Course re-assessment

[louise_a]

We have our course re-assessed, all our ratings have dropped, I believe my handicap will rise quite a bit going forward. previously if I went round in 82 (10 over) I would get 8.7, in future it will give 10.4 Quite a jump an wil take me out of single figures

This will also mean our ratings are considerably less than a local course which in my mind is far easier

 

[wjemather]

They are a number of things that could cause such a big difference between ratings, including: course changes, updated measurements that are significantly different from the old ones, and raters accounting for daily tee placements being ahead of the measured distance markers. If the latter, I'd expect similar to happen for many courses.

 

[IanM]

I got a shot more at Royal North Devon than I did at Saunton East.... I know there's a technical reason, but that doesn't make it "feel right."

 

[KenL]

That's a big change.

Was there a similar change for all the tees and for gents & ladies?

 

[louise_a]

That's a big change.

Was there a similar change for all the tees and for gents & ladies?

yes all sets are reduced, we were probably assessed 4 years ago and it seems a very big change to me as the course layout hasnt changed

 

[Crow]

It's the impact of modern equipment.

 

[KenL]

It's the impact of modern equipment.

In 4 years. Don't think so.

 

[wjemather]

It's the impact of modern equipment.

The distance benchmarks used in the Course and Slope Rating System have not changed.

 

[Crow]

The distance benchmarks used in the Course and Slope Rating System have not changed.

I'm sure that you're correct but they didn't properly take into account the impact of modern equipment when they were set either.

 

[rulefan]

I'm sure that you're correct but they didn't properly take into account the impact of modern equipment when they were set either.

Neither the old nor the new have anything to do with modern equipment

 

[rulefan]

They are a number of things that could cause such a big difference between ratings, including: course changes, updated measurements that are significantly different from the old ones, and raters accounting for daily tee placements being ahead of the measured distance markers. If the latter, I'd expect similar to happen for many courses.

Raters work from the fixed measured course blocks. The raters ignore the day's tees. Further, the hole length measurement certificate uses the fixed blocks unless they are not 4 yards in front of where there is no interference to stance or stroke.

It may be that the club had not got an up to date CM certificate first time or the course was given a temporary rating, although 4 years is an unusually long time.

 

[Crow]

Neither the old nor the new have anything to do with modern equipment

Which is why there are so many plus handicaps these days.

 

[wjemather]

Raters work from the fixed measured course blocks. The raters ignore the day's tees. Further, the hole length measurement certificate uses the fixed blocks unless they are not 4 yards in front of where there is no interference to stance or stroke.

It may be that the club had not got an up to date CM certificate first time or the course was given a temporary rating, although 4 years is an unusually long time.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear there - I wasn't referring to the tee placement on the day(s) of rating, but that historically many courses have been measured from distance markers at the very back of teeing areas and yardage has not always reduced accordingly during rating (especially for provisional ratings) - additionally, some courses were previously rated on measurements that were not particularly accurate.

Of course, COVID has put a dent in county rating programmes - our re-rating was due last year but is now provisionally scheduled for next.

 

[louise_a]

Raters work from the fixed measured course blocks. The raters ignore the day's tees. Further, the hole length measurement certificate uses the fixed blocks unless they are not 4 yards in front of where there is no interference to stance or stroke.

It may be that the club had not got an up to date CM certificate first time or the course was given a temporary rating, although 4 years is an unusually long time.

When it was assessed the previous time, we had the coursed measured too, definitely not a temporary rating either, it was done for WHS.

both the CR and slope have both been reduced for the red, white and yellow tees

 

[D-S]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear there - I wasn't referring to the tee placement on the day(s) of rating, but that historically many courses have been measured from distance markers at the very back of teeing areas and yardage has not always reduced accordingly during rating (especially for provisional ratings) - additionally, some courses were previously rated on measurements that were not particularly accurate.

Of course, COVID has put a dent in county rating programmes - our re-rating was due last year but is now provisionally scheduled for next.

I’m surprised that ratings would be done on ‘not particularly accurate’ measurements. We always insisted on certificated measurements prior to rating a course. This saved a lot of time as soon as as you start the process and you find out that the measurements are wrong the whole process is pointless.

 

[rulefan]

When it was assessed the previous time, we had the coursed measured too, definitely not a temporary rating either, it was done for WHS.

both the CR and slope have both been reduced for the red, white and yellow tees

Sounds odd. Perhaps a call to the County Sec or EG?

 

[wjemather]

I’m surprised that ratings would be done on ‘not particularly accurate’ measurements. We always insisted on certificated measurements prior to rating a course. This saved a lot of time as soon as as you start the process and you find out that the measurements are wrong the whole process is pointless.

Technology and methodology has much improved.

 

[KenL]

Which is why there are so many plus handicaps these days.

No, that's WHS.