Course and slope rating - anybody know the easier and harder courses in the UK?

[Sports_Fanatic]

I'm guessing there is probably a website but interest to know which courses they've played or in their area they would consider the easier and harder courses and whether the ratings tie up of yellow and whites?

Quite intrigued that WHS may mean from a low to mid teen handicap I could get two shots on a hole or two at a difficult course and yet play to single figures maybe at an easy course. Will really change the mindset i expect when you tee off as you probably just think of normal handicap when playing now. I know SSS is always there but I've got to admit it's rare i check that or align expectations to it at the start.

 

[Deleted member 21258]

When I look before, the lowest one I could find that I had played was Painswick Golf Club, off yellow slope rating was 105 and 110 whites.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Highest i believe is Hoylake - 152

 

[jim8flog]

I do not know about across the country.

Our 9 hole is 109 if you are only playing 9 off the yellow tees.

 

[Sports_Fanatic]

Highest i believe is Hoylake - 152

I'd gain 7 shots (10 more than current handicap) moving back from yellows to championship tees there for a course playing 779 yards longer. If clubs let you, i wonder whether you'd make a strategic decision to play it harder - I guess some though carries but likewise i'd have an extra shot to play with on a number of par 4s which you'd potentially be hitting in with a short iron for 3rd rather than mid-long iron for 2nd.

 

[KenL]

In Scotland I saw a list that showed Southerness as the hardest. It is certainly the hardest (& one of the best) I have played. Harder than Carnoustie where it is the end that makes it so hard.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

In Scotland I saw a list that showed Southerness as the hardest. It is certainly the hardest (& one of the best) I have played. Harder than Carnoustie where it is the end that makes it so hard.

I have seen the slope listed at 131 off the white and 133 blue.

However my 4.7 index would see me playing off 9 at Southerness according to the calculator so now confused.

I agree that it is one tough course but no more difficult than my own so I can't see why I would get a few extra shots?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Ellesborough is 135 off the yellows, 138 off the whites ?

 

[Deleted member 3432]

The slope is not a simple measure of the difficulty.

Ok I'm with you up to here. Using the Southerness example above and compare to my course Silloth on Solway.

If we use Silloth blue tees and Southerness white tees since the yardages are with 50 yards and the course rating is identical at 72.6.

Silloth slope is 136 and Southerness slope is 131. I would be playing off 6 at Silloth and 9 at Southerness

 

[IanM]

...you've forgotten about the 50 pages of algorithms! That's why

 

[Deleted member 3432]

...you've forgotten about the 50 pages of algorithms! That's why

Very true, and cocked up on page 1 more than likely

 

[Gowferdee]

i saw a tweet saying Carnoustie is the toughest in scotland

 

[IanM]

Although not UK, but I played Ko'Olau in Hawaii in 2000. It had the highest slope in America at that time. Showing online now as slope of 153. It was nutty-tough, especially with rented clubs! What is highest in UK?

I can sleep at night thinking that "as near as dam it" slope index is indicative of difficulty..... in the same way as when dear old Phil shouted at Rolls of Monmouth on Tuesday, "has it gone in the hazard?" I just said yes... I could have (according to some) been justified in beating him to death with my putter for not saying "penalty area!"

 

[patricks148]

i saw a tweet saying Carnoustie is the toughest in scotland

i thinks Trump Aberdeen off the back is the toughest, at 77.4 and 149

 

[rulefan]

Ok I'm with you up to here. Using the Southerness example above and compare to my course Silloth on Solway.

If we use Silloth blue tees and Southerness white tees since the yardages are with 50 yards and the course rating is identical at 72.6.

Silloth slope is 136 and Southerness slope is 131. I would be playing off 6 at Silloth and 9 at Southerness

Slope Ratings indicate the “measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course and tees for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers”.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Slope Ratings indicate the “measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course and tees for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers”.

Yes, so why am I receiving 3 shots more on a course with a lower slope rating where the course rating is exactly the same?

Obviously I am not a scratch golfer.

 

[rulefan]

Yes, so why am I receiving 3 shots more on a course with a lower slope rating where the course rating is exactly the same?

Obviously I am not a scratch golfer.

For two courses with the same Course Rating but different Bogey Ratings the Slope will be different. The slope is an indication of how much more difficult it is for a non scratch player. ie the difference between CR and BR
CR is the score a scratch player would get. BR is the score a 20-24 capper would score.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

For two courses with the same Course Rating but different Bogey Ratings the Slope will be different. The slope is an indication of how much more difficult it is for a non scratch player. ie the difference between CR and BR
CR is the score a scratch player would get. BR is the score a 20-24 capper would score.

Again the bogey rating is slightly higher at Silloth.

I understand what you are saying but the the course handicap calculator keeps saying I would get an extra 3 shots. It makes absolutely no sense.

 

[IanM]

It makes absolutely no sense.

indeed it doesn’t. The explanation might be factually correct, but didnt address the anomaly.

Looking forward to some really daft scores winning stuff next season... it may sort itself out, but I fear for Handicap comps for the immediate term.

 

[doublebogey7]

Again the bogey rating is slightly higher at Silloth.

I understand what you are saying but the the course handicap calculator keeps saying I would get an extra 3 shots. It makes absolutely no sense.

Where did you find the course handicap calculator?