What is Course Rating in Golf? How It Affects Your Handicap
Course rating is the expected score a scratch golfer would shoot on a golf course under normal conditions, expressed as a decimal like 72.3.
Course rating is the expected score a scratch golfer (0 handicap) would shoot on a golf course under normal conditions, expressed to one decimal place like 72.3.
How Course Rating Works
Course rating is determined by trained USGA raters who evaluate a course based on factors like length, obstacles, topography, and playing conditions. Unlike par, which is based primarily on hole length, course rating considers all factors that affect scoring difficulty.
Course Rating vs Par
| Aspect | Par | Course Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Hole length | All difficulty factors |
| Format | Whole number | Decimal (e.g., 72.3) |
| Purpose | Ideal score per hole | Expected scratch golfer score |
| Variation | Same for similar lengths | Varies by difficulty |
A course can have a par of 72 but a course rating of 74.2 if it plays particularly difficult, or a course rating of 70.1 if it's shorter or more forgiving.
Why Course Rating Matters
Course rating is essential for calculating score differentials:
Score Differential = (113 / Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating)
A higher course rating means your score differential will be lower (better) for the same gross score, fairly accounting for the course's difficulty.
Related Resources
- Golf Handicap Calculator - Calculate using course rating
- How to Calculate Golf Handicap - Understanding the formulas
- Understanding Slope Rating - Course rating's companion metric