Rating & Handicapping

Course Ratings, first used in the 18th century, were generally based on the scores of the best local amateur golfer.  Over the years numerous systems were used to determine a course rating, however, many golfers complained that a player who had a handicap based on play on a difficult course always had an advantage over an opponent from a less difficult course.

The USGA, under the leadership of Dean Knuth, following several years of field trials and the analysis of a large body of statistical data adopted a new system in the late 1980s. The "Slope" Handicap system involves the measurement of a number of factors (length, topography, fairway width, trees, hazards, green size and speed, approach shot, psychological difficulty etc.) by a trained team. Each factor is assigned a value based on the hypothetical performance of a scratch player and an 18-22 handicap player and then applied mathematically to produce a "Course Rating" and a "Slope Rating".

The Course Rating is a decimal number i.e. 72.4, 65.9 etc. and is representative of the degree of difficulty for the low handicap player. The Slope Rating is a whole number i.e. 119, 134 etc. and indicates the degree of difficulty for the high handicap player. The "nominal" Course Slope Rating based on the data collected from all rated courses is 113. The RCGA uses the Slope System under an agreement with the USGA. The majority of Canadian courses were rated using the Slope System by 1993.

The OVGA active season when scores must be posted for handicap purposes is:
15 April - 31 October.

Scores made in an area having an active season i.e. Florida in December shall be posted at the player's club as soon as practical.

EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL
1.The game of golf is based on the premise that a golfer will play as well as he can. Under the RCGA Handicap System, the player is required to record a hole score for a hole not finished, not played, or not played under the Rules of Golf, and to adjust any hole score when it is higher than the maximum number allowed under Equitable Stroke Control.

SCORES TO  POST
If 13 or more holes are played in accordance with the principles of the Rules of Golf,  the player shall post an 18 hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player shall post a 9 hole score. The score for  unplayed holes shall be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes.

HANDICAP
1.Compute the "Handicap Factor" - 96% of the lowest ten of the last 20 score differentials ((score minus Course Rating) times 113)) divided by the Slope Rating. The resulting number is NOT rounded off to the nearest tenth.

 2. Compute the "Course Handicap" - ((Handicap Factor times Slope Rating) divided by 113). The resulting number is rounded off(.5 or more is rounded upward).  This is usually accomplished employing a handicap computer or handicap table.

A player therefore has a unique Handicap Factor based on play on the home course which can be taken to another course, and applied to a handicap table to determine the Handicap to be used for play on that course.