HISTORY OF COURSE RATING:

Whether it was the expected score that it would take to win "The Belt" at Prestwick in 1870 or the expected score of Colonel Bogey in the 1890's most of the course rating systems developed before the turn of the century were based on par.
The first USGA Course Rating System was developed in 1911 and was, like the systems developed in the British Isles, par based. The first USGA Course Rating System was based on the play (expected score) of US Amateur Champion Jerome Travers. Several golf associations made refinements to this system over the years and the USGA adopted several of these refinements in 1947. These refinements included rating on a hole-by-hole basis (A Massachusetts GA refinement)  and the "fractional par rating method."  (A refinement from the Chicago District GA).  Since both refinements arrived at approximately the same ratings, golf associations were allowed to use either system. In 1963 the USGA introduced a new rating system that used the Massachusetts rating system modified by principles of the Chicago rating system.
In 1971 the first "obstacle rating" procedure was developed by the Southern California GA. In 1977 Lt. Commander Dean Knuth proposed an improved course rating system that involved numerical rating of ten obstacles on each hole. These ratings provided an adjustment to the distance rating of the golf course.  Knuth's system was adopted by the USGA in 1981 and became the basis for the USCA Course Rating System that we use today.

COURSE RATING PROCEDURE:

When a golf course is rated, the rating team will evaluate the overall difficulty of the golf course for two players, the bogey golfer and the scratch golfer.  A course rating for each golfer is determined during the rating process. The course rating for the scratch golfer will become the USGA Course Rating for the golf course While the bogey course rating is not normally known by the member club, it is an important factor in determining the USGA Slope Rating for the club.
During their visit the rating team will evaluate the ten obstacles and effective length corrections on every hole. They do not play the course during this portion of the visit. The team has the option of playing the golf course either before or after the actual rating process in order to gain further insight into the overall difficulty of the golf course.
Upon completion of the rating visit the data is inputted into a software program to come to a set of preliminary ratings.  The preliminary ratings are then forwarded in the Course Rating Review Committee for their review. The Course Rating Review Committee is made up of the most experienced volunteers on the Course Rating Committee and selected staff. Upon their approval the ratings are released to the club

BASIC DEFINITIONS:
 

In order to help you better understand the course rating process, listed below are some of the basic definitions used in the course rating process:

Bogey Golfer-A player with a USGA Handicap Index of 17.5 to 22.4 strokes for men and 21.5 to 26.4 for women.  Under normal situations the male bogey golfer can hit his tee shot 200 yards and can reach a 370-yard hole in two shots. Likewise, the female bogey golfer can hit her tee shot 150 yards and can reach a 280-yard hole in two shots. Players who have handicaps in the bogey golfer ranges but who are unusually long or short off the tee are not considered to be a bogey golfer for course rating purposes.

Scratch Golfer-An amateur player who plays to the standard of the stroke play qualifiers competing in the United States Amateur Championship. The male scratch golfer hits his tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470-yard bole in two shots. The female scratch golfer can hit her tee shots an average of 210 yards and can reach a 400-yard hole in two shots.

USGA Course Rating-An evaluation of the overall difficulty of the golf course under normal course and weather conditions for the scratch golfer. This figure is equal to the average of the better half of a scratch golfer's scores.

Bogey Course Rating-An evaluation of the overall difficulty of the golf course under normal course and weather conditions for the bogey golfer. The bogey rating is equal to the average of the better half of a bogey golfer's scores.

USGA Slope Rating-The USGA's mark that indicates the measurement of the relative difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch gofers compared to the Course Rating. The lowest Slope rating is 55 and the highest is 155. A golf course of standard playing difficulty has a USGA Slope Rating of 113. If a course has a high Slope rating, it is relatively more difficult for the average golfer than a course with a low Slope Rating. The USGA Slope Rating is a mathematical measurement of how "proportionately" more difficult a set of tees is for those golfers who are not scratch golfers as opposed to the scratch golfers. The greater the difference in the two ratings, the higher the Slope Rating.
 

USGA slope Rating =(Bogey Course Rating-USGA Course Rating) x 5.381 for men and 4.24 for women.

