer zone).

There is no mention of my hypothetical cat0 - it states that cat1 is "up to 5" - no mention of + handicaps being treated any differently

Ignore me chaps, the reason I am confused it because a card came back from a tournament I played in a while ago and I had received an adjustment of +0.1 before I played in this!

Good practise in the rain and wind this weekend, good preparation for Woburn.