Valero Golf Club
Valero Golf Club Handicap System, Points Championship, Scoring Championship, Pyramid Tournament, Club Championship, Winners Tournament, Valero Cup, Player of the Year, Individual Rankings and Tournament Flights.
Valero Golf Club Handicap System
The Valero Handicap System is based on tournament play, this maintains a strong handicap system. Handicap Indexes are calculated using differentials. Differentials are the difference between a players adjusted score ( using stroke control ) and the course rating. The difference is multiplied by 113 and then divided by the slope of the course on which the score was made to determine the differential. The course rating is based on a score a scratch golfer should shoot on that course. The slope defines a golf course’s degree of difficulty for the average golfer. The higher the slope the more handicap strokes you will receive.
Differentials eligible for use come from the Valero Golf Club Tournaments and the Pyramid Tournament scorecards. New players with no differentials must turn in from one to five scorecards from a regulation 18-hole golf course in order to establish a handicap index. These scorecards can come from the Valero Tournaments but the player is not eligible to win points or prizes in these tournaments. The player cannot win points or prizes in their first Valero tournament after establishing a handicap index. Players with less than 10 differentials will play with a discounted handicap index as shown in the table below. New players with established NCGA handicap indexes may be able to use them until they establish a Valero handicap, at which time they will be switched over to the Valero Handicap System. Handicap indexes are calculated using the 5 lowest out of the last 10 differentials from the current year and the last five years.
Differentials Avg. of lowest Factor HDCP Index
10 5 X .960 (.96×1.0) = —
9 4 X .912 (.96X.95) = —
8 3 X .864 (.96X.90) = —
7 2 X .816 (.96X.85) = —
1-6 1 X .768 (.96X.80) = —
Stroke Control
To determine a players adjusted score, the equitable stroke control must be used. ESC is used to eliminate unusally high scores on individual holes as follows;
Course Handicap Maximum score posted on any hole
9 or less Double Bogey
10 through 19 7
20 through 29 8
30 through 39 9
40 through 49 10
Tournament and Pyramid Handicaps – To determine a players handicap for a tournament or a pyramid match; using the players handicap index, look up their course handicap using the course handicap tables. Find the slope rating of the course and tees being played, find the range containing their handicap index and determine their course handicap. In the case where men and women are competing together; check the women’s course rating for the tees she will be using, compare it to the men’s course rating for the tees he will be playing. For example the womens course rating is 73.5 and the men’s course rating is 70.9, the women will get an additional 3 strokes ( 73.5 – 70.9 = 2.6 ) round off 0.5 to the higher number. If the women’s course rating is lower than the men’s, she may lose a stroke or strokes depending upon the difference.
Bestball Tournaments – in these tournaments each partner receives 80% of their normal course handicap, for 80% handicaps 1 thru 18 the player receives 1 stroke on the # 1 hdcp hole, 1 stroke on the # 2 hdcp hole and on until they reach their 80% handicap and then zero strokes on the remaining holes. For 80% handicaps 19 thru 36 the player receives 2 strokes on the # 1 hdcp hole etc. and on until they reach their 80% handicap and then 1 stroke on the remaining holes. The players individuals gross score minus their full 100% handicap will be the net score that is used for their scoring average. The players individual differential is used in the handicap system.
Players who have not played in the previous year or years but still have an established Valero handicap, may at the begining of the golf year turn in non-Valero tournament scorecards according to the following schedule;
Number of current Number of cards a
Differentials Player may turn in
1 – 2 4
3 – 4 3
5 – 6 2
7 – 8 1
9 – 10 0
Points Championship
Regular Valero Tournament points are awarded to individual golfers as follows;
For Each Flight Points
1st Place and ties 8
2nd Place and ties 4
3rd Place and Ties 2
For the individual golfer in any flight;
For a Closest to the Pin 1
For a Longest Drive 1
For a Natural Eagle 2
For a Natural Birdie 1/2
Special Tournaments like scrambles, the Valero Cup and the Pyramid Tournament ( for matches outside of the regular tournaments ) will have no points awarded. In the best-ball tournament; 1st place and ties, each partner receives 4 points, 2nd place and ties 2 points and 3rd place and ties 1 point. The points in the chart above will be awarded for each of the regular Valero Tournaments including the Winners Tournament. At the Winners Tournament the lowest 3 net scorers will be awarded the points whether or not the player is qualified to win the Winners Tournament. At the end of the golf season, the player with the highest number of points will be the Points Champion and will have their name engraved on the points plaque. They will also be awarded 50 Player of the Year Points. End of season tie breakers; the player with the most 1st places, 2nd places, 3rd places, most closest to the pins, most long drives, most eagles, most birdies, lowest avg. net score in the tournaments the player was awarded points, will be awarded 1st, 2nd, 3rd place etc.
Scoring Championship
The players individual net scores ( gross scores minus handicap ) are averaged at the end of the golf season to determine the Scoring Champion for the year. The player must have played in 1/2 or more of the regular Valero Tournaments, (which includes the best-ball and the Winners Tournament but not the Valero Cup Tournament ) to qualify. At the end of the golf season the player with the lowest avg. net score will be the Scoring Champion and will have their name engraved on the scoring plaque. They will also be awarded 50 Player of the Year Points. End of the season tie breakers; most regular tournaments played, most 1st places, most 2nd places, most 3rd places, etc.
