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2017 Scottish Golf Limited Handicap Stat and Buffer Zone Information

Recently Scottish Golf Limited have released a some of statistics regarding handicaps for the 2017 season. In this document we have compared the national statistics vs Rowallan Castle for medal play in 2017 – plus a couple more bits of useful information.
Handicap Adjustment:
How do you judge a good day on the Course? Are you only ever happy when you walk off the 18th green after reducing your handicap? Scottish Golf Limited have analyzed the 1,317,422 qualifying competition scores from the 2017 season.
It shows that 2017 has been a testing year for all golfers with only 12% of qualifying rounds result in a handicap reduction. So, the next time you narrowly miss out on the Buffer Zone, don’t be too hard on yourself, you’re far from alone. Please see Appendix 1 for Buffer Zone calculation.
Handicap Adjustment

Rowallan Castle Golf Club
Reduction in Hcp 15% Buffer Zone & Equal 24%

Increase in Hcp 61%
Rowallan Castle is almost level with competition rounds over the CSS (0.1 increase to handicap) but better than average regarding handicap reductions. Meanwhile our Buffer Zone is 4% below national average. The national average handicap for male golfers (18 and above) is 14.9 compared to the average handicap for Rowallan members of 12.4.
Easiest and Toughest Holes at RCGC:
The below information was taken from medal results played on the Blue, White, Yellow and Red tees from the 2017 playing season.
Blue Tees

Blue Tees
Easiest Hole Average Over Par Toughest Hole Average Over Par
8 3.55 16 6.89

Easiest Par 3 = 8   Easiest Par 4 = 7   Easiest Par 5 = 13

Toughest Par 3 = 10   Toughest Par 4 = 11   Toughest Par 5 = 16

White Tees

Easiest Hole

 Average Over Par Toughest Hole Average Over Par
8 3.76 16

6.68

Easiest Par 3 = 8  Easiest Par 4 = 12 Easiest Par 5 = 13

Toughest Par 3 = 10  Toughest Par 4 = 11  Toughest Par 5 = 16

Yellow Tees

Easiest Hole

 Average Over Par Toughest Hole Average Over Par
8 3.79 16

6.42

Easiest Par 3 = 8   Easiest Par 4 = 7   Easiest Par 5 = 13

Toughest Par 3 = 10   Toughest Par 4 = 11   Toughest Par 5 = 16

Red Tees
Easiest Hole Average Over Par Toughest Hole Average Over Par
10 3.64 16

6.40

Easiest Par 3 = 10  Easiest Par 4 = 12 Easiest Par 5 = 16*

Toughest Par 3 = 2   Toughest Par 4 = 9  Toughest Par 5 = 16*
*Only par 5 on the card
For every tee position the par 3’s played the easiest holes on the course and par 5’s played the toughest.
Player Performance:
In 2017 46 members have improved on their handicap by 0.1 or more. Colin Murray is the most improved golfer this year with a starting handicap of 13.0 and reducing it to 8.6.
Player Starting Handicap Current Handicap Difference
Colin Murray 13.0 8.6 1.2136
William Stewart 27.1 20.8 1.1921
Gavin Wilson 20.8 15.6 1.1884
David Rooney 17.6 13.1 1.1793
Allan McGregor 21.6 17.1 1.1546

Difference = (Start Hcp + 12) / (Current Hcp + 12) (This method gives a statistically correct representation of ‘improvement’ over the period)

With the medal data we can also calculate what would be called “Exceptional Players Report” which is a list of players who have been returning scores on or below the CSS.
Player Handicap Rounds On or Below CSS
Neil Black 3 13
Ruari McMillan 9 10
Kevin Hamilton 12 9
Grant Wilson 3 9
Allan McGregor 17 8
John Rushbury 2 8
Robbie MacInnes 5 8
And finally, we can also calculate the player frequency for medal rounds. This calculates the total number of medals (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday) played by members who hold a registered handicap.
Name Medal Rounds
Alan Ward 31
Neil Black 29
Stewart Reid 27
Average Medal Rounds per player: 18
This is slightly lower than last year in terms of medal rounds played by the top player, but our average medal rounds have increased by 4 compared to 2016. Furthermore, medal participation has also increase in 2017 compared to 2016.
Appendix 1
How the buffer zone is calculated:
In simple terms, the Buffer Zone is a cushion that enables each player’s net score to exceed the Competition Scratch Score (CSS) without resulting in an increase to their handicap. The number of strokes depends on the player’s handicap category. The Buffer Zone varies for each handicap category as follows:
Category Handicap CSS
1 Up to 5 +1
2 6 to 12 +2
3 13 to 20 +3
4 21 to 28 +4
If a player’s net score (after applying any net double bogey adjustment) lies:
• Above the buffer zone, their handicap is increased by 0.1
• Between the CSS and the Buffer Zone, their handicap remains unchanged
• Below the CSS, their handicap is reduced
Why is the Buffer Zone different for each handicap category?
The different Buffer Zones reflect the different scoring patterns/expectations of golfers of varying ability. The Buffer Zone for each Handicap Category has been created to ensure golfers across all handicap categories have the same likelihood of playing to their Buffer Zone or better.How does this work?
Example 1
A golfer with a handicap of 9 (Category 2) scores a gross 83, resulting in a net 74. No net double bogey adjustments are to be made to the player’s scorecard and the CSS for the day was calculated at 72. The Buffer Zone for a category 2 golfer is CSS + 2 strokes = 74.
Handicap Adjustment: In this instance there is no adjustment to the player’s handicap as their net scores lies within the Buffer Zone.
Example 2
A golfer with a handicap of 5 (Category 1) scores a gross 77, resulting in a net 72. No net double bogey adjustments are to be made to the player’s scorecard and the CSS for the day was calculated at 70. The Buffer Zone for a category 1 golfer is CSS +1 stroke = 71.
Handicap Adjustment: In this instance the player’s net score lies outside the buffer zone therefore their handicap is increased 0.1
Key points
The Buffer Zone is a cushion added to the CSS which varies (as above) according to a player’s Handicap Category.
Any nett score returned between the CSS and the Buffer Zone will result in a player’s handicap remaining unchanged.
Only nett scores that are above the Buffer Zone result in handicap increases.