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71-520: The Scottish Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship is the national amateur stroke play golf championship in Scotland . Entry is open to all amateur golfers. It has been played annually since 1967 and is organised by the Scottish Golf . The format is 72-hole stroke-play contested over three days. After 36 holes the leading 40 competitors and ties play a further 36 holes on the final day. The event

142-400: A net score relative to par. Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) and net double bogey (also called Stableford Points Adjustments) are the two most common mechanisms for defining a maximum hole score. Handicap (or score) differentials are a feature of many handicapping systems. They are a standardized measure of a golfers performance, adjusted to take account of the course being played. Normally

213-541: A scratch golfer , and one whose handicap is approximately 18 as a bogey golfer . While the USGA administers its own handicapping system, the administration of handicapping systems in countries affiliated to The R&A is the responsibility of the national golf associations of those countries. These bodies have different methods of producing handicaps but they are all generally based on calculating an individual player's playing ability from their recent history of rounds. Therefore,

284-457: A common course rating system, they are not easily portable because their differences create difficulties in converting handicaps between systems. In order to eliminate these problems the USGA and The R&A, working with the various existing handicapping authorities, devised a new World Handicap System which was phased in globally in 2020. Amateur golfers who are members of golf clubs are generally eligible for official handicaps on payment of

355-449: A given competition dependent on playing format , and is generally calculated as a percentage of the course handicap. The Stroke Index is a number that has been assigned to each hole on a golf course, and usually printed on the scorecard, to indicate on which holes handicap strokes should be applied. On an 18-hole course, each hole is assigned a different number from 1 to 18 (1 to 9 on a 9-hole course). The lowest numbers are usually given to

426-518: A golf course. For a par 72 course, the course rating is generally between 67 and 77. There are different methods of calculating the Course Rating, with the length of the course and its obstacles being the biggest factors. Some systems use only these two, or even length alone, but most modern handicapping systems now use the USGA Course Rating system which assesses the difficulty of all aspects of

497-427: A golfer's handicap is called the gross score for that hole (or round), and the number of strokes taken after subtracting any handicap allowance is called the net score . Note that the gross score in 'world handicap system' is calculated as the number of strokes taken for a hole + the handicap allowance for that hole . The adjusted gross score in 'world handicap system' is the gross score adjusted such that

568-399: A handicap is not fixed but is regularly adjusted to increases or decreases in a player's scoring. Some systems (e.g. World Handicap System, USGA, European Golf Association) involve calculation of a playing handicap which is dependent on the course being played and set of tees that are being used, whereas others (e.g. CONGU's Unified Handicap System) just use the allocated handicap rounded to

639-479: A hole) and "two more" (two strokes a hole). During the late 19th century, taking the difference between the average of a golfer's best three scores during the year and par became the most widely used method of handicapping in England and Scotland. As the sport grew, so did discontent with the fairness of handicapping, with less proficient players being particularly unhappy as it was much less likely for them to play to

710-482: A large number of players make the 36-hole cut. Players missing this cut are designated as "made cut, did not finish" (MDF). The PGA Tour employed a secondary cut prior to reducing the cut line to the top 65 for the 2020–21 season . One of the most common methods for settling ties is by means of a playoff, whereby those players who have tied for the lead replay a set number of holes. If still tied after those holes, then further sudden-death holes may also be played until

781-417: A maximum number of strokes per hole based on the player's course handicap, has been applied using the following formula: The handicap differentials are rounded to one decimal place, and the best 10 from the last 20 submitted scores are then averaged, before being multiplied by 0.96 (the "bonus of excellence") and truncated to one decimal place to produce the handicap index. Initial handicaps are calculated from

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852-435: A mean average of a set number of the best recent differentials (e.g. the USGA system uses the best 10 differentials from the last 20 scores). For other handicapping systems, the differentials are simply the difference between the (adjusted) gross or net scores and a specified standard rating (e.g. course rating, standard scratch score, etc.), and they are used in different ways to maintain handicaps. In golf clubs, peer review

923-443: A minimum of five scores using ESC adjustments based on the course handicap corresponding to a handicap index of 36.4 for men or 40.4 for women. If there are at least 5 but fewer than 20 qualifying scores available, the handicap index is calculated using a set number or differentials according to how many scores are available. The basic formula for calculating the handicap index is as follows (where n {\displaystyle n}

