Measuring the course and slopes

[jim8flog]

If you are or have been a course rater or responsible for the measurements on holes.

How do you measure a hole which has uphill or down hill slopes?

Do raters still use wheels?

If using a laser do you use one which has a slope feature or one without and what should be used?

Is a GPS unit good enough?

 

[D-S]

We have tried altimeters but they proved not to be very good. We use lasers with slope but mainly Google maps or Google Earth beforehand. This is to assess total elevation on a hole, obviously length and roll spends not only on elevation from the spot where the shot is taken from to landing zone but also on degree of slope at landing area.

 

[jim8flog]

We have tried altimeters but they proved not to be very good. We use lasers with slope but mainly Google maps or Google Earth beforehand. This is to assess total elevation on a hole, obviously length and roll spends not only on elevation from the spot where the shot is taken from to landing zone but also on degree of slope at landing area.

Thanks

I was mainly asking for what goes on the card. We are putting in new fixed distance markers but will probably move locations of teeing areas to allow for non gender specific tees before new cards are ordered. A few tees have been renovated and the old FDMs have been removed.

 

[D-S]

Thanks

I was mainly asking for what goes on the card. We are putting in new fixed distance markers but will probably move locations of teeing areas to allow for non gender specific tees before new cards are ordered. A few tees have been renovated and the old FDMs have been removed.

If you are putting in new tees, or require new measures, you will need to get the course officially measured by either Eagle or Clear Golf (not sure if there are other accredited bodies out there). Before the rating of these tees can take place you will need to submit a measurement certificate from an official body to the rating team. Whilst they are doing the new tees it’s a good idea to get the existing tees re measured as they have changed where some of doglegs occur.
These bodies use lasers but a bit better ones than golfers use.

 

[rulefan]

Thanks

I was mainly asking for what goes on the card. We are putting in new fixed distance markers but will probably move locations of teeing areas to allow for non gender specific tees before new cards are ordered. A few tees have been renovated and the old FDMs have been removed.

FDMs are usually measured along the ground but they are not part of the rating procedure nor on the Certified Course Measurement Certificate.
Each hole is measured horizontally (air line) to the nearest yard using surveying instruments from the permanent marker for every tee to the centre of the green.

 

[KenL]

We have tried altimeters but they proved not to be very good. We use lasers with slope but mainly Google maps or Google Earth beforehand. This is to assess total elevation on a hole, obviously length and roll spends not only on elevation from the spot where the shot is taken from to landing zone but also on degree of slope at landing area.

So are distances the horizontal distance, not the longer distance you would have to walk up or down hill?
Thanks

 

[D-S]

So are distances the horizontal distance, not the longer distance you would have to walk up or down hill?
Thanks

We measure the distance, from the tee for example, with a laser so that would be up or down hill. I guess if we used a wheel for on a hole example where you hit off a raised tee over a valley that went down a hill then up again it would not represent the flight of a ball.

 

[rulefan]

(not sure if there are other accredited bodies out there).

A very reputable company in the north of England - K&M Golf. kandmgolf.co.uk

 

[rulefan]

So are distances the horizontal distance, not the longer distance you would have to walk up or down hill?
Thanks

The Rating table makes a positive or negative adjustment for uphill or downhill shots - in effect it alters the playing length

 

[Voyager EMH]

So are distances the horizontal distance, not the longer distance you would have to walk up or down hill?
Thanks

You just need some 6ft poles and a theodolite for that.

 

[rulefan]

You just need some 6ft poles and a theodolite for that.

Not quite but sort of.

The details are in the Rating manual