Course rating is the score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot from a set of tees, like 71.3.
Slope rating measures how much harder the course plays for an average golfer than for a scratch golfer. It runs from 55 to 155, and 113 is standard.
Course rating: the expert's par
Par tells you how many strokes a hole is designed to take. Course rating tells you what a scratch golfer, someone with a 0 handicap, would really shoot from those tees in normal conditions. A par-72 course might be rated 69.6 from the forward tees and 72.2 from the back.
Slope: how hard it is for the rest of us
Two courses can have the same course rating but play very differently for an average golfer. Long carries over water, thick rough, and fast greens hurt a 20-handicapper far more than a scratch player. Slope captures that extra difficulty.
- Below 113: easier than average for most golfers.
- Around 113: standard difficulty.
- Above 130: a tough test. The hardest courses approach 155.
A real example
Here are three sets of tees at Delray Beach Golf Club, par 72 from each:
| Tees | Yards | Course rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,907 | 72.2 | 119 |
| Blue | 6,380 | 69.6 | 111 |
| Green | 5,788 | 67.0 | 110 |
A 90 from the Gold tees is a better round than a 90 from the Green tees, and the ratings are how a handicap gives you credit for that.
Why they matter for your handicap
Every round's differential uses both numbers:
They also decide how many strokes you get on a given day:
So the same golfer gets more strokes on a high-slope course and fewer on an easy one. That's what lets golfers of different abilities play fair matches anywhere.
Where to find them
- The scorecard, usually next to each tee color.
- The pro shop or the club's website.
- Men's and women's ratings differ for the same tees, so make sure you use the right one.
Courses are re-rated at least every 10 years, and new courses within 5. If your scorecard is old, the numbers may have changed.