994-417: A player might be able to play, based on the eight best scores of their last twenty rounds. The calculation has several variables, including: the player's scores from their most recent rounds, the course rating, and the slope rating. A score differential is calculated from each of the scores after any net double bogey adjustments (an adjustment which allows for a maximum number of strokes per hole based on

1065-460: A player whose score is three strokes over par after a given hole would appear as "+3" on the scoreboard. If two or more players have the same number of strokes, it may be desired to determine an outright winner. Two of the more common methods are a playoff and scorecard count back. Multi-round tournaments may enforce a "cut" to reduce the size of the field for later rounds. In a typical 72-hole elite tournament, played over one or two courses, there

1136-650: A uniform course rating, throughout Great Britain and Ireland; the Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme was introduced in 1926. In the United States there was a single authority governing the sport, the USGA , which made moving to a single standard handicapping scheme somewhat easier. Introduced in 1911, the first national handicap system was based on the British three-score average system. The biggest development

1207-532: A winner emerges. Ties in professional golf are generally settled by means of a playoff. Different tournaments have various formats for their playoffs, ranging from another full round, as employed in the U.S. Open , through to a three- or four-hole playoff as used in the PGA Championship and the Open Championship (British Open), to straightforward sudden death, which is used in most tournaments including

1278-423: Is a cut after 36 holes; tournaments played over three courses have a cut after 54 holes. The number of players who make the cut depends on the tournament rules – in a typical PGA Tour event, the top 65 (formerly the top 70) professionals (plus ties) after 36 holes. Any player who returns a score higher than the cut mark takes no further part in the tournament. Tournaments may also employ another cut after 54 holes if

1349-476: Is calculated with a specific arithmetic formula that approximates how many strokes above or below par a player might be able to play, based on the ten best scores of their last twenty rounds. The calculation has several variables: the player's scores from their most recent rounds, and the course and slope ratings from those rounds. A handicap differential is calculated from each of the scores after Equitable Stroke Control (ESC), an adjustment which allows for

1420-419: Is distributed according to predetermined hole ratings ( stroke index ) and strokes deducted accordingly from each hole score before calculating the points for that hole. In match play , the handicap difference between players (or teams) is used to determine the number of strokes the high handicap player should receive from the low handicapper during the playing of their round; each of these strokes are received on

1491-495: Is in use, the sports major governing bodies, in 2011 The R&A and the USGA began work on creation of a single uniform handicapping system to be used everywhere. In February 2018, they announced that the World Handicap System (WHS) would be launched in 2020. Once introduced, the World Handicap System will continue to be governed by The R&A and the USGA with the six existing major handicapping authorities (the USGA,

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1562-401: Is not used directly for playing purposes, but used to calculate a course handicap according to the slope rating of the set of tees being used with an adjustment based on the difference between the course rating and par. The result is rounded to the nearest whole number. For competitions, the unrounded course handicap is converted to a playing handicap by applying a handicap allowance, dependent on

1633-471: Is the bogey rating, which is a measure of the playing difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer . Devised by the USGA, the Slope Rating of a golf course describes the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. Slope Ratings are in the range 55 to 155, with a course of standard relative difficulty having a rating of 113; the higher the number, the more relatively difficult

1704-619: Is thought to be from the late 17th century, in a diary kept by Thomas Kincaid , who was a student in Edinburgh , Scotland, although the word handicap would not come into use in golf until the late 19th century. The number of strokes to be given and the holes on which they would be in effect was negotiated between competing golfers prior to the start of play. According to The Golfer's Manual by Henry Brougham Farnie , examples of agreed terms included "third-one" (one stroke every three holes), "half-one" (one stroke every two holes), "one more" (a stroke

1775-490: Is used throughout the jurisdiction of the USGA (i.e. the United States and Mexico), and is also licensed for use in many other countries around the world, e.g. Canada . The USGA has often resorted to the courts to protect the integrity of its handicap system. In one such case, the California Court of Appeal (First District) summarized the system's history: The USGA was founded in 1894. One of its chief contributions to

