Official Course Measurement Points

[YandaB]

Hi course rating experts. Some of our tee boxes are quite generous, occasionally they maybe as much as 15 yards long. When the course raters measure the course, where do they do it from? Do they do it from where our "plates" are, which are always right at the back, or from 10 yards back from the front of the tee box? Doing it from the plates seems to allow for the course to be set up to be not acceptable for handicap purposes. I'd like to think that couldn't happen.

 

[nickjdavis]

Golf course yardages are taken from the permanent marker for each tee.

 

[NearHull]

Hi course rating experts. Some of our tee boxes are quite generous, occasionally they maybe as much as 15 yards long. When the course raters measure the course, where do they do it from? Do they do it from where our "plates" are, which are always right at the back, or from 10 yards back from the front of the tee box? Doing it from the plates seems to allow for the course to be set up to be not acceptable for handicap purposes. I'd like to think that couldn't happen.

Measured from the permanent markers . IIRC, There is a requirement of a minimum of 4 yards of tee area behind the permanent markers.

 

[wjemather]

Hi course rating experts. Some of our tee boxes are quite generous, occasionally they maybe as much as 15 yards long. When the course raters measure the course, where do they do it from? Do they do it from where our "plates" are, which are always right at the back, or from 10 yards back from the front of the tee box? Doing it from the plates seems to allow for the course to be set up to be not acceptable for handicap purposes. I'd like to think that couldn't happen.

Courses are measured from the permanent distance marker, allowing for a minimum of 4 yards to the back of the teeing area. This measuring is usually done by approved specialists rather than the rating team themselves.

Clubs have the responsibility to ensure that the daily course setup is within tolerance for handicapping. If necessary they should look at relocating the permanent distance markers (to a more average position), and get remeasured and rerated - probably something to think about only when re-rating is due and/or when there are planned changes to scorecards, signage, etc. so as not to duplicate costs in these areas.

The problem is this - like golfers, many clubs have a vanity issue about yardages, and do not want to see their headline numbers reduced to want to keep the markers as far back as possible regardless of daily positions.

 

[jim8flog]

We are an old course with with quite a few tees that are narrow and very long (one in particular is about 50 yards long) my understanding is that there can be due allowance when the green staff do it to protect the tee area from excessive wear in one area of the tee. From memory this was specifically mentioned in the old UHS manual.

These days a club is supposed to notify County of temporary changes but changes of less than 100 yards do not affect the course rating.

Sadly one manager and I had discussed moving the fixed markers prior to having the course rerated but due a change of managers and my coming off committee this was not done.

When the rerating was done the course measurers were supposed to have advised all clubs to move the fixed markers particularly where the fixed marker was placed at the extreme end of of the tee (done by clubs to make the club looked as if it had a longer course than actually played)

 

[YandaB]

Courses are measured from the permanent distance marker, allowing for a minimum of 4 yards to the back of the teeing area. This measuring is usually done by approved specialists rather than the rating team themselves.

Clubs have the responsibility to ensure that the daily course setup is within tolerance for handicapping. If necessary they should look at relocating the permanent distance markers (to a more average position), and get remeasured and rerated - probably something to think about only when re-rating is due and/or when there are planned changes to scorecards, signage, etc. so as not to duplicate costs in these areas.

The problem is this - like golfers, many clubs have a vanity issue about yardages, and do not want to see their headline numbers reduced to want to keep the markers as far back as possible regardless of daily positions.

Thank you. However, I am confused by the first sentence (easily done I'm afraid!). If the markers are right at the back, are you saying that the rating is done from 4 yards in front of it? That would be good for us, it would certainly allow us to be able to comply more easily.

 

[Slab]

Thank you. However, I am confused by the first sentence (easily done I'm afraid!). If the markers are right at the back, are you saying that the rating is done from 4 yards in front of it? That would be good for us, it would certainly allow us to be able to comply more easily.

Are the markers actually ‘right at the back’?

As I understand it; before the 4yard rule it was 2 yards, so some old courses might still have their plates on that measure (2 yrds) which is why I’m asking if the plates are really set at ‘0’ yards
If the plate is sited only 2 yards from the back then (as I understand it) the measuring team will deduct another 2 yards and that will be the measured hole length (whether that was done or not I've no idea)

I assume if they are really 'right at the back' then the adjustment will be 4 yards (again, assuming it was carried out)

 

[wjemather]

Thank you. However, I am confused by the first sentence (easily done I'm afraid!). If the markers are right at the back, are you saying that the rating is done from 4 yards in front of it? That would be good for us, it would certainly allow us to be able to comply more easily.

If the marker is less than 4 yards from the back, measurements and ratings are done from 4 yards from the back.

 

[wjemather]

Are the markers actually ‘right at the back’?

As I understand it; before the 4yard rule it was 2 yards, so some old courses might still have their plates on that measure (2 yrds) which is why I’m asking if the plates are really set at ‘0’ yards
If the plate is sited only 2 yards from the back then (as I understand it) the measuring team will deduct another 2 yards and that will be the measured hole length (whether that was done or not I've no idea)

I assume if they are really 'right at the back' then the adjustment will be 4 yards (again, assuming it was carried out)

In GB&I, measurements should be taken including the 4 yards, and the fact that this has been done correctly noted on the measurement certificate so that rating teams do not further adjust.