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When a golf course is rated by the NYSGA, our rating team determines the effective playing length for each set of tees

The rating team evaluates how these factors impact two model players:

The Scratch Golfer

Handicap Index: 0.0

The Bogey Golfer

Handicap Index: (Men) 20, (Women) 24

Based on weightings and formulas that reflect the impact of each course feature, three ratings are calculated from the data collected: 

Course Rating™ - an indication of course difficulty for the scratch player under normal conditions

Bogey Rating™ - an indication of course difficulty for the bogey player under normal conditions

Slope Rating™ - Determined by comparing Course Rating and Bogey Rating. Represents the relative course difficulty for non-scratch versus scratch players

The larger the difference is between the Course Rating and the Bogey Rating, the higher the Slope Rating will be.

The Course Rating and Slope Rating allows you, and any other player with a Handicap Index, to get the strokes you need to have a fair game. For low-handicap players, their scores do not increase much when faced with obstacles that can impact wayward shots. For higher-handicap players, these obstacles can lead to much higher scores – and that’s where Slope Rating comes into play.

Learn more Rules of Handicapping concepts at our WHS Hub