how does golf course slope rating work

by Bert Hamill Sr. 7 min read

The Slope Rating is then created by taking the difference between those two ratings and multiplying it by a predetermined factor. Every set of tees on every course will have a Slope Rating and those numbers will vary between 55 and 155.

Slope rating takes into account the USGA par rating of the course as well as the expected score of a higher handicap golfer. The difference between the two multiplied by 5.381 is the calculation used to determine the mens slope rating for a golf course.

Full Answer

What does course rating and course slope really mean?

Jul 24, 2017 · “A Slope Rating is the USGA® mark that indicates the measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers. It is computed from the difference between the Bogey Rating and the USGA Course Rating times a constant factor and is expressed as a whole number from 55 to 155.”

How do you calculate slope in golf?

May 04, 2003 · Slope rating (a term trademarked by the United States Golf Association) is a measurement of the difficulty of a golf course for bogey golfers relative to the course rating. Course rating tells scratch golfers how difficult the course will be; slope rating tells bogey golfers how difficult it will be.

What does slope rating mean in golf?

Feb 22, 2022 · A bogey golfer is classed as about a 20 handicapper for a man, and 24 for a woman. The Slope Rating is then created by taking the difference between those two ratings and multiplying it by a predetermined factor. Every set of tees on every course will have a Slope Rating and those numbers will vary between 55 and 155.

What is the best golf course in California?

Jul 25, 2016 · It is always a number between 55 and 155, with 113 being the "standard" slope. You calculate slope rating by finding the bogey rating, which is …

How is golf course slope rating calculated?

Slope ratings are in the range from 55 to 155, with a course of standard playing difficulty having a rating of 113. In order to calculate the slope rating, the difference between the bogey and scratch rating is multiplied by 5.381 for men and 4.240 for women.

What is an average slope rating for a golf course?

approximately 120
The higher the Slope Rating, the harder the course is for the bogey golfer, relative to the difficulty of the course for the scratch golfer. Slope Ratings can range anywhere between 55 and 155, with the average slope rating in the United States being approximately 120.

How does course rating and slope work?

While course ratings are a measure of the difficulty of a course, slope ratings are a measure of how much more difficult a course is for a high handicap golfer versus a lower one. For example, if you have two courses that each have a course rating of 72, they should be the same difficulty for a scratch golfer.Jul 15, 2018

What does a slope rating of 130 mean?

From Mary's tees, a 140 slope rating gives her a 13 Course Handicap. From Tom's tees, a slope of 130 gives him a 12 Course Handicap.

Is a 130 slope rating hard?

If you see a slope rating that falls anywhere in the double digits, you can expect that course to play rather easy, even for a bogey golfer. On the other hand, taking on a course with a slope rating in the 130's or 140's is going to present a serious challenge to a player with a mid or high handicap.May 11, 2016

How does course slope affect handicap?

When you play a course with a Slope Rating higher than 113, your Course Handicap will be higher than your USGA Handicap Index. When you play a course with a Slope Rating lower than 113, your Course Handicap will be lower than your Handicap Index.

Is 122 slope rating hard?

What is a hard slope rating? If we know that the average slope rating of a golf course is 113, we can deduce that any golf course with a slope rating higher than 113 is more difficult than the average course. Don't be intimidated if you see a slope rating that is above 113.

Does higher slope rating mean harder course?

The higher the slope number, the harder the course is for the bogey golfer relative to the difficulty of the course for the scratch golfer. Slope numbers can range anywhere between 55 and 155 with the average slope in the United States being 120.

What is the slope of Augusta National?

137
Augusta National Golf Club
Club information
Length7,510 yards (6,870 m)
Course rating78.1 (unofficial)
Slope rating137 (unofficial)
Course record63 - Nick Price (1986), Greg Norman (1996)
17 more rows

What is my handicap if I score 110?

about 35
What Is My Handicap If I Shoot 110? If you shoot 110, your handicap is probably going to be about 35. At some point, if your handicap gets high enough, the GHIN handicap system may max out your handicap. This is to keep the game fair for those that are trying to compete.

How do I calculate my 2020 course handicap?