1846-474: Is usually managed by an elected Handicap Secretary who, supported by a small committee, conducts an Annual Review of the handicaps of all members and assesses ad hoc requests from individual members (usually when age or medium to long-term infirmity affects their playing ability). This gives uniformity to handicapping across their club for the setting and maintenance of handicaps with the objective of establishing fair competition between golfers of all abilities. At

1917-842: The Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), Golf Australia , the South African Golf Association (SAGA), and the Argentine Golf Association (AAG)) administering the system at a local level. The WHS is based on the USGA Course and Slope Rating system, and largely follows the USGA Handicap System while also incorporating features from

1988-482: The Masters Tournament and all other regular PGA Tour and European Tour events. In the longer playoff formats, if at least two players remain tied after such a playoff, then play generally continues in sudden-death format. One method of breaking ties commonly used in amateur competitions, especially when a playoff is not practical, and used in professional tournaments to seed players in knockout rounds (such as

2059-503: The USGA was largely the work of Leighton Calkins , who based it on the British "three-score average" system where the handicap was calculated as the average of the best three scores to par in the last year. The key difference was the introduction of a par rating (later known as course rating), which was based on the ability of leading amateur Jerome Travers , to account for variances in the playing difficulty of different courses. After initially allowing clubs to determine their own ratings, at

2130-518: The World Super 6 in Perth, Australia) is a scorecard "count back", whereby the player with the lowest cumulative score over the last 18, 9, 6, 3, or 1 hole(s) is declared the winner. Handicap (golf) A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's ability, or potential ability, that is used to enable players of different abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with

2201-473: The [system]. Therefore, to protect the integrity and credibility of its [handicap system], the USGA has consistently followed a policy of only permitting authorized golf associations and clubs to issue USGA handicaps ... In 1979, USGA assembled a handicap research team to investigate widespread criticisms of USGA's then-existing handicap formula. The research team invested approximately a decade and up to $ 2 million conducting intensive analysis and evaluation of

Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship - Misplaced Pages Continue

2272-429: The average of the best 8 differentials, but with an "anchor" to prevent rapid increases that would not necessarily reflect the player's true potential. There is also a hole limit of "net double bogey" for handicapping purposes in order to prevent one or two bad holes from having a disproportionate effect. A WHS handicap is calculated with a specific arithmetic formula that approximates how many strokes above or below par

2343-448: The basic handicap index calculation remains the same. Examples include: 9-hole scores may be scaled-up rather than combined; ( course rating − par ) {\displaystyle ({\mbox{course rating}}-{\mbox{par}})} may be omitted from the course handicap calculation; and the rounded course handicap may be used in the playing handicap calculation. The first handicap system to be introduced by

2414-427: The behest of Calkins the USGA quickly began assigning ratings centrally. Course ratings were rounded to the nearest whole number until 1967, when they started being given to one decimal place. In 1947, the number of scores used to calculate handicaps was increased to the best 10 from all scores ever recorded subject to a minimum of 50. However this was not uniformly implemented, with regional associations disagreeing on

2485-430: The best 8 from the last 20 submitted scores are then averaged and rounded to one decimal place to produce the handicap index. Initial handicaps are calculated from a minimum of five scores using adjustments that limit each hole score to a maximum of ( par + 5 ) {\displaystyle ({\mbox{par}}+{\mbox{5}})} . If there are at least 5 but fewer than 20 qualifying scores available,

2556-499: The club level. Nationally, the peer review is extended further to assessing golfers from external jurisdictions for their suitability for entry into their elite international events. They also play a large part in periodic reviews of the handicapping system itself to improve it for the future. Due to the many different handicapping systems in use around the world, and the many inconsistencies within them, which makes it difficult to compete on an equal footing where another handicap system

2627-406: The course is. In most major handicapping systems, a golfer does not use their exact handicap (or handicap index) directly, but use it to produce their playing or course handicap. For some systems, this means simply rounding the exact handicap to the nearest whole number; however, systems that use slope ratings require a more complex calculation to produce a course handicap with some also factoring in

