What Is a Course Rating?
Annually, the Louisiana Golf Association (LGA) provides USGA Course Rating System services to between 10 and 15 golf courses in Louisiana. On average, this equates to providing a revised USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating for 50 to 75 tees or tee combinations each year.
This work is completed with the tireless help of our 12 course rating volunteers across the state, alongside Director of Member Services Kyle Nagdeman. While these statistics provide a broad overview of the work, raters hear one question at almost every rating: “What are you doing out here?” That question is commonly followed by the statement, “Make sure to make our rating higher—this course is way too hard.”
Contrary to some golfers’ theories, the USGA Course Rating System does not evaluate a course the way golf publications rank the top courses in the country or world. Instead, it evaluates a course based on 13 factors that influence playability for a scratch golfer (0.0 handicap) and a bogey golfer (20.0 for men; 24.0 for women):
• Roll
• Elevation (Tee to Green)
• Dogleg Yardage Adjustments
• Lay-Up Yardage Adjustments
• Topography (stance/lie in the fairway, plus how elevation affects approach shots)
• Fairway (width)
• Green Target (approach shot difficulty based on green dimensions)
• Rough & Recoverability (ease or difficulty of recovering from off the fairway or near the green)
• Bunkers (prevalence and difficulty of recovery)
• Crossing Obstacles (penalty areas, extreme rough, or out-of-bounds crossed during play)
• Lateral Obstacles (penalty areas, extreme rough, or out-of-bounds alongside play)
• Trees (presence, density, and recoverability)
• Green Surface (green speed and contour)
Each factor is evaluated during an on-course rating and assigned a numerical value. These values are calculated together to produce the final Course Rating and Slope Rating.
Having an accurate Course Rating and Slope Rating affects a golfer’s Handicap Index in two key ways:
1. Course Handicap Calculation: Golfers use these numbers to calculate their Course Handicap for a specific set of tees, indicating how many strokes they receive to shoot even par (net).
2. Score Differential Calculation: These values are used to calculate the Score Differential for every round posted.
An accurate rating translates to a more reliable Handicap Index, whether a golfer plays the same course every day or visits a new course every time.
If this process piques your interest, the LGA is always looking for new rating volunteers. Volunteer Opportunities - Louisiana Golf Association You do not need to be an expert player—though a basic knowledge of golf helps. All course ratings are conducted during the week, and volunteers are not required to attend every session to stay on the team. Raters receive lunch after data collection and get to play the course afterward as part of the evaluation process. Click here: WHS Course Rating 101 - Beginner Education - For National Association Use Only - YouTube to watch a beginners series on Course Rating!
About the Louisiana Golf Association
The Louisiana Golf Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and growing the game of golf across Louisiana. Founded in 1920, the LGA conducts state championships, provides USGA Handicap Index® services, and supports players of all ages through initiatives like the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour.
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