Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Slope Rating measures a golf course’s relative difficulty for a bogey player compared with a scratch player. A higher Slope Rating indicates that scores are expected to deteriorate more as playing ability decreases; 113 represents standard relative difficulty.
How it matters in match play
Slope Rating does not decide a hole or match result itself. It helps convert each player’s Handicap Index into a Course Handicap for the tees being played, after which the agreed match-play handicap allowance is applied. In singles match play, compare the resulting Playing Handicaps and normally give the difference from the lower Playing Handicap; confirm the competition’s Terms of the Competition.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Slope Rating |
| Category | handicap |
| Applicable rule | WHS Rules of Handicapping, Rule 6.1; Appendix G |
| Related concepts | Course Rating, Handicap Index, Course Handicap, Playing Handicap, Score Differential |
Worked example
Illustratively, if Alex has a Handicap Index of 18.0 and plays tees rated Course Rating 72.1, Slope Rating 130 and par 72, his Course Handicap is 18.0 × (130 ÷ 113) + (72.1 − 72) = 20.81, rounded to 21; the match allowance is then applied separately.
Rule reference: WHS Rules of Handicapping, Rule 6.1; Appendix G
Sources: www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org , golf.com.au
Common questions
What does a Slope Rating of 113 mean?
113 is the standard relative difficulty value. It does not mean the course is easy, nor does it equal the course’s par or Course Rating; it is the baseline used when scaling a Handicap Index for the relative challenge faced by non-scratch players.
Is a higher Slope Rating a harder course?
It indicates a larger relative difference between the expected performance of bogey and scratch players. It is not, by itself, a complete measure of overall difficulty: Course Rating describes expected scratch-player scoring, while Slope Rating describes how difficulty changes with playing ability.
How does Slope Rating affect match-play strokes?
It can change each player’s Course Handicap for the tees played. The resulting Playing Handicaps are then used under the competition’s handicap method; for ordinary singles match play, the lower Playing Handicap is normally set to zero and the difference is given to the other player.
Is Slope Rating the same as Course Rating?
No. Course Rating is the expected score for a scratch player under normal conditions, expressed in strokes to one decimal point. Slope Rating expresses the relative challenge for a bogey player compared with a scratch player, with 113 as the standard baseline.
Who determines a course’s Slope Rating?
The relevant Authorized Association determines and issues Course Ratings and Slope Ratings for courses in its jurisdiction. A club should display the current ratings for each set of tees so players can convert their Handicap Index correctly.
Does Slope Rating apply directly to a player’s Handicap Index?
No. The Handicap Index is converted to a Course Handicap using Slope Rating, Course Rating and par. The unrounded Course Handicap is then used to calculate Playing Handicap under the applicable handicap allowance and rounding rules.