Course Handicap Calculation

Pre-2020 the calculation to find the Course Handicap was: Handicap Index X Slope Rating/ 113. The new calculation for Course Handicap will be Handicap Index x (Slope Rating/113) + (Course Rating- Par). The reason for this change is to accommodate players who play off different tees.
Dec 3, 2019

What is the average golf score for seniors?

The average score for someone over the age of 60 is 92 on a par 72 golf course. These people have a lot of time to play golf but they're getting older and their body doesn't work quite as well as it used to. Obviously, you'll have some golfers shoot much better and some that shoot much worse.

What is slope rating in golf?

Slope rating (a term trademarked by the United States Golf Association) is a measurement of the difficulty of a golf course for bogey golfers relative to the course rating.

What is the role of slope in golf?

The most important role of a slope is leveling the playing field for players of different skill levels. For example, let's say Player A and Player B average 85 strokes each for 18 holes. But Player A's average is established on a very difficult course (say, a slope rating of 150), while Player B's average is established on a much easier course (say, a slope rating of 105). If handicaps were simply estimates of golfers' average scores, then these two players would have the same handicap index. But Player A is clearly the better golfer, and in a match between the two Player B would clearly need some strokes.

What does USGA course rating mean?

To put it another way: USGA Course Rating tells the best golfers how hard a golf course actually plays; USGA Slope Rating indicates how much harder the course plays for "regular" (meaning not among the best) golfers.

What is the minimum slope rating for 18 holes?

The minimum slope rating is 55 and the maximum is 155 (slope does not relate specifically to strokes played as course rating does). When the slope rating system was first put into effect, the USGA set the slope for an "average" golf course at 113; however, not many 18-hole golf courses have slope ratings that low.

Where is the slope used?

The slope is primarily used in the United States, but golf associations in other countries are beginning to adopt slope or similar systems.

Why is the handicap index lower for A and B?

Because he plays on a course with a higher slope rating, Player A's handicap index will be lower than Player B's (when it is calculated using the slope ratings), despite the fact that they both average scores of 85. So when A and B get together to play, B will get those extra strokes he needs.

What is the slope rating of a golf course?

Every set of tees on every course will have a Slope Rating and those numbers will vary between 55 and 155. The higher the Slope Rating, the greater the difference expected between the scores of those scratch and bogey golfers. A higher rating doesn’t necessarily mean that the course is more difficult than another.

What is slope rating?

Slope Ratings are described by the USGA as indicating the “measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers”. Every course in the UK is being assessed using a course rating system, which focuses on scratch and bogey golfers.

What does neutral rating mean in golf?

That probably doesn’t sound like much to you, but using that neutral rating means you can compare your WHS handicap index, and your potential, against any golfer in the world – regardless of whether they play at Pebble Beach or Powfoot. When WHS comes into effect, every score returned by every player, from every course, ...

How much handicap is a bogey golfer?

A bogey golfer is classed as about a 20 handicapper for a man , and 24 for a woman. The Slope Rating is then created by taking the difference between those two ratings and multiplying it by a predetermined factor. Every set of tees on every course will have a Slope Rating and those numbers will vary between 55 and 155.

What factors determine slope rating?

England Golf, who are charged with bringing in the WHS in this country, say: “The most significant factors involved in determining Slope Rating are length, trees, rough and water hazards.

How is course rating produced?

The course rating is produced by considering the number of strokes a scratch player would be expected to complete a round in under normal playing conditions.

Is slope a factor in the World Handicap?

For most of us, Slope will be a huge factor when we play a round under the new World Handicap System. Steve Carroll explains how it works

How to find slope rating?

You calculate slope rating by finding the bogey rating, which is like the course rating, but measured for a bogey golfer. Then subtract the course rating from that figure. Then multiply that figure by 5.381 for men and 4.24 for women. Then round up to the nearest whole number.

What is slope in golf?

The golf course slope is a measure of a course's difficulty, but it is not considered the better of the two measurements. Golf course slope is actually derived from the golf course rating. Slope is a measure of a golf course's difficulty in a relative comparison of a scratch golfer to a bogey golfer (someone who shoots around 90 for 18 holes).

