Should courses be rated?

[louise_a]

This has probably been discussed before, and does the American handicap system bear the ease of course in mind?

I played at Gatley today, its a little 9 holes course, I did enjoy it and there are some interesting holes, but I did find it relatively easy. It may be that it suited my game but there was not much of water hazards, most shots were either a wood or a short iron and I honestly think that if I was a member I would be playing of 12 or less.

It seems to me that someone who was a member there would struggle when playing more difficult courses. If courses were rated then handicaps could be adjusted to reflect the difficulty of the course compared to the home course.

 

[pbrown7582]

Don't we already have our own system?

SSS?

 

[Imurg]

Don't we already have our own system?

SSS?

We do but the main criteria for establishing SSS is length.
Longer, open courses are not always harder than a shorter, tighter course and vice versa.
A Par 72, SSS 73 course may not necessarily play 3 shots harder than a Par 72 SSS 70

 

[garyinderry]

long courses really bare their teeth when it gets windy. short courses aren't really as hard imo !

 

[duncan mackie]

If courses were rated then handicaps could be adjusted to reflect the difficulty of the course compared to the home course.

1. they are
2. depending on when the Ladies Tees were last rated will depend on whether the CONGU or USGA rating system was used (there's not much between them to be honest, unless a course has a lot of hazards)
3. so what was the relationship between the par and SSS?

In practice you simply can't make relative comparisons between all courses; it's not possible. Put in a 200yd carry and you will have people that just can't make it, the end - no amount of rating adjustments will resolve. Players who can't carry X who go to play a course that requires such a carry will struggle/fail/not enjoy the experience. I pick carry because it's a simple metric. Lush rough created huge problems for a large number of players at every standard last year, fast sloping greens and pot bunkers dotted around the place can also make life a misery for some - whilst making no noticable difference to others at all.

Horses (players) for courses.

 

[sev112]

Try getting cut on my course where SSS is 3 to 4 under par ! Purelyntomget into buffer
Impossible.
we are a short but extremely tight and VERY hilly course which is very exposed to the wind.
Yes we have more Par 3s than most, but there is very little margin for error on Par 3s, especially when you HAVE to hit Gross birdie on it.
I can take my handicap to most much longer courses, I think because my game relies on accuracy off the tee and a good short game
We hold Berks &Bucks pro comps here, and it's great watching the pros struggling to hit par on "a short course"

Personally I like Slope rating

 

[louise_a]

The course I played today from the Reds was Par 69 SSS 70 only 5055yds in length, no obstacles except a 10 foot ditch across one fairway and few fairway bunkers most holes were pretty straight and all but one are flat. There are also 4 par 4s of less than 260yds

My own course is Par 72 SSS 72, 5405 yds, we have water hazards on most holes, with a ditch about 30 yds wide with rough on the banks that crosses 7 of the fairways, several strategically placed fairway bunkers, the shortest par 4 is 311 yds

The degree of difficulty between the 2 is immense, it just seems illogical.

 

[garyinderry]

Try getting cut on my course where SSS is 3 to 4 under par ! Purelyntomget into buffer
Impossible.
we are a short but extremely tight and VERY hilly course which is very exposed to the wind.
Yes we have more Par 3s than most, but there is very little margin for error on Par 3s, especially when you HAVE to hit Gross birdie on it.
I can take my handicap to most much longer courses, I think because my game relies on accuracy off the tee and a good short game
We hold Berks &Bucks pro comps here, and it's great watching the pros struggling to hit par on "a short course"

Personally I like Slope rating

it would melt my brain playing a course with that kind of SSS !