(a) When a club wishes to apply to extend winter rules beyond the period 1st October to 30th April. If granted this applies to all courses ie red, yellow and white tees (or specific holes on the course) not just to the ladies and vice versa.

(b) If the red course has been shortened by more than 100yards and a SS is required for a qualifying competition.

(c) When a course has been rated under the USGA Course Rating System and

significant changes have taken place or yardage on an individual hole has changed

by more than 25 yards.

The USGA Course Rating

The USGA Course Rating System is designed to ensure that the rating of a course is proper in relation to the ratings of other courses. Course Rating is an evaluation of the playing difficulty of a golf course both for ?scratch? and ?bogey? golfers (players with a handicap of approximately 24) under normal course and weather

conditions. It is based upon yardage,

effective playing length corrections and ten obstacle factors which affect scoring ability.

The four factors affecting playing length are roll, lay-up, wind and elevation. The ten obstacle factors are topography, fairway, green target, recoverability and rough, bunkers, out of

bounds/extreme rough, water hazards, trees, green surface and psychology. Each hole is evaluated on a scale of 0 ? 10 for each of the ten obstacles and account taken of the length correction factors.

The Bogey Rating is used to determine the Slope Rating. This relates to the ?portability? of a player?s handicap when competing away from her own club.

As at November 2010, 24 of the 45 Warwickshire clubs with lady members affiliated to WLCGA have been rated under the USGA System. Every course will be visited in due course for initial rating with the aim of established courses being rated every ten years

thereafter and new courses every three years until they have matured.

Measuring relies upon a team of volunteers (minimum of three) who visit every course in the county and carry out the ratings. On receipt of hole by hole details from the rating team leader, the Chairman or Deputy of the English Scratch Score Committee checks the

information submitted and completes the necessary calculation.

If you are interested in joining the group of volunteers helping to carry out the rating or would like to know more about what?s involved please get in touch with the Warwickshire Ladies

County Scratch Score Assessor whose details can be found in your Warwickshire booklet.

NINE HOLE STANDARD SCRATCH SCORES

EWGA are responsible for issuing 9 hole SSS. If your club would like to apply the procedure is as follows:-

1. Complete a 9 hole Standard Scratch Application Form

2. Forms are available to be completed on-line at www.englishwomensgolf.org

OR

to be downloaded, completed, then e-mailed to kerry@englishwomensgolf.org

OR

on request from EWGA office by telephoning 0121 456 2088.

3. When calculated the 9 hole SSS Certificate will be returned by the same means it was received, to the club.

4. The County Area Authority will be advised by e-mail.