Myth 5

Myth…. 'It would be fairer to calculate a separate CSS for each handicap category.'

· Low handicap players usually voice this question on occasions when the CSS equals SSS minus one (CSS=SSS-1)
· To examine the validity of this assertion a wide range of club and open handicap events were analysed by calculating separate Competition Scratch Scores for each handicap category and comparing the outcome with the CSS calculated taking account of the entire field (less of course Cat.4 returns, as required under the CONGU Unified Handicapping System CSS calculation)
· As can be seen in the chart below, although there is some volatility in the Cat.3 figures, in general there is very acceptable agreement between individually calculated CSS's and the overall figure throughout the CSS range.
· Another consideration is that in many club competitions the number of Cat.1 players is often very small and not statistically meaningful enough to allow a reliable CSS to be calculated.