To correctly calculate handicaps for your society as per recognised schemes, ie CONGU and the EGU, your own Competition Committee must
Determine a 'Competition Scratch Score' by making an 'assessment' of the
scores returned by Category 1 and 2 players. From this assessment a Competition Scratch Score is
calculated (based on the Scratch Score of the course, with the maximum adjustment being
either down by one stroke or up by 3 strokes). It is this figure that is input as the course SSS when you enter your competition results.
Society Golfing will then calculate a net differential for each player. This is the difference
between the players net score (score less current handicap) and the Scratch
Score for the course (SSS/SSI). For a Stableford competition, a players Net Differential is calculated as 36 + Stroke Play Par for the Course - Scratch Score for the course (SSS/SSI) - Points scored.
We then use each players net differential to adjust their Exact Handicap
according to the following table:
| Handicap of player | Buffer Zone | Net Differential below zero | Net Differential above buffer zone |
| Category 1: Handicaps up to 5 |
0 to +1 | Handicap reduced by 0.1 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
| Category 2: Handicaps 6 to 12 |
0 to +2 | Handicap reduced by 0.2 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
| Category 3: Handicaps 13 to 20 |
0 to +3 | Handicap reduced by 0.3 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
| Category 4: Handicaps 21 to 28 |
0 to +4 | Handicap reduced by 0.4 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
| Category 5:Handicaps 29 to 36 | 0 to +5 | Handicap reduced by 0.5 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
| Category 6:Handicaps 37 to 54 | 0 to +6 | Handicap reduced by 0.6 for each stroke Net Differential is below zero | Handicap increased by 0.1 |
Where the Net Differential is within Buffer Zone, no adjustment to handicap is made.
To keep within the guidelines laid down, handicaps for both men and women should be limited to 54. We do not put an upper limit on handicaps, mainly to accommodate a number of our societies. It remains incumbent upon you as the user to ensure that all handicaps for men remain no greater than 54.