Pyramid Tournament
The Pyramid Tournament is open to all members of the Valero Golf Club. There is an entry fee required to play in this tournament. The format is usually 16, 24 or 32 players. Open spots will be filled using byes in the first round. Player placement in the first round is determined by a blind draw of names. Matches may be played on any regulation 18 hole golf course with a course rating of 67 or above or during the regular Valero tournaments. Each bracket of play has a cutoff date, if your match cannot be played before the cutoff date, one player must forfeit. If two players tie in a bracket it is preferable that they replay the match, if that cannot be done one player may forfeit or use a coin toss etc. The low net score from the original match will be the one used in the winners and losers bracket. The Pyramid Tournament Winner will have their name engraved on the “Tom Stead” perpetual trophy and will also be awarded 50 Player of the Year Points. In the case of a tie for first place, an 18 hole playoff is required to determine the winner. Prizes are awarded for 1st and 2nd place (and 3rd place in a 24 player field ) and to the players with the low net scores in the winners and losers brackets. The low net score is your gross score minus your handicap minus the course rating. The low net score also determines your finishing position in the Pyramid Tournament and therefore your Player of the Year points. All pyramid differentials are used in the Valero handicap system. Pyramid match net scores for rounds played outside the Valero tournaments do not count in the scoring average nor do birdies and eagles for that round add to your tournament points.
Club Championship
The Club Championship Tournament will normally be held early in the golf season and will be played using a modified Stableford Points system. Stableford points are as follows; ( gross scores, not net scores ) Eagle + 8pts, Birdie + 4 pts, Par + 2 pts, Bogie + 1 pt., Double Bogie 0 pts, Triple Bogie or worse, – 2 pts. At the end of the round your total stableford points are calculated and added or subtracted to your handicap for the day to determine your total points. The player in any flight with the highest total points will be the Club Champion and have their name engraved on the perpetual trophy. Tie breaker, the player with the highest modified stableford points on the # 1 handicap hole, the # 2 handicap hole and continuing on until a winner is determined. Winners Tournament Eligibility and Tournament Points; in each flight the player with the highest points total will be eligible for the Winners Tournament and awarded 8 tournament points, second highest points total will be eligible for the Winners Tournament and awarded 4 tournament points,etc. just like a regular tournament. Your individual net score will count in your scoring average and your differential will be used in the Valero handicap system.
Winners Tournament
To become eligible for the Winners Tournament, a player must finish in or tie for 1st or 2nd place in the first, second or third flight of any regular Valero tournament during the current year. Special tournaments like scrambles do not qualify players for the Winners Tournament. The best-ball tournament will qualify only one first place team from each flight. First place ties will be broken by matching scorecards ( net best-ball score ) starting at the first hole and contining on until a winner is determined. Only eligible players can win the Winners Tournament but ineligible players can win tournament points which will go to the player or players with the low net score(s). The winner of the Winners Tournament will have their name engraved on the perpetual trophy and will be automatically eligible for the following years Winners Tournament. In the case of a tie for first place, an 18 hole playoff is required to determine the winner.
Valero Cup Tournament
At the end of the regular golf season, following the Winners Tournament the top eight players in the Tournament Points standings are qualified to play in the Valero Cup Tournament. If one or more of the players declines to play, the field will be filled by going down the points list. Points list ties will be broken using the Tournament Points tie breaker system. The winner of the Valero Cup will have their name engraved on the perpetual trophy. In the case of a tie for first place, an 18 hole playoff is required to determine the winner. Differentials from the Valero Cup Tournament are used in the Valero handicap system.
Player of the Year
At the end of the golf year, points are awarded to the individual golfer according to their position in the years points standings, scoring average and the pyramid tournament. The top finisher in each category is awarded 50 pts. The bottom finisher is awarded a minimum of 1 pt. Players between the top and the bottom are awarded points in each category based on a percentage determined by their position compared to the top finisher. The percentage is then multiplied by 50 to determine the player’s points in each category. The player with the highest total number of points is the Valero Golf Club’s “Player of the Year” and will have their name engraved on the perpetual trophy. Tie breaker; highest finishing position in the points standings, scoring average, pyramid tournament, in that order.
Examples; Tournament Points
Top Player has 30 pts
Player X has 23 pts
30/30 = 1.00 X 50 = 50 Player of the Year pts
23/30 = .77 X 50 = 38.3 or 38 Player of the Year pts
( round off 0.5 to the next highest number in tournament points, pyramid and scoring but not in the scoring average difference )
Scoring Average
Top Player has 67.83, the player with the highest scoring average that has played in 1/2 or more of the regular tournaments ( which includes the Winners and best-ball tournaments ) has a scoring average of 79.67. Player X has an average of 70.20
79.67 – 67.83 = 11.84 difference
Top Player 79.67 – 67.83 = 11.84/11.84 = 1.00 X 50 = 50 pts
Player X 79.67 – 70.20 = 9.47/11.84 = .80 x 50 = 40 pts
Pyramid Tournament
Top Player is Player # 24 ( in a 24 player field example )
Player W finishes 7th and is player # 18
Top Player 24/24 = 1.00 X 50 = 50 pts
Player W 18/24 = .75 X 50 = 37.5 or 38 pts
The players finishing position after 1st and 2nd ( and 3rd in a 24 player field ) is determined by their low net score in the losers bracket.