What does a course rating tell you?

A golf course rating tells you what a scratch golfer would be expected to shoot from the tees they're playing on a particular course under normal conditions. The rating is different for men and women.

How many yards can a scratch golfer hit?

A male scratch golfer, for rating purposes, can hit tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots.". A scratch woman can "can hit tee shots an average of 210 yards and can reach a 400-yard hole in two shots at sea level.".

What is slope rating?

The slope rating is a number that indicates how challenging a golf course is for a bogey golfer. Of course, nothing in golf is quite that simple, so the slope rating is not as easy to figure out as the course rating. When we looked at the course rating, you saw that the number kind of coincided with what par is on the course. The bogey rating or slope rating is much different.

What is the average slope of a golf course?

The slope values can range anywhere from 55 to 155. The average golf course is 113. This may seem like an odd number for a bogey golfer to have to remember and base their golf round off of. The United States Golf Association came up with these systems, and they work pretty well, but there is undoubtedly a learning curve involved.

What does a higher course rating mean?

A higher golf course rating means that the course raters have decided that it is much harder for a scratch golfer to shoot par at the golf course. Chances are the course rating is closer to 74 or even 75, and therefore that is what a typical scratch player would shoot.

What is handicap in golf?

The handicap system allows bogey golfers to have a fair match against scratch golfers, which makes golf such a special and vital sport.

What is the USGA rating system?

The concept of the USGA course rating system is to help ensure that you can play any golf course and have a good idea of what you are getting yourself involved in.

What is a golf course rating?

A golf course rating is a number that tells you what a scratch golfer should be shooting at that golf course. Scratch golfers are known for their ability to shoot par on a golf course. However, not all golf courses are made to be the same difficult.

How is handicap index calculated?

The handicap index is created by calculating an average of 20 score differentials of a player. The score differential is the difference between your adjusted gross score and the course rating. Therefore if you are a golfer that shot 90 on a course with a 72.5 rating, your score differential would be 17.5.

What is the minimum slope rating for a golf course?

The minimum slope rating is 55 and the maximum is 155 (slope does not relate specifically to strokes played as course rating does).

What is slope rating?

Slope rating (a term trademarked by the United States Golf Association) is a measurement of the difficulty of a golf course for bogey golfers relative to the course rating. Course rating tells scratch golfers how difficult the golf course will be; slope rating tells bogey golfers how difficult it will be. To put it another way: USGA Course Rating ...

What is the slope rating for 18 holes?

The minimum slope rating is 55 and the maximum is 155 (slope does not relate specifically to strokes played as course rating does). The higher the slope, the more difficult the course is. When the slope rating system was first put into effect, the USGA set the slope for an "average" golf course at 113; however, not many 18-hole golf courses have slope ratings that low. Some do, but the real-world average is higher than 113. (However, a slope of 113 is still used in certain calculations within the handicap system.)

What is USGA course rating?

USGA Course Rating is an evaluation of the difficulty of a golf course for scratch golfers. (More specifically, the number is an estimate of the average scores of the best 50-percent of rounds played by scratch golfers at the course being rated.) Course rating is very easy to understand because it is expressed in strokes.

What is the average stroke rating of a par 72?

Course rating is very easy to understand because it is expressed in strokes. A par-72 course that is easy might have a course rating of 68.9; one that is difficult might have a course rating of 74.5. That means that a scratch golfer should be expected to average 68.9 strokes in his better rounds at the easier course;

What is Slope Rating and how does it work?

Slope Ratings are described by the USGA as indicating the “measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers”.

So what does that mean?

Remember your WHS Handicap Index is not your playing handicap. Every time you go to the course, that mark will be adjusted for Slope for the course, or tees, that is being played.

Need more information on the World Handicap System?

Visit our dedicated WHS page where you will find everything you need to know and details of how to contact us if you have any more questions.

How to determine how long a golf course plays?

The difficulty of a course depends partly on its length. But yardage alone is not the only measure of how long a course plays. Raters also take into account the firmness of the turf, the strength of the prevailing wind, doglegs, forced carries and elevation. All of those factors are then weighed together to determine whether the course plays longer or shorter than its actual yardage.

