Three important numbers every golfer should know before they hit the first tee at a course they have never played, is Course Rating, Slope and length. These three numbers provide a ton of information about a course and can help the average golfer enjoy the game even more. Accurate course ratings require hundreds of accumulated rounds. Thus, the course rating for newly renovated, or opened courses may not be as helpful as mature courses on which the USGA has had thousands of rounds to factor in seasonality, and experience over time. As golfers have become more aware of ‘teeing it forward,’ understanding course rating, slope and distance have become important factors in determining which is the correct tee for them. What is Course Rating and How is it Determined? What is Course Rating? When you look at a scorecard of a Par 72 golf course the rating may be lower, or higher than the posted par. Course rating is a number, plus, or minus normal par, that a low handicap golfer would be expected to shoot for 18 holes. A Par 72 golf course with a course rating of 73.5 is a difficult course and a gentle warning to the average golfer to choose a more forward tee than he might normally use. Conversely a 68.5 rating on a Par 72 course would alert the golfer that the course is not quite as difficult, relative to par, and thus he may want to move back one tee box.
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