2698-503: The course rating: or The USGA and Golf Australia systems use the first calculation; the WHS, EGA, and Golf RSA systems use the second. Under CONGU's Unified Handicapping System the exact handicap is rounded to the nearest whole number to produce the playing handicap, and in the Argentinian system the exact handicap is used directly. A playing handicap may also refer to the stroke allowance for

2769-666: The course, e.g. altitude, wide or narrow fairways , length of any rough, the size and contours of the greens , etc. Some handicapping systems provide for an adjustment to the course rating to account for variations in playing conditions on any given day, e.g. course setup and weather, and it is against this adjusted rating that handicaps are assessed and maintained. Examples of adjusted ratings are Playing Conditions Calculation (World Handicap System), Competition Scratch Score (CONGU Unified Handicapping System), Daily Scratch Rating (Golf Australia Handicap System), and Calculated Rating (South African Handicap System). Analogous to course rating

2840-408: The end. Most of the commonly used handicap systems seek to reduce the impact of very high scores on one or more individual holes on the calculation and updating of handicaps. This is achieved by setting a maximum score on each hole, which is only used for handicapping purposes; i.e. it is not used for determining results of competitions or matches. This maximum hole score is either a fixed number or

2911-487: The event was reduced to 54 holes by heavy rain on the first day. The 1980s produced two overseas winners. In 1981, Philip Walton , from Ireland, won by a stroke from defending champion Gordon Brand Jnr , while in 1989 Frenchman François Illouz won by two strokes. Charlie Green won for the second time in 1984, while Colin Montgomerie won by five strokes in 1985. The 1990 event was reduced to 36 holes by harr . 1996 saw

Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship - Misplaced Pages Continue

2982-777: The expectation is that most players will at most see a difference of one or two strokes, if any. A new WHS handicap requires several scores to be submitted; the recommendation is a minimum of 54 holes made up of any number of 9 or 18-hole rounds in order to achieve a reasonable fair and accurate result, although handicaps may be issued from a smaller sample. Handicap adjustments will be made upon submission of any 9 or 18-hole scores with updates published daily; unlike some other systems both competitive and recreational rounds may be submitted by all players (e.g. CONGU's Unified Handicapping System only allows submission of non-qualifying scores by golfers in Category 2 or above). Ongoing handicaps are based on

3053-474: The first playoff in the championship. Alastair Forsyth and South African Hennie Otto were tied on 279 and it took nine sudden-death holes before Forsyth won. there were further playoffs in 2000 and 2001 won by Simon Mackenzie and the Australian John Sutherland. Gary Wolstenholme won the 2003, the first English winner since 1973. Richie Ramsay won in 2004 with a record score of 269, but there

3124-545: The first standard and equitable handicap systems was introduced by the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) in the 1890s. This was largely achieved by means of union-assigned course ratings , instead of clubs using their own. It was not until the formation of the British Golf Unions Joint Advisory Committee in 1924 that the men's game fully coordinated to create an equitable handicap system, that included

3195-544: The format of play. The WHS contains measures reduce a handicap index more quickly in the case of exceptional scoring, and also to prevent a handicap index from rising too quickly. This is done by means of "soft" and "hard" caps based on the lowest index during the previous 365 days; the soft cap reduces increases above 3.0 to 50%, and the hard cap limits increases to 5.0. Updates to a golfer's handicap index are issued daily. Many elements of WHS have flexibility which allows for local authorities to determine their own settings, but

3266-456: The game of golf in the United States has been its development and maintenance since 1911 of the USGA handicap system ... designed to enable individual golf players of different abilities to compete fairly with one another. Because permitting individual golfers to issue their handicaps to themselves would inevitably lead to inequities and abuse, the peer review provided by authorized golf clubs and associations has always been an essential part of

3337-415: The handicap index is calculated using a set number or differentials according to how many scores are available, with an additional adjustment made to that average in some circumstances. The basic formula for calculating the handicap index is as follows (where n {\displaystyle n} is the number of differentials to use), with the result rounded to one decimal place: The handicap index

3408-526: The holes where a higher handicapper is most likely to benefit, and the highest numbers to the holes they are least likely to benefit. Odd numbers will be allocated to either the first or second 9-holes (and even numbers to the other) to ensure a balanced distribution of handicap strokes, and guidelines generally recommend avoiding having the lowest numbers at the start or end of each nine in order to prevent early stroke allowances in playoffs between golfers with similar handicaps or strokes going unused if they are at

