Course Rating Resources

When a golf course is rated, the rating team evaluates the overall difficulty of the course for both a scratch golfer and a bogey golfer. This evaluation ensures that golfers’ Handicap Indexes can be compared fairly from course to course and from region to region, all over the world.

The rating established for the scratch golfer is known as the Course Rating. There is also a rating for the bogey golfer, known as the Bogey Rating. While the Bogey Rating is not typically published, it is a critical component used to calculate the Slope Rating.

Together, the Course Rating and Slope Rating allow the Handicap System to function accurately, ensuring that scores posted at different golf courses are properly adjusted for relative difficulty.

Watch this video on an explanation of slope rating https://www.whs.com/videos/WHS-2024-Slope-Rating-Explained.html

Purpose of Course Rating

The primary purpose of Course Rating is to ensure equity and consistency within the Handicap System. If courses are rated inaccurately:

• Players at courses rated too low may become over-handicapped
• Players at courses rated too high may become under-handicapped

Accurate course ratings protect the integrity of competition by ensuring that a player’s Handicap Index reflects their true playing ability, regardless of where they play.

How the Course Rating is Determined

The course rating process requires the rating team to evaluate ten obstacle factors and effective playing length corrections for every hole.

To ensure the most accurate assessment, we recommend that each rating team plays the course either before or after the rating procedure to gain additional insight into the course’s overall difficulty. Once the evaluation is complete, the Course Rating and Slope Rating are calculated and certified by Golf Ontario before being issued to the corresponding golf club.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU9-wWwZvyI

USGA Video providing the basics for Course Rating – would like this to be included

Course Rating Definitions

To help you better understand the course rating process, below are the basic definitions used:

Bogey Golfer

A bogey golfer has a Handicap Index of approximately 20.0 for men and 24.0 for women.

• Male bogey golfer:
  • Average tee shot distance: 200 yards
  • Can reach a 370-yard hole in two shots
• Female bogey golfer:
  • Average tee shot distance: 150 yards
  • Can reach a 280-yard hole in two shots

Scratch Golfer

A scratch golfer is an amateur player who plays to a 0.0 Handicap Index, comparable to the standard of stroke play qualifiers in the Canadian Amateur/U.S. Amateur Championships.

• Male scratch golfer:
  • Average tee shot distance: 250 yards
  • Can reach a 470-yard hole in two shots
• Female scratch golfer:
  • Average tee shot distance: 210 yards
  • Can reach a 400-yard hole in two shots

Course Rating

An evaluation of the overall difficulty of the course under normal course and weather conditions for the scratch golfer. This figure equals the average of the better half of a scratch golfer’s scores.

Bogey Course Rating

An evaluation of the overall difficulty of the course under normal course and weather conditions for the bogey golfer. This figure equals the average of the better half of a bogey golfer’s scores.

Slope Rating

An indication of the relative difficulty of a golf course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers.

• Lowest Slope Rating: 55
• Highest Slope Rating: 155
• Standard difficulty course: Slope Rating of 113

Effective Playing Length

Effective playing length is derived by adding the measured yardage of the course to adjustments for:

• Elevation
• Roll
• Forced lay-ups
• Wind
• Altitude

Adjustments are made when any of the following apply:

• Elevation changes from tee to green
• Prevailing wind affects play
• Fairway landing areas are hard or soft
• Tee shots land into an upslope or downslope
• Obstacles prevent a golfer from playing a full-length shot
• Course is located more than 2,000 feet above sea level

Obstacle Stroke Value

Obstacle stroke value is a numerical evaluation of all obstacles on the golf course, including:

Obstacle stroke values may differ between the scratch and bogey golfer and generally increase as obstacles are closer to landing zones.

Why Course Rating Matter to Golfers

Accurate course ratings allow golfers to:

• Compete fairly across different courses
• Travel and post scores with confidence
• Maintain a Handicap Index that truly reflects their ability
• Enjoy equitable competition in tournaments and leagues

Course Measurements

Because length is the predominant factor in determining Course and Slope Ratings, the accurate measurement of each hole is essential to the integrity of the rating process.

Measurement Standards

Scorecard yardage is not acceptable as the sole source of measurement and must always be independently verified. All measurements are taken to determine the horizontal distance from the teeing ground to the center of the green, measured along the intended line of play. This ensures consistency regardless of terrain or elevation changes. When a hole plays uphill or downhill, measurements must be corrected to reflect true horizontal distance. For example:

• On a downhill hole, the recorded distance is measured from the teeing ground to a point directly above the center of the green, with that point being level in elevation with the tee.
• This approach removes the visual distortion caused by elevation and ensures the yardage reflects actual playing length.

Effective Playing Length

Using GPS technology, and with supplemental information provided by course staff, each course is measured from every teeing area.

Each hole is measured along a straight line from the center of the teeing area to the center of the fairway at the designated pivot point, and then along a straight line from the pivot point to the center of the green. The pivot point represents the location in the fairway where a typical scratch player is expected to place their tee shot.

If a pivot point is not clearly defined, the Course Rating team will establish a pivot point at an approximate distance of:

• 250 yards for men
• 210 yards for women

For holes containing multiple doglegs, measurements are taken in straight-line segments from the teeing area to the first pivot point, then from each subsequent pivot point, and finally to the center of the green.

Hole Measurement Example

Tee Box Length (Red Line): 23.38 yards ~23 yards —- > 23 yards/2 = ~12yards (midpoint of teeing area)

*For this example, we will assume that only one tee marker occupies this tee block. If multiple tee markers occupy this tee, the teeing area will be divided accordingly.

