An Explanation of the necessity to set up the course within plus or minus 10 yards of the official course distance markers

This explanation is taken from a newsletter/email sent out to members  in July 2021

As you will all be aware a new handicap system was introduced for this season called the World Handicap System (WHS) There have been more or less weekly updates in the weekly Newsletter and there is a full explanation on the Clubs Website at https://www.kilsythlennox.com/whs/

Basically the WHS gives a player a handicap (index) which is valid on any course in the world and on that course the number of shots he or she gets will be adjusted ( usually upwards) by reference to that courses course and slope rating – see below – you can check these for any course on Scottish Golf’s App or using the link here https://www.randa.org/course-handicap-calculator

Not only does the player now have a handicap – now called a handicap index but the course also has a ‘handicap’ or a rating determined by a combination of the Course Rating – what used to be called Par – and a slope rating – which determines as measured by Scottish Golf (or that Country’s WHS regulating authority) how difficult the course is deemed to be. The middle rating is 113 and it will come has no surprise to you all that Kilsyth Lennox is rated at 131. The slope rating is used in the formula described on the club’s website here https://www.kilsythlennox.com/?page_id=708  and this gives a high handicap index player ‘extra’ shots to compensate for the difficulty of the course.

To maintain the integrity of the slope rating the WHS lays down rules as to how the course has to be set up – and following these in setting up the course is obligatory – not optional for all Golf Clubs https://www.randa.org/roh/appendices/appendix-g

Basically, Appendix G specifies that the playing tee makers have to be set within 10 yards of the permanent stone markers – either in front or behind. The same 10-yard rule applies if for example playing off the silver or purple tees and permanent markers will be installed for them too in the near future