3479-494: The lowest handicaps. Historically, rules relating to handicaps have varied from country to country with many different systems in force around the world. Because of incompatibilities and difficulties in translating between systems, the sport's governing bodies, the USGA and The R&A , working with the various existing handicapping authorities, devised a new World Handicap System (WHS) which began to be introduced globally in 2020. The earliest record of golf handicapping

3550-409: The lowest numbered stroke index holes. Stroke allowances may sometimes be reduced by a set percentage in order to maintain the level playing field; this is especially common in pairs and team competitions. Course Rating, (Standard) Scratch Score, Scratch Rating, and Standard Rating are largely equivalent ratings that are used to indicate the average "good score" by a scratch golfer for a set of tees on

3621-413: The maximum on any particular hole is the number of strokes taken for a hole + the handicap allowance for that hole + 2 strokes (i.e. net double bogey). In handicap stroke play competitions, a golfer's playing handicap is subtracted from the total number of strokes taken to produce a net score, which is then used to determine the final results. In handicap Stableford competitions, a player's handicap

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3692-400: The nearest whole number. Contrary to popular opinion, a player's handicap is intended to reflect a player's potential or "average best", not a player's overall average score. Statistically, low handicappers will play to their handicap more often because they are likely to be more consistent than higher handicappers. The total number of strokes taken for a hole (or round) before accounting for

3763-440: The number of strokes taken at each hole and total them up at the end of a given round, or rounds. The player with the lowest total is the winner. In handicap competitions, the players would subtract their handicaps from the total (gross) score to generate their net scores, and the player with the lowest net score is the winner. Scores may be reported in relation to par for easy comparison with other golfers' scores. For example,

3834-441: The only tie in the event, when Gordon Clark, from England, and David Robertson finished level. There was no playoff. the experienced Charlie Green won in 1975 while Steve Martin won by a record 11 strokes in 1976. There were further Scottish winners in 1977 and 1978 with Paul McKellar and Alistair Taylor. Mike Miller was a runner-up three times between 1975 and 1978 but never won the championship. Gordon Brand Jnr win in 1980 when

3905-417: The overall score will be adjusted prior to the calculation, e.g. by means of ESC or net double bogey . The course rating may also be adjusted to take account of conditions on the day. For handicapping systems that use course and slope ratings, a typical calculation using the score (see above) is as follows: The differentials are used both to calculate initial handicaps and maintain existing ones, by taking

3976-554: The player's course handicap) have been applied, using the following formula: Only 18-hole differentials are used for the calculation of a handicap index. As such, 9-hole differentials need to be combined before being used, subject to remaining one of the 20 most recent differentials. The system also allows for situations where less than 18 (or 9) hole have been played, subject to a minimum of 14 (or 7) holes having been completed, by "scaling up" with net pars for any missing holes. The score differentials are rounded to one decimal place, and

4047-415: The prevailing regional and national association annual fees. Official handicaps are administered by golf clubs with the associations often providing additional peer reviewing for low handicaps. Other systems, often free of charge, are available to golfers who are ineligible for official handicaps. Handicap systems are not generally used in professional golf . A golfer whose handicap is zero is referred to as

4118-444: The regional level, peer review is extended to include rigorous validation of the handicap returns of low handicap golfers. This ensures that only golfers of an appropriate standard gain entry to their elite tournaments. Occasionally, golfers are excluded from the elite game as a consequence of being found to abuse the system. To a degree, these regional bodies also monitor the performance of and provide training for Handicap Secretaries at

4189-725: The regular stroke play scoring system, some notable exceptions exist. In match play , the player, or team, earns a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents. Match play scoring is used in the WGC-Match Play Championship , the World Match Play Championship , and most team events, for example the Ryder Cup . A few tournaments such as the Barracuda Championship have used a modified Stableford system. In stroke play scoring, players record

4260-570: The six major existing handicap systems. For example, 8 differentials (like the Golf Australia system) are used after net double bogey adjustments (like the CONGU and EGA systems) for handicap calculations, and the WHS course/playing handicap includes a course rating adjustment (like the EGA system). For players with current handicaps, their handicap records in the old systems will be used to produce WHS handicaps;

