This may be one of those not so bright questions, but know one has accused me of being overly bright anyway so here goes. What does the course rating/ slope mean??

Hi Tom, and no these aren't 'not so bright questions'.

The Slope and Course ratings are designed to give you an impression of how challenging the golf course is. A course's slope rating is part of the equation for how many strokes individuals would get as far as handicapping goes. So the higher the slope the more strokes you get. The course rating as I understand it is how scratch golfers would fare on the course. So the lower that value is the easier the course is.


A slope rating of 113 is the measuring stick. That's sort of the base line. So anything higher than that (and most are) will mean you get a hint of more strokes when you play those courses versus courses with slopes under 113. So if you're visiting a course that has a slope of 145 and a course rating of 74.5, be ready for a tough course and make sure you play the correct tee box for your handicap!!!

TomS. the main thing the course rating and slope numbers are used for, has to do with handicap ratings. Since every golf course is different, the USGA needs a way to equate one par 72 course to the next. As Scott stated, a par 72 course with a course rating of 70, will be an easier course to play than a par 72 with a rating of say 74. Same for the slope numbers. Average is 113. so any slope higher than 113 means the course will play a bit harder. The USGA uses these numbers wheh they figure out handicaps. If you happend to play on a par 72 course with a course rating of 70 and a slope of 110, that's figured into your handicap. This is how the USGA can figure out a handicap based on PAR, course rating, and slope combined. It's the best way to EQUALIZE different courses. If you play on a wide open course with no trees along the fairway,s and wide fairways, and hugh greens, you would expect to score better than if you are playing on a tree lined course, with narrow fairway, and small highly sloping greens. By using the course rating and slope numbers, all courses can be compared fairly.

I don't know what the actual rating of the course is at the country club but it can't be very high. There are very few slopes or hazards and the fairways are nice and wide and only a few trees on the outskirts.

May have a chance to play the Yale University Course next thursday (after practice day at the Open). 6749 yds, par 70, 72.9 rating, 132 slope. I have seen the course but never played it (private for yalies and such)although I did go there to caddy a few times in high school but could not get a bag so I gave up.
Course is supposed to be quite difficult.

That was pretty good Don. I never really seen or heard it put in such an easy way to understand. The thing that I always have trouble with is going to a course that is rated as an average course like one I am thinking about is par 72 rated 73 I think the slope is 118 or 120 but it is not an easy course the fairways are narrow on at least 8 of the holes it has a par three that has no fairway it is all over water. The wind can be strong at times. The greens are easy but the par fours are long. Anyway I don't think they take things like wind into account. And is there a requirement to have a course rerated after renovations are done or after a period of time because of natures own way of changing things?

Well, I think if a course makes major changes, then it will get re-rated. But just the natural changes of time, I doubt you'll see much difference in the ratings.

Most of the courses around me in NC are usually ratings of 127 and up with a course ratings in the 73-74 range.

Ballchaser; Look on the score card for a course rating and slope number, as most score cards have them printed on there. If not, ask someone in the club house for the numbers.

Thanks Lost, glad my post was of some use to you. I'd have to think the ratings would have to be updated if a course had some major changes to the layout. Would make sense to do so. While it may not show up in the course rating and slope numbers, the time of year you play can have a big impact on how hard or easy the course plays. Same for the length of the rough.

As does the tee box you play at the same course.

You can look up course ratings on the USGA web site as well.
Interestingly, they did change the ratings on one of the courses we play regularly, I always thought it was a little low. When they reversed the nines, they took the opportunity to update everything. I suspect the USGA has a rule about getting info verified if you make a significant change to the course.
The other funny thing is that a course can play harder or easier for you depending on your specific skill set. I've played courses with higher ratings that I've found easier than one with a lower rating. Example, one course is short in length but has a bunch of sand traps...so if you hit accurately, it's pretty easy. If you are awful out of the traps, its much harder! A course that is rated higher (more difficult) because of length does not affect me as much.

I also have to wonder how they come up with which holes play the hardest on each side, front nine and back nine. I'm thinking the number 1 hardest hole on the front, might not be the same from the red tees as it is from the back tees. One thing I've notices a lot is that the par 3 holes almost always are rated as the easier holes. But most of the best golfers on tour, play the par 3 worse than they play the par 5's and par 4's. Last I saw, Tiger is like 90 over on tour for the par 3's, and way under for the par 4, and par 5's. So if the greatest player on tour can't shoot under par for the par 3's, shouldn't the par 3's be rated higher than they are?

Don, I agree, many times after playing a course a lot, I could easily how I would change the hole handicaps around based on my experience. But for Par 3's being the easiest, that is probably the norm, but I've played coruses at MB where they're in the middle of the pack like 7-11 for some of them and so it's not always the case but usually it is, I guess in part due to the length. But you get a few of those 160 yard island green holes, I bet they're not #16...

Usually the rating of the holes is different for the forward tees than the others. On one hole at the course we play regularly, there is a long-ish hole which is par 4 for men but par 5 for women. So it is not as difficult for me.

On our course we have two back Tees for men, and two front
Tees for women. The par remains the same, the CR and
Slope changes. Play from the Tee according to your Hcp.

For example:
1st hole, par 5
Mens
White Tee - 526 Yards CR 72.8 Slope 130
Yellow Tees - 519 Yards CR 71.5 Slope 127

Womens
Black Tee - 466 Yards CR 74.3 Slope 128
Red Tees - 461 Yards CR 73.1 Slope 127

So what is the course rating and slope number for the easiest course available. I think those are probably the numbers I need to be looking for. I hit mainly on the driving course and have played a couple 9 hole courses but I'm pretty much a beginner.

Jan, for slope, look for numbers like 113-120. I don't know that there are many courses below 113 but there are probably some. I'd say an average course is in that 120-125 range. For Course rating, higher is harder. So something 67-70 will be easy to moderate.

You just don't want to start at a 137/74 type course. Might not have as much fun there.

Jan; I'd just recommend you ask someone about a course that is WIDE OPEN, with no trees or very few trees down the side of the fairways. Wide open fairways will make it much easier for you to stay out of the woods, and make the second and third shots much easier. Some courses also have a lot of water you need to avoid. Best way to avoid the water, is to play a course without a lot of water. Most expereinced golfer will know of a few courses that are easy to play. Ask around and play the easy course to start witn.