what is slope on a golf course

• Course and slope rating are both used in determining a handicap differential.
• The course rating is an estimated average score for a scratch golfer. It’s usually a number between 67 and 77.
• Slope Rating is also an estimated average, but it’s for what an average or bogey golfer would shoot on that course.

Full Answer

What golf course has the highest slope rating?

A golf course slope is a USGA designated rating number that indicates the difficulty of a specific course for bogey golfers. This number is used to calculate a player’s handicap index. The value is between 55 and 155, and the average standard slope number ranges from 113 to 120.

What does slope rating really mean for a golf course?

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.

How is a golf course's slope and rating calculated?

Dec 03, 2021 · What Is Slope Rating In Golf? The Slope Rating is a rating that represents a slope. The length and obstacles of a golf course affect higher-handicap players more than lower-handicap players, and Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch players compared to those who are scratch players on a course.

What is golf slope rating and how is it determined?

Feb 08, 2021 · What Does Golf Course Slope Mean? The slope of a golf course covers the difference in how a golf course plays for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch player. The higher the slope number, the harder the course is for the bogey golfer relative to the scratch player. The slope of a golf course is often misunderstood. Many people think it tells you the difficulty of the …

What does slope in golf mean?

Q. What is a Slope Rating™ and what does it represent? A. Playing length and obstacles impact higher-handicap players more than lower-handicap players, and Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty of a golf course for players who are not scratch players compared to those who are scratch players.

How is a golf course slope rating calculated?

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.Jul 25, 2016

What is the difference between golf course rating and slope?

Course Ratings represent the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal conditions. Slope Ratings represent the difference in difficulty for all other players, compared to the scratch player. Course Ratings are carried out by qualified teams, and assume normal course and weather conditions.

What is the average slope of a golf course?

120The 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 slope rating should I play?

If you are playing a course with a slope in the 130's, you might want to aim for something under 95 as opposed to 90. On the other hand, a course with a slope in the low 100's may allow you to aim for an 85 – or even lower.May 11, 2016

Is a slope rating of 135 hard?

A course with a Slope Rating of 135 is not necessarily more difficult than a course with a Slope Rating of 113. You can't compare a golf course's difficulty from the Slope Rating alone.Jun 18, 2015

How does slope affect handicap?

So what is Slope? Slope merely tells you how “proportionately” more difficult that particular set of tees plays for the higher handicapped golfers as opposed to lower handicapped golfers. The more difficult the tees play proportionately for the higher handicappers, the greater the Slope rating that will be issued.

How do you read a slope rating?

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.

How does the slope rating work?

The USGA Slope Rating is a numerical value that indicates the relative difficulty of a set of tees on a golf course for a bogey golfer in comparison to a scratch golfer. ... 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.

How far should an average golfer hit a 7 iron?

between 147 to 159 yardsAs you can see, most golfers are hitting their 7-iron between 147 to 159 yards on average. And as you would expect, as the handicap level goes down, distance goes up.

What percentage of golfers can break 90?

According to data from the National Golf Foundation, only 26 percent of all golfers shoot below 90 consistently on regulation 18-hole courses; 45 percent of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round.”Aug 18, 2021

What is the slope of Augusta National?

Augusta National Golf ClubClub informationPar72Length7,475 yards (6,835 m)Course rating78.1 (unofficial)Slope rating137 (unofficial)17 more rows

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 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.

Who is Brent Kelley?

Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. 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 does slope mean in golf?

What Does Golf Course Slope Mean? The slope of a golf course covers the difference in how a golf course plays for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch player. The higher the slope number, the harder the course is for the bogey golfer relative to the scratch player. The slope of a golf course is often misunderstood.

What does scratch golf mean?

But what exactly does it mean and how is it determined? A scratch golfer is someone who has the ability to score a par on any course on any day.

What does it mean to break 80 in golf?

Break 80. When you score in the 80’s your golf game has evolved. Breaking 80 means you are close to shooting par. Typical courses with 18 holes have a par of 72. Since golf rules are universally acknowledged around the world, it only stands to reason that the handicap system needs to be consistent too.

What is the world handicap system?

The World Handicap System is being pushed by the USGA and will unify all the different handicap systems around the world. Simply put, a handicap system allows golfers of all abilities to match up against each other. Now, if you struggled in high school math, this may look completely confusing.

What is scratch rating?

The Scratch Rating is another term for the Course Rating. Then it follows the formula above. This image is from the Ocean Course at Kiawah Golf Resort in South Carolina which is currently considered the “ Toughest Golf Course ” in the Nation. This was an aerial shot taken by one of the writers at AEC Info in 2019.

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 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 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 is a golf course rating?

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 a Course Rating?

This scorecard shows the course rating (first number) and slope rating (second number) for each set of tees at a course.

What is a Slope Rating?

While the course rating indicates the difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer, the slope rating, by contrast, indicates how difficult the course should be for a bogey golfer (or someone who averages +18 for 18 holes). Also unlike course rating, slope values can range from 55 to 155 with 113 being the average.

Why Have Two Numbers?

As you may have figured out already, golf is a difficult game and contains a very wide range of golfers, each with very different levels of skill. In the mid 80’s the USGA started to catch on to this big divide between scratch or professional golfers and mid to high handicap golfers.

Ratings and Updates

Changes in green roll, topography, or other obstacles can dramatically change the difficulty of a hole or course.

Wrap-Up

Although it might not be the most pressing matter for some golfers, understanding how course and slope ratings work is sure to only help you understand the game better in the long run.