Reductions only

cgh

just curious,
has anyone seen where in a open competition, that no 0.1's were given back. but only handicaps were cut.
seems odd.
but this happened last week at a Wednesday open comp in my home club.

slave1

How is the CSS Calculated?

The CSS is a calculation based on the number of players in a competition. Those players differing abilities are given a differing ‘weight’ dependant on their playing category. Players who’s handicaps fall in to the higher group (4 for men and 5 for ladies) are disregarded for this calculation.

Then the players are divided into categories, and the higher ones disregarded. These numbers are then converted into percentages of the field and rounded to the nearest 10%. Then we count up the players that have scored SSS+Buffer or better (buffer being the same number of shots as your category). This again is converted to a percentage. These figures are then compared to a CONGU table, this table gives us the number that the CSS will move. The CSS can only move one shot below the SSS but up to three above. The calculation cannot be worse than three shots, if it would have done, then the CSS for handicap down adjustments is set at SSS +3, but handicap increases are not allowed. This is called a Reductions Only Competition

Dr_Colossus

It's generally in tough conditions while calculating CSS where typically less than 6% of handicap categories 1-3 for men and 1-4 for women beats SSS+buffer. The adjustments to SSS to determine the CSS range are +3(R/O), +3, +2, +1, 0 and -1 so in the case of a reduction only it would mean that a very low proportion of the field got 34 points or better if SSS equals the par of the course.
Surprised it would be reduction only last Wed as the weather/conditions were very good. Was there placing or other factors such as bunkers being out of play as an explanation for the reductions only CSS?

Norfolk Enchants_

cgh wrote: »

just curious,
has anyone seen where in a open competition, that no 0.1's were given back. but only handicaps were cut.
seems odd.
but this happened last week at a Wednesday open comp in my home club.

Happens ocasionally, it essentially means the score returned by the vast majority of the field were very poor, have a look here and educate yourself.

martinkop

I have seen this before.

Think it can happen when only a small number of players enter the comp(less than 10), and the CSS calculation goes a bit off kilter. Think if CSS is 3 shots higher than SSS, it is deemed reduction only.

But that was a quick glance I had of the CONGU rules back at the time, about 2 years ago, so may not be correct!!

slave1

martinkop wrote: »

I have seen this before.

Think it can happen when only a small number of players enter the comp(less than 10), and the CSS calculation goes a bit off kilter. Think if CSS is 3 shots higher than SSS, it is deemed reduction only.

But that was a quick glance I had of the CONGU rules back at the time, about 2 years ago, so may not be correct!!

Number of players does not impact, we had it at home club two weekends ago, both Sat and Sunday with decent fields, brutal wind was the cause I'd imagine...

Norfolk Enchants_

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

It's generally in tough conditions while calculating CSS where typically less than 6% of handicap categories 1-3 for men and 1-4 for women beats SSS+buffer. The adjustments to SSS to determine the CSS range are +3(R/O), +3, +2, +1, 0 and -1 so in the case of a reduction only it would mean that a very low proportion of the field got 34 points or better if SSS equals the par of the course.
Surprised it would be reduction only last Wed as the weather/conditions were very good. Was there placing or other factors such as bunkers being out of play as an explanation for the reductions only CSS?

Just to be clear it's hits not beats their SSS +category buffer that counts in the calculation of CSS, excluding category 4 players of course, although they are used in the total field size.
Also I think it's an easy mistake to make to think just because the sun is shining means the conditions are not that difficult, considering the weather of the last 2 weeks, alot of courses would have had hard running conditions and they make for unpredictable bounces and fast greens which can sometimes lead to tougher playing conditions, so I'm not surprised to see CSS go to R/O, our own open comp CSS last Tuesday went to SSS+2.

slave1 wrote: »

Number of players does not impact, we had it at home club two weekends ago, both Sat and Sunday with decent fields, brutal wind was the cause I'd imagine...

Field size does affect the calulation of CSS, more than people realise.

slave1

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

..
Field size does affect the calulation of CSS, more than people realise.

Agreed, but my response was in relation to comment that Reduction Only Competitions are where fields of competitors are less than 10, not in relation to CSS.

Golfgraffix

Just a note, reduction only can only be decided based on the results that come in. You cannot deem a competition Reduction Only before play has started. Which i have seen twice in the last year.

J

liamos43

Is there a degree course we could attend to enable us to follow and understand this system........

Norfolk Enchants_

liamos43 wrote: »

Is there a degree course we could attend to enable us to follow and understand this system........

None at present but apparently Oxford have one in the pipeline;), although really all you need to know is that the system works and trust the people who have devised the system know what they are doing.