Handicap System

This handicap system will now apply to the Bower Trophy, President’s Pairs and all handicap events at the Ryedale Closed Tournament. 

There are no minus handicaps. Each set will consist of one game played to 42 points, changing ends at 21. No deuce to be played. Play commences with the score at 0-0 and ends when one player reaches 42, with the score then being adjusted by the handicap.

Each player is allocated an individual group number between 0 and 30. 

Handicaps are determined by taking the difference between the two players’ groups and applying the handicap from the table below. 

Step by step instructions:

1. Find each player’s group number.

2. Take the lowest from the highest to create the Difference.

3. Apply the Handicap from the table.

Example Scorecard

It is suggested that you write the applicable group number alongside each player’s name for reference.

Set 1: Rudolph is in group 20, Grumpy is in group 5. The difference is 15, so the handicap is 28. So Rudolph will have 28 added to his points total.

The score ends 12-42, so when adjusted for handicap, Grumpy is the winner by 42-40.

Set 2: Donner is in group 26, Dopey is in group 8. The difference is 18, so the handicap is 31. So Donner will have 31 added to her total.

The score ends 13-42, so when adjusted for handicap, Donner wins 44-42.

Set 3: Blitzen and Bashful are both in group 12. The difference is 0 so the handicap is 0.

Doubles (not applicable to the Bower): To determine the group number of a doubles pair, add the group numbers of the two players together and divide by 2. Round down to the lower group number if necessary.

Rudolph (group 20) and Blitzen (group 12) have a doubles group 16.

  Grumpy (group 5) and Dopey (group 8) have a doubles group of 6½, rounded down to 6.

  The group difference is 10, so the handicap is 20 in favour of Rudolph and Blitzen.