D-S
Well-known member
I am in no way saying that other factors beyond length are given enough weightings in the calculation but I will always point out that these factors are carefully measured and considered then all the data is put into the ‘system’ which spits out the number. The issue that people should be with the programme not how and by whom the ratings are done.
I would like to make one point when considering this marginal change shown by other factors other than length:-
When rating courses, it is surprising that, although people have vastly differing views of difficulty and aesthetic considerations of courses, many of the the basic characteristics of the majority of courses in this County are incredibly similar.
It is to be noted that we don’t have any links or many Heathland courses and the vast majority could be described as Parkland.
When you actually look at them objectively, measuring landing zones, width of fairway, length of first cut, depth of bunkers, size of greens, amount extreme rough/dense trees/OB etc. etc. they are all surprisingly similar.
There are very few totally flat courses but in general length that is gained by going down hills or from elevated tees is balanced by going up hills as the start and end point of courses is the same.
Most fairways are around 28 yards wide, greens are normally 25-30 yards long by around 20 yards wide, there are very few courses with a large proportion of severely sloping greens (most have maybe 1 or two) and a few moderately sloping with the majority relatively flat. Bunkers mainly tend to be around 3-5 feet in depth. Green speed are normally always between 7.5 and 10 on average.
Extreme Rough/OB is rarely less than 10 yards from fairway edge etc. etc.
There are few outliers but even courses like Cleeve and Painswick fit a lot of these characteristics despite seemingly feeling like totally exceptional places to play golf. Courses are rated between May and September so issues like being a total bog in winter (and qualifying golf still being played) or draining exceptionally well in winter with still fastish running fairways are not taken into account nor are other aspects of winter golf such as green speed.
So this may well be another reason for length forming the overwhelming basis for CR. I would be interested to know whether the variance is similar for BR.
I would like to make one point when considering this marginal change shown by other factors other than length:-
When rating courses, it is surprising that, although people have vastly differing views of difficulty and aesthetic considerations of courses, many of the the basic characteristics of the majority of courses in this County are incredibly similar.
It is to be noted that we don’t have any links or many Heathland courses and the vast majority could be described as Parkland.
When you actually look at them objectively, measuring landing zones, width of fairway, length of first cut, depth of bunkers, size of greens, amount extreme rough/dense trees/OB etc. etc. they are all surprisingly similar.
There are very few totally flat courses but in general length that is gained by going down hills or from elevated tees is balanced by going up hills as the start and end point of courses is the same.
Most fairways are around 28 yards wide, greens are normally 25-30 yards long by around 20 yards wide, there are very few courses with a large proportion of severely sloping greens (most have maybe 1 or two) and a few moderately sloping with the majority relatively flat. Bunkers mainly tend to be around 3-5 feet in depth. Green speed are normally always between 7.5 and 10 on average.
Extreme Rough/OB is rarely less than 10 yards from fairway edge etc. etc.
There are few outliers but even courses like Cleeve and Painswick fit a lot of these characteristics despite seemingly feeling like totally exceptional places to play golf. Courses are rated between May and September so issues like being a total bog in winter (and qualifying golf still being played) or draining exceptionally well in winter with still fastish running fairways are not taken into account nor are other aspects of winter golf such as green speed.
So this may well be another reason for length forming the overwhelming basis for CR. I would be interested to know whether the variance is similar for BR.
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