what isa golf course slope

• 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

How do you calculate slope in golf?

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 is the slope of a golf course?

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 …

What is the slope rating of a golf course?

May 04, 2003 · 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.

What does slope mean in golf?

Jul 25, 2016 · 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...

What is the average slope of a golf 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 does the slope mean in golf?

The slope rating of a golf course is a mathematical measure of the difficulty of the golf course. Slope rating takes into account the USGA par rating of the course as well as the expected score of a higher handicap golfer.

How is slope determined on a golf course?

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 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

What is the slope of Augusta National?

Augusta National Golf ClubClub informationLength7,510 yards (6,870 m)Course rating78.1 (unofficial)Slope rating137 (unofficial)Course record63 - Nick Price (1986), Greg Norman (1996)17 more rows

What is the highest slope rating golf course?

KIAWAH ISLAND / S.C. / 7,356 YARDS / PAR 72 (Eight of our top 50 were created by the man they call the "Marquis de Sod.") The Ocean has the highest combination of Slope Rating (155) and Course Rating (79.6) in America, according to the U.S. Golf Association.Jul 2, 2007

How does slope rating affect my handicap?

will generally find more challenges with distance, accuracy and obstacles than the scratch player. and Slope Ratings allow the handicap system to reflect this, enabling golfers of differing abilities to play together and have a fair and enjoyable game.

What does a slope rating of 130 mean?

From Tom's tees, a slope of 130 gives him a 12 Course Handicap. Mary gets one stroke PLUS the difference between the course ratings, or 73.2 - 71.1 = 2.1. Rounded to the nearest whole number (. 5 or more is rounded up).

What is the difference between course rating and slope?

Course rating tells scratch golfers how difficult the golf course will be; slope rating tells bogey golfers how difficult it will be.Mar 31, 2022

What tee box should I play from handicap?

As we have already mentioned, this will differ from person to person, but the general rule is: The back tees: low-handicap men. The middle tees: middle- to high-handicap men, low-handicap women, or low-handicap senior men. The front tees: middle- to high-handicap women and seniors, or beginners.Sep 30, 2020

What is the rule of 85 in golf?

The rule of 85 is explained as a simple maths equation to determine what tee position you should hit from. The 85 golf rule formula is that if your age + current handicap is greater or equal to 85 then you should use the senior tees or the next closest set of tees.

Which tee box should I play from?

A general rule of thumb to determine which tee box is right for you is if you hit your driver under 200 yards, play from the closest tee. If you hit from 200-225 the next farthest tee, and so on. When you are hitting 275+ accurately you should be playing the farthest tees back.

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 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.

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 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 does slope rating mean on a golf course?

The slope rating of a golf course is a mathematical measure of the difficulty of the golf course. Slope rating takes into account the USGA par rating of the course as well as the expected score of a higher handicap golfer.

What is an easy slope rating?

Now that we know that a slope rating is a measurement of the difficulty of a golf course, you are probably wondering how you can interpret a golf course’s slope rating. The first thing many golfers do when they arrive at the golf course is check the score card for the slope rating. Most scorecards will have the slope rating printed on them.

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. Be sure to check the slope rating for all of the tee boxes.

What is the slope rating at River Landing Country Club?

If you are planning on playing golf at River Landing Country Club in Wallace, NC here are the slope ratings that you can expect.

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.