Method
How we score playability
Each course starts the day on 10 and loses points for wet ground, rain, wind, frost and nearby flooding. The weights are ours. We publish them so you can judge the score for yourself.
The weights
| Factor | How many points it costs | Most it can cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ground | 0.16 points per mm of rain in the previous 72 hours, after adjusting for drainage: free-draining ×0.5, moderate ×1, slow to drain ×1.6, not known ×1. | 4 |
| Rain on the day | 0.3 points per mm forecast between 6:00 and 21:00. With no amount, 0.015 points per percentage point of the chance of rain. | 3 |
| Wind | 0.1 points per mph of the strongest gust above 20 mph. | 3 |
| Frost | 1 point if the low is 0°C or below, plus 0.5 if the high stays at 3°C or below. | 1.5 |
| Flooding | Within 0.6 miles of a flood area: 1 for a flood alert, 3 for a flood warning. A severe flood warning holds the score at 1 or below. | 9 |
Bands: 8 and above is good, 6 to 7.9 fair, 4 to 5.9 testing, below 4 poor. Scoring version 2026-10-a.
The data
- Forecast. The Met Office site-specific forecast, fetched each morning. Courses within a few miles of each other share one forecast point.
- Rain in the last 72 hours. The nearest Environment Agency rain gauge within 9.3 miles that sent at least 80% of its readings. For the days ahead we add the forecast rain and assume the measured rain fell evenly, so a third of it drops out each day.
- Flood warnings. Environment Agency warnings, checked every 15 minutes. England only for now.
- Soil drainage. Not yet known for most courses. Until it is, wet ground is scored as if the soil drains moderately.
The score is an estimate, not a statement from any club, and the flood data is not for safety-critical use. Clubs close and reopen for reasons no dataset can see, so always check with the club before you travel. See all our data sources and licences.