Handicaps are divided into five groups, how your handicap is adjusted depends on which group you are in, the groups are shown in the table below:

*These figures vary from the CONGU published guidelines, this has been done due to the small number of events being played in a season.

In order to administer handicaps, it is necessary to ascertain a Competition Scratch Score (CSS). For the purpose of meetings of the Wessex Golf Society, this will be set as the SSS for the course.

Players who return a score within the Buffer Zone, will not have their handicaps changed.

Players who return a score below the Buffer Zone will have their handicaps reduced for every shot they are below par. For example, if an 18 handicapped player returns a score of 4 under, they will have their score reduced as follows:

4 x 0.3 + 1.2

New handicap will be 16.8

Players who return a score above the Buffer Zone will have their handicap increased by between 0.1 and 0.5, depending upon which Category they are in.

All players who win a competition will automatically have their handicap reduced by one shot, regardless of the score returned.

In addition to the automatic changes mentioned above, the committee are able to make General Play Adjustments to players handicaps should they feel that the players level of performance be significantly different to their current handicap. The adjustment must be a minimum of 1 whole shot. The committee should consider the following points before making a general play adjustment:

• How frequently a player returned scores to or near his handicap.

• How the player has performed in non-qualifying competitions.

• Have scores been unduly affected by one or more bad holes.

The committee, prior to 10th January, will review all handicaps on an annual basis. The review will consider the players performance over the last 12 months.