How is the standard scratch of a golf course in the UK worked out?

Question

How is the standard scratch of a golf course in the UK worked out?

Answer 1

I believe it is calculated on the length of the course, its complexity and natural features. Some shorter courses can have a quite high SS, many links courses for example.

Answer 2

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. The ten factors that affect the playing difficulty of a golf course are:

Terrain

Fairway Width

Rough

Fairway Bunkers

Out of Bounds

Water Hazards

Trees

Green Approach

Green

Green Missed Recoverability.