Length from the front of the teeing area to dogleg (Pivot) point (Yellow Line): ~207 yards

Length from dogleg (pivot) point to the front of the green (Blue Line): ~109 yards

Green Depth (pink line): ~23 yards —> 23 yards/2 = ~12 yards (mid-point of the green)

Hole Measurement calculation:

Red line (midpoint) + Yellow Line + Blue Line + Pink Line (midpoint) = Hole Length for Course Rating purposes

12 yards + 207 yards + 109 yards + 12 yards = 340 yards

Although this hole could be played several different ways, the effective playing length of this hole to be used for the course rating process will be 340 yards.

Q: Where can I find the Course and Slope Ratings for a club?

A: There are several places where Course and Slope Ratings can be found:

• Official Course Rating certificates (for both men and women) should be posted at the golf course in a clearly visible location.
• Most clubs include Course and Slope Ratings on their scorecard and website.
• The Golf Canada website provides a course search tool where you can find all member courses in the province, along with their Course Rating, Slope Rating, and contact information. Use the “Find a Course” search tool on the Golf Canada website.

Q: Where can I find Slope Conversion Charts/Course Handicap Tables?

A: Course Handicap Tables for the relevant tees should be posted at the golf course in a visible location, such as near the handicap computer, in the pro shop, or near the first tee.

If you require Course Handicap Tables under the World Handicap System (WHS), please contact: handicapcr@gao.ca

Q: What is Slope Rating?

A: Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for non-scratch golfers compared to scratch golfers. It is calculated based on the difference between the Bogey Rating (the expected score for a bogey golfer) and the Course Rating (the expected score for a scratch golfer).

Q: Does a higher Slope Rating mean that it’s a more difficult course?

A: Not necessarily. Slope Rating measures relative difficulty—specifically, how much more challenging the course is for bogey golfers compared to scratch golfers. A higher Slope Rating indicates a greater difference in difficulty between these two player types. Because it is a relative measure, Slope Rating should always be considered in combination with the Course Rating.

Q: How often is a course rated?

A: The frequency of course ratings depend on whether the course is new or established:

• Newly constructed courses must be re-rated within 3–5 years, as conditions can change rapidly.
• Established courses must be rated at least once every 10 years.
• If deemed significant, course renovations will result in a new Course Rating.

Q: Who determines Course and Slope Ratings?

Course and Slope Ratings are determined by trained and certified Course Rating teams following the procedures established by the USGA and adopted under the World Handicap System. In Canada, this process is administered by Golf Canada through provincial golf associations.

Q: When does a course need to be re-rated?

A: A course must be re-rated when:

• It is due for a scheduled re-rating (3–5 years for new courses, at least every 10 years for established courses), or
• Significant changes have been made to the course.

Significant changes may include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in playing length
• Addition or removal of penalty areas
• Changes to green design, shape, or contour

It is the responsibility of the golf club to notify the Golf Ontario of these changes and to indicate whether they are temporary or permanent.

Q: I score approximately the same on my two different courses, but their Course and Slope Ratings are different. Why is that?

A: There are several possible reasons:

• One course may have been recently rated, and the updated Course and Slope Ratings have not yet been posted or reflected on the scorecard.
• The similarity in scores may be coincidental, as the courses may suit your individual playing style despite having different design characteristics and ratings.

Q: Why are the ratings on Golf Ontario or Golf Canada different from those on the scorecard?

A: The Golf Ontario website and the Golf Canada Score Centre contain the most current Course and Slope Ratings. If these differ from the scorecard, it is likely that the course has been recently rated and new scorecards have not yet been printed.

If the ratings shown on the club’s score posting terminal are incorrect, the club may need to perform an online update to sync the local system with the central database. The pro shop can confirm when the last transmission occurred and perform an update if required.

Q: What is the minimum length requirement for a course and/or set of tees to be issued a Course Rating and Slope Rating?

A: As of 2024, the World Handicap System has approved the following minimum lengths:

• 1,500 yards for an 18-hole course
• 750 yards for a 9-hole course

Courses or sets of tees shorter than these limits are not eligible for a Course Rating and Slope Rating.

Q: My course is under construction, am I able to post my scores?

A: You must confirm this with your club’s Handicap Committee. The Committee is required to notify the Provincial Golf Association (GO) of temporary changes, such as:

• Temporary tees or greens
• Closed holes
• Changes in course length exceeding 100 yards

Golf Ontario will determine whether scores played under these conditions are acceptable for handicap purposes and whether temporary Course and Slope Ratings should be issued.

• If temporary ratings are issued, the Handicap Committee must notify members and guests and advise when to resume posting scores using the permanent ratings.
• If temporary ratings are not issued, players must use hole-by-hole score entry so that expected scores can be calculated for holes not played or played with temporary conditions.
• In limited circumstances, the Committee may allow the use of net par, but only for one or two holes not played.

If more than nine holes are affected and temporary ratings are not issued, the score is not acceptable for handicap purposes. Players should always confirm the correct posting procedure with their Handicap Committee.

Q: Why do course and slope ratings sometimes increase or decrease?

A: Ratings may change due to:

• Course renovations or design changes
• Tree growth or removal
• Added or modified hazards
• Changes in maintenance practices
• Updates to rating methodology under WHS

An increase generally means the course has become more difficult; a decrease means it has become less challenging.

Help ensure fair and accurate handicapping across the province. Join a trained team of volunteers who evaluate and rate golf courses under the World Handicap System.

Click Here to learn more about the opportunities at Golf Ontario