Course Rating
Kevin O'Connor, USGA Director of Handicapping, instructs volunteers on the proper methods of rating and slope rating golf courses under the USGA handicapping system.
The North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association has been certified by the USGA to perform obstacle and slope rating of golf courses in accordance with the USGA handicap system. From time to time, the NCPGA conducts training seminars to certify volunteer course raters. NCPGA Course rating teams have rated nearly 35 golf courses in Central Pennsylvania. Since the handicaps of the players at a course are a function of the course rating that course possesses it is important to have your course rated on a regular basis. The USGA requires courses to be rated a minimum of every ten years in order for the course to use the previously provided USGA course rating. Rating teams are typically comprised of four to eight members depending on the number of tee sets that require rating. Course ratings are usually scheduled sometime during the week, or at other low traffic times to avoid possible conflicts with players. When the rating is completed an NCPGA committee reviews the rating to ensure the quality and accuracy of the rating. The NCPGA then provides the club with official documentation of the course rating and slope rating calculated.
Before a course can be rated, the club must:
- Acquire the Official USGA Course Rating Form O by sending a request to ncpga2@uplink.net.
- Send completed form to:
- Establish a time to be rated with the NCPGA
- Make members aware of the presence of the rating team;
and arrange the course in the standard fashion (Do not set
up the course in an abnormally difficult fashion)
Joe Faust
545 Larch Road
Sunbury, PA 17801
Slope Rating Policy
NCPGA Member Clubs- Laser measure course from three (3) sets of tees
- Slope three (3) sets of tees for men and women
- Fee $500 (Club pays $200 and NCPGA pays $300)
- Each additional set of tees $50 paid by the Club
- Laser measure course from three (3) sets of tees
- Slope three (3) sets of tees for men and women
- Fee $500 (Club pays total fee)
- Each additional set of tees $50 paid by the Club
- Provide riding carts for rating team
- Provide workspace for discussion and calculation of information
- Provide lunch for team members
- Provide tee times for team members to do final player evaluation