This excel file calculates SSA's, local player ratings, and even gives instructions how to calculate individual hole pars. If you haven't seen it, check it out!

http://pdga.com/competition/ratings/CalcWCPtemp4.xls

I am a big supporter of having SSA wherever possible. I think they should be on course directories, course evaluations, course bullitins or first tees, etc. What can we do to make it easier to get SSA's for our many different courses' many different layouts? Having a sanctioned tourney for only one lay-out per year seems to be too much effort required to achieve this. This excel template seems to do the job. Is there a way leagues could be encouraged to use this file to get SSA's for posting purposes? This would be great. I will do it in my own community when I get access to scores and regular pin/tee rotation.



When I used the template, I pluged in ratings of 1000 for several players and gave them all rounds of exactly 54.

The SSA came up to be 54.81, slightly higher than the 54 average round score.

The average hole par (AHP) was 3.05, slightly higher than 3.00, the average hole score.

Lastly, the local player ratings given on the second sheet give ratings of 1007 instead of 1000. It would seem this was do to the fact that the SSA was 54.81 and not 54.00.

What is the explanation of this small adjustment being made here. I know that in the "official" calculation of ratings, the best 85% of the rounds are used, which probably only adds to the accuracy of the ratings. Does this small adjustment made on this template substitute how the best 85% method keeps player ratings slightly above actual player ability?

We have added 0.8 to the SSA for round ratings during 2005 as we transitioned from dropping 15% of player's rounds to about 2%. This kept player's ratings from dropping by about 8 points when their previously dropped rounds were now included in their average. The 0.8 factor will be phased back out during 2006 once active member's ratings have been adjusted to the new basis during 2005. This factor has pumped extra points into the system during 2005 and more players have ratings over 1000 than at the end of 2004. Once the factor is reduced, the number of 1000+ players will drop back a little. However, another 2005 adjustment will help higher rated players retain their ratings when they play lower tier events versus before 2005.

Chuck,

When will you be implementing this? As you know I have torn apart the ratings calcs to get an idea of how they worked and was confused by that, now I see why. Will you be releasing the updated formulas as well?

Jerry Power


We have added 0.8 to the SSA for round ratings during 2005 as we transitioned from dropping 15% of player's rounds to about 2%. This kept player's ratings from dropping by about 8 points when their previously dropped rounds were now included in their average. The 0.8 factor will be phased back out during 2006 once active member's ratings have been adjusted to the new basis during 2005. This factor has pumped extra points into the system during 2005 and more players have ratings over 1000 than at the end of 2004. Once the factor is reduced, the number of 1000+ players will drop back a little. However, another 2005 adjustment will help higher rated players retain their ratings when they play lower tier events versus before 2005.

I've kept the SSA template that's downloadable up to date with the current formulas we're using but the documentation has lagged. 2005 was a transition year where we were introducing planned changes in deliberate steps to make sure we didn't disrupt the system too much at one time and could see what happened. During 2006, the process will stabilize and I'll make more information available in one shot rather than have it trickle out every few months like last year.

Thanks, I will keep my eyes open.


I've kept the SSA template that's downloadable up to date with the current formulas we're using but the documentation has lagged. 2005 was a transition year where we were introducing planned changes in deliberate steps to make sure we didn't disrupt the system too much at one time and could see what happened. During 2006, the process will stabilize and I'll make more information available in one shot rather than have it trickle out every few months like last year.