While many have been conditioned to equate the USGA Slope Rating to the overall difficulty of a golf course it is not the whole factor. In fact, to really determine the overall difficulty of a golf course you must first compare USGA Course Ratings. A golf course with a USGA Course Rating of 69.0 is less difficult than one rated at 71.0 even if they have the same Slope Rating.  Enclosed with this explanation is a graph (addendum 1) which illustrates the two courses listed above. As you can see, since they both have the same USGA Slope Rating (125) they both have the same difference between the scratch and bogey golfers, 23.2 stokes. Even though both courses have a Slope rating of 125, the bogey golfer on the course rated at 69.0 will average 92.2 in his best 10 scores while his counterpart on the course rated at 71.0 will average 94.2. If all golf courses had the exact same USGA Course Rating, the course with the highest USGA Slope Rating would be the most difficult course on which to score. But since all courses do not have the same USGA Course Rating, you must evaluate both the Course and Slope Rating, to determine which course is the most difficult on which to score. It is highly possible that you may have a course that has a lower USGA Slope Rating than another course (addendum 2), yet is more difficult to score on because its' USGA Course Rating is higher than that of the higher Sloped course.

The Course Rating for either golfer is determined by adding the yardage rating to the obstacle stroke value for that golfer.

Scratch Yardage Rating (Male) = (Scratch male effective playing length/220) * 40.9

Scratch Yardage Rating (Female) = (Scratch female effective playing length/180) + 40.1

Bogey Yardage Rating (Male) = (Bogey male effective playing length/160) * 50.7

Bogey Yardage Rating (Female) = (Bogey female effective playing length /120) + 51.3

The effective playing length for each golfer is derived by adding the measured yardage of the course to any adjustments made for elevation, roll, forced lay-ups, wind and altitude. Adjustments are made to the measured yardage if there is any elevation change from tee to green (elevation), if there is a prevailing wind and is it a factor (wind), if the fairway landing areas are hard or soft or if the tee shots land into an up slope or on a down slope (roll), if an obstacle or combination of obstacles prevent a golfer from playing a full length shot (forced lay-up), and if the course is located more than 2000 feet above sea level (altitude).

The obstacle stroke value is a numerical evaluation of all obstacles (topography, fairway green target, recovery and rough, bunkers, out of bounds, water, trees, green surface, and psychology) on the golf course. It is also highly probable that the Obstacle stroke value of the two golfers will be different. Generally, the nearer the obstacles are to the landing zones the higher the rating values.

Topography-A factor of how mounds and slopes affect the stance or lie in the fairway landing zone and whether the shot to the green is uphill or downhill.

Fairway- A measurement of the probability of hitting the fairway.

Green Target-A measurement of the probability of hitting the green from the fairway landing zones. The relationship between the length of shot played and size of the green determines these values. (I.e., long shots to small greens will generate higher values than short shots to large greens).

Recovery and Rough-A measurement of the probability of missing the tee shot landing zone or green, and the difficulty of recovering if either is missed.

Bunkers-A measurements of the effect bunkers have on play based upon their proximity to target areas and the difficulty of recovery.

Out of Bounds-A measurement of how much the out of bounds will come into play based upon the proximity of the boundary to the fairway landing zone or green.

Water Hazards-A measurement of how much the water will come into play based upon its proximity to the fairway landing zone or green.

Trees-A measurement of how trees effect the play of the two players based upon the size and density of the trees their distance from the center of the fairway or green, the difficulty of recovering from the trees, and the length of the hole.

Green Surface-A measurement of the difficulty of a green from a putting standpoint Speed of the green and surface contouring are the main factors.

Psychology- A measurement of the cumulative effect of the other nine obstacles.

When the Slope Rating for your course changes, the change may also affect your Home Course Handicap. The Slope Rating change may also have a small effect on the computation of your USGA Handicap Index. It may also change the handicap a visitor will use when playing your course.

Another point that cannot be stressed too strongly is the fact that WE RATE FOR ALL GOLFERS PLAYING UNALTERED USGA RULES OFGOLF AT ALL TIMES, ON ALL COURSES. We do not consider "PREFERRED LIES" or "WINTER RULES" or any local club rules, which are contrary to the Rules of Golf.

We are constantly reviewing and updating our Course Rating lists to see how past ratings compare to current ratings and how courses compare as to yardage, rating obstacle stroke values and Slope. We also review all major tournament results that we are provided and compare both gross and net scores with our ratings. When we note anything amiss we immediately put that course on the schedule for re-rating.

We are sincerely hopeful that this explanation answers any questions you may have had regarding the difference between course and Slope rating. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact WSGA HEADQUARTERS, (206)-526-8605. We will make every effort to assist you.

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