Example
Player X has a low net score of + 7.0
Player Y has a low net score of – 0.9
Player Z has a low net score of + 1.3
Therefore Player Y finishes 4th and is Player # 21, Player Z finishes 5th and is Player # 20 and Player X finishes 6th and is Player # 19. Forfeits finish last in a bracket and NSP ( no score posted ) just above that.
Individual Rankings
This System is used by the professional tours. It’s a 16 tournament rolling average of points achieved against tournament played. A player must have played in 8 tournaments out of the last 16 to qualify. The tournaments include the Pyramid and the Valero Cup. The 8 most current tournaments are awarded full points, after that the points are scaled down. The 9th tournament gets 0.875 of the pts,the 10th gets 0.750, the 11th gets 0.625, the 12th gets 0.500, the 13th gets 0.375, the 14th gets 0.250, the 15th gets 0.125, the 16th gets zero. The players who are currently playing well are awarded points but they still get points from older tournaments until they drop off. The points are determined as follows: (these points are only used to determine the rankings and have no effect on the Tournaments Points System).
Regular Tournament 1st – 30 pts, 2nd -18 pts, 3rd -12 pts (for each flight)
Best-Ball Tournament 1st – 15 pts, 2nd – 9 pts, 3rd – 6 pts (for each player for each flight)
Valero Cup Tournament 1st – 35 pts, 2nd – 21 pts, 3rd – 14 pts (limited field playing against 7 others).
Club Championship Tournament 1st – 40 pts, 2nd – 24 pts, 3rd – 16 pts (for each flight, the Club Champion gets 45 pts as he/she beats the entire field).
Winners Tournament 1st – 45 pts, 2nd – 27 pts, 3rd – 18 pts (one against the entire field).
Pyramid Tournament (half the field is awarded points)
8 player field 1st – 38 pts (player must win 3 matches) 2nd – 29 pts, 3rd – 18 pts, 4th – 14 pts
12 player field 1st – 38 pts (player must win 3 matches) 2nd – 29 pts, 3rd – 18 pts, 4th – 14 pts, 5th – 9 pts, 6th – 7 pts
16 player field 1st – 50 pts (player must win 4 matches) 2nd – 38 pts, 3rd – 24 pts, 4th – 18 pts, 5th- 12 pts, 6th – 9 pts, 7th- 6 pts, 8th 3 pts.
24 player field 1st – 50 pts (player must win 4 matches) 2nd – 42pts, 3rd – 34 pts, 4th – 28 pts, 5th- 22 pts, 6th – 16 pts, 7th- 14 pts, 8th 12 pts, 9th – 10 pts, 10th – 8 pts, 11th – 6 pts, 12th – 4 pts.
32 player field 1st – 58 pts (player must win 5 matches) 2nd – 50 pts, 3rd – 42 pts, 4th – 34 pts, 5th- 28 pts, 6th – 24 pts, 7th- 20 pts, 8th 16 pts, 9th – 14 pts, 10th – 12 pts, 11th – 10 pts, 12th – 8 pts, 13th – 6 pts, 14th – 4 pts, 15th – 2 pts, 16th – 1 pt.
Tournament Flights
Tournament flight divisions are set up using the following formula as a guide; ( except the Winners Tournament and the Revenge @ Kennedy Tournament which have one flight )
Number of Players
6 – 12 One Flight
13 – 23 Two Flights ( 45% / 55% )
24 – 42 Three Flights ( 27% / 33% / 40% )
# of Players 1st Flight 2nd Flight 3rd Flight
6 – 12 6 – 12
13 6 7
14 6 8
15 7 8
16 7 9
17 8 9
18 8 10
19 9 10
20 9 11
21 9 12
22 10 12
23 10 13
24 7 8 9
25 7 8 10
26 7 9 10
27 7 9 11
28 8 9 11
29 8 10 11
30 8 10 12
31 9 10 12
32 9 10 13
33 9 11 13
34 9 11 14
35 9 12 14
36 10 12 14
37 10 12 15
38 10 13 15
39 10 13 16
40 11 13 16
41 11 14 16
42 11 14 17
Best-ball Tournament; use chart above as a rough guide, ie 6 teams – 1 flight, 11 teams – 2 flights ( 5,6 ) 12 teams – 3 flights ( 4,4,4 ) etc.
Tom Stead Scramble Tournament; 1 – 6 teams – 1 flight, 7 – 15 teams – 2 flights.
To place players in the flights, start with the lowest handicap and work up. To break handicap ties from one flight to the next, put the player with; the lowest handicap index, 10 or more differentials, the most current differentials, into the lower flight. ( in that order )