SSA vs Par

[SigmaChris]

I have been trying to determine the SSA for the courses in my area. The PDGA website that is referred to in past threads here is not working during their upgrade.

So a simple question...is SSA the same as the listed Par for the course?

I am guessing no, but maybe I am wrong...it won't be the first time.

[Olorin]

Did someone say par? :)

[ERicJ]

No, SSA is not the same as Par.

SSA is Scratch Scoring Average, that's what you'd expect a 1000 rated player to average on that course under typical conditions. The SSA is calculated based on rounds played by players with ratings of 800 and up. It's a very well defined value.

What par is... well that's one of the hotly debated topics of many a disc golf forum. The problem is there's no consistently applied, clearly defined, standard for assigning a par value to a hole and/or course. So for now par is a subjective value based on the whims of course designers.

The PDGA site has transitioned to a new server and software and as such is going through a major transition over the past couple weeks. No telling if past links will be valid moving forward. They still have several databases including membership and courses that haven't been converted over to the new website yet.

ERic

[Olorin]

I think I'll let others give you a fuller answer, but par and SSA are not the same thing.

SSA = Scratch Scoring Average and it tells you what a 1000 rated player would average on the course. It is calculated from scoring averages.

In disc golf par has several definitions. Crazy, huh? Here's the "Close Range Par" definition: "Par is calculated by the number of reasonable throws intended by the course designer for a first-class player to reach “close range” then take 2 throws to hole out. For men a “first class player” is a 1000 rated, Gold level player."

I submit that SSA minus Par gives a good measure of course difficulty. A positive number is more difficult, and a negative number is easier.

[Olorin]

No, SSA is not the same as Par...

Thanks Eric! As I was typing you beat me to it, but I'd hoped you'd jump in.

[ERicJ]

Glad to help ;)

[Olorin]

Click here (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11805&postcount=16)to go to a post on the "What is Difficult? (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=847)" thread that also shows the contrast between SSA and Par. (Nothing like a little shameless self promotion of one's own viewpoint! ;))

[Donovan]

Olorin vs ERicJ vs The Rest Poll CLICK HERE!!! (http://www.dgcoursereview.com/forums/showthread.php?t=931) :D :p ;)
:cool:

[ERicJ]

Did someone say par?
Nice addition to your avatar ;)

ERic

[Olorin]

Nice addition to your avatar ;)

ERic

jedwards made it, so he gets all the credit. I just snagged it from him, but I like it a lot!

P.S.- I guess that hole must be a par 1.