4331-460: The sport grew globally, associations around the world each created or adapted their own rules relating to handicaps. By the early 21st century, there were six major recognized handicapping systems in operation around the world: USGA Handicap System, EGA Handicap System, CONGU Unified Handicap System, Golf Australia Handicap System, South African Handicap System, and Argentinian Handicap System. While these systems share some common features, e.g. most use

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4402-427: The standard of their three-score average. Another issue was the lack of consideration in the system for the varying difficulties of different courses which meant the handicap was not very portable. In an attempt to remedy the problems with a fairly basic handicap system, along with many variations of that system and other systems also being used, the authorities in Great Britain and Ireland sought to standardize. One of

4473-491: The total number of rounds to be considered. In 1958, the USGA specified that the best 10 from 25 scores would be used. This was reduced to 10 from 20 in 1967, which remains to this day although a further adjustment was made with the introduction of a "Bonus of Excellence" multiplier to equalize handicaps and give better players a marginal advantage. Originally 85%, the multiplier was changed to 96% after being seen to favor better players too heavily. In 1974, Equitable Stroke Control

4544-497: The various factors involved in developing a more accurate and satisfactory [system]. As a result, the research team developed new handicap formulas ... designed to measure the overall difficulty of golf courses, compare individual golfers with other golfers of all abilities, take account of differences between tournament and casual play, and adjust aberrant scores on individual holes. USGA subsequently adopted and implemented these new [f]ormulas between 1987 and 1993. A USGA handicap

4615-446: The years, with an increase in the number of scores used for handicap calculations, the introduction of Equitable Stroke Control , and improvements to the course rating system. However the most significant change was the creation of the slope rating system, which enables handicaps to allow for differences in difficulty between scratch and bogey golfers. USGA Course and Slope Ratings now form the basis of many other handicap systems. As

4686-436: Was a "par rating" system that assessed the average good score of a scratch golfer on every course, which made the handicap more portable. It also made clear that a player's handicap was intended to reflect their potential rather than average play. Having initially allowed clubs to determine their own par ratings, the USGA quickly changed their minds and began assigning ratings. The USGA Handicap System has further developed through

4757-519: Was adopted in order to eliminate the effect of very high individual hole scores on handicap calculations. With the system still not accounting for variances in playing difficulty for golfers of different abilities, in 1979 the USGA set to work on how to address the issue with the creation of the Handicap Research Team. The result of their work was the creation of what is now the Slope system . Slope

4828-443: Was another English winner in 2005, Robert Dinwiddie . Wallace Booth won in 2008, a contest reduced to 54 holes. Tommy Fleetwood won in 2009 with a new record score of 268, eight strokes ahead of the field. Pre-qualifying, for players without a guaranteed place, was introduced in 2022. A single round was played a few days before the championship. Source: Stroke play Although most professional tournaments are played using

4899-671: Was generally used in following years, with two courses used on the opening day. Starting in 1968 the championship was played in June for many years. Ronnie Shade won by six strokes in 1968 at Prestwick . There was another Scottish winner in 1969, Scott Macdonald, although two English golfers, Peter Benka and Rodney Foster were runners-up. 1970 saw the first non-Scottish winner, when the South African Dale Hayes won by four strokes. Ian Hutcheon won in 1971 and would win again in 1974 and 1979. Bert Nicholson won in 1972 while 1973 produced

4970-507: Was gradually introduced, firstly in Colorado in 1982, before being implemented nationally from 1987. The USGA then set about making further refinements to the course rating system, which at the time was still largely dependent on length, to take account of many other factors affecting scoring ability for a scratch golfer. The USGA Course and Slope Rating system is now used by most of the world's major handicapping systems. The USGA Handicap System

5041-481: Was started in 1967, based on the format of the Brabazon Trophy which had been played in England since 1947. It was held on 1 and 2 July with 36 holes played each day. Two courses, Muirfield and Gullane No. 1, were used on the first day after which the leading 40 and ties played 36 holes at Muirfield on the final day. Bernard Gallacher win with a score of 291, five strokes ahead of Charlie Green . A similar format

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