Before 2012, all courses in England have to be re-rated to assess the Standard Scratch Score against a new scheme introduced by the EGU. The WCGU has set up a team to carry out this work which requires a detailed survey of the playing characteristics of a course to determine length and difficulty factors that combine to produce a SSS.

The survey can take a team of 3 people up to 5 hours to complete and increased emphasis on difficulty factors over previous schemes may result in a change to a course SSS, generally they have been higher than before.

So, why do this work? Well, from the EGU website, they explain:

"The EGU Course Rating System is designed so that, when properly applied, accuracy and consistency of rating of courses throughout England will occur and thereby maintain the correct relationship of handicaps between Clubs.

The System is based on the performance of a Scratch Golfer and takes into account playing length, ten difficulty factors rated as they affect the scoring ability of a Scratch Golfer and an adjustment for Location/Wind.

A new principle has been adopted whereby consideration is given to where the Scratch Golfer may wish to play the ball, which possibly is short of the allowable maximum distances; difficulty factors are then judged from these chosen points."

The difficulty factors considered are the normal hazards found on a golf course, rough, trees, bunkers, water, slopes etc. Since changes made on a golf course will affect the difficulty factors and could therefore have an effect on overall SSS, the County Union is happy to provide guidance to clubs on the implications of such changes. In the first instance clubs should contact the County Secretary for guidance.