What is the measure of a tough course?

A U.S. Open course is tough by any measure. The measure the United States Golf Association uses is the course and slope rating system, which assigns two different numbers meaning two different things. While the course rating tells you how difficult a track is for a scratch player, the slope tells you the relative difficulty of that same course for a bogey golfer.

How many yards does a scratch golfer have?

Based on those numbers, a scratch golfer is considered capable of reaching a 470-yard hole in two shots.

How far do scratch golfers hit the ball?

One of those is how far they hit the ball. For rating purposes, the USGA system assumes that scratch golfers fly their drives an average of 225 yards, with 25 yards of roll. They carry their second shots an average of 200 yards, with 20 yards of roll. A bogey golfer, on the other hand, averages ...

What is slope rating?

The Slope Rating reflects the relative difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers in comparison to scratch golfers. Golfers use the Slope Rating, a trademark of the United States Golf Association, to calculate handicap differentials. The rating falls between 55 and 155; the higher the number, the more challenging the course.

How to calculate slope rating?

For male golfers, multiply the difference by 5.381; for women, multiply it by 4.24. Round to the nearest whole number. This is the Slope Rating. With a difference of 22 between the Bogey Rating and Course Rating, the Slope Rating is 118 for a man and 93 for a woman.

Where to find the rating of a tee?

The rating for each set of tees is usually on your scorecard, or you can ask staff at the course for this information.

Do golfers have access to slope ratings?

Golfers typically don't have access to the information used to calculate the Slope Rating, but understanding the formula makes the rating less confusing.

What is the slope of a golf course?

That's the responsibility of The Rating figure. The Slope is a measure of how much difference a course's difficulty is for the average bogey golfer compared to the scratch golfer. Allow us to illustrate what this means.

What is course slope?

Course Slope is a creation of The United States Golf Association and has been licensed to the Royal Canadian Golf Association. Courses outside of the United States and Canada (and their protectorates) will probably not have a Slope rating.

What is the average score for par golf?

The average score of the par golfers was 68.5. Therefore, the Course Rating is 68.5. It's an easier course for par golfers to play.

What is a scratch golfer?

Someone who consistently shoots par for the course, regardless of the course. Also known as a "scratch golfer".

Why do expert golfers turn in better scores on Course 3?

Well, the expert golfers turned in better scores on Course 3 because they know how to take advantage of bigger greens and they are also pretty straight hitters, so the woods were not really a factor for them on either course. Even so, the expert golfers know how to minimize the damage to their scores after an errant drive.

What is a course rating?

The Course Rating is a number, close to par for the course, and is expressed with a single decimal digit. For example: If par for a course is 72, it's Course Rating might be 71.4. Rating values go up with difficulty. Actually, for any given golf course, you can expect to see three (or even more) values for the Course Rating.

What are the two figures required to describe the overall difficulty of a golf course?

All you need to remember is that there are two figures required to describe the overall difficulty of a golf course: The Course Rating and the Course Slope.

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What Is Course Rating?

What Is Slope Rating?

  • The slope rating is a number that indicates how challenging a golf course is for a bogey golfer. Of course, nothing in golf is quite that simple, so the slope rating is not as easy to figure out as the course rating. When we looked at the course rating, you saw that the number kind of coincided with what par is on the course. The bogey rating or sl...
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The Importance of Course and Slope Rating

  • Now that you have a better understanding of what course and slope ratings are, it’s a good idea to try and understand the importance of these numbers. The slope rating and course rating can be used for several different reasons that help make the game of golf fair and funfor everyone involved.
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Now that you have a bit more understanding of the slope rating and course rating, here are a few of the questions that are often asked about this process. Don’t feel bad if you don’t fully understand the USGA handicap system. There is quite a bit involved in this, and sometimes it takes a while to get used to the concepts.
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Conclusion

  • Hopefully, you now understand the concept of course and slope rating. This is not something that you will need to fully understand to play well the next time you hit the course. However, it is good to have an overall awareness of how these systems work. Golf course handicaps will update every two weeks or so. If you all of a sudden have an increase in your handicap, yet you have been pla…
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