What the Crap is a Slope Rating?

We here at GolfStinks can appreciate playing a round of golf without understanding all the idiosyncrasies of the game that serious players, well, take seriously. But sometimes things that seem inconsequential to you can actually help put this crazy game into better perspective. Thus, I’ve decided to shed some insight on a golf measure that is rarely understood (or paid much attention to) by the weekend hack: The Slope Rating.

You see it on the score card and think “what’s this mean?” and “why do I care?” Well, chances are unless you keep a handicap, you won’t know what a slope rating is, nor will you care…but you should and here’s why: It’s true the slope rating factors into calculating a handicap, but if you don’t keep a handicap, it can still be useful. In most basic terms, a slope rating is there to help average hacks like you and me understand how tough a course is.

To give golfers an idea of its difficulty level, the USGA will assign a number (or rating) to each tee box on a course. The higher a rating, the tougher the challenge. The maximum slope rating handed out by the USGA is 155 (average is around 127 from the back tees). Currently, the only course to have a rating of 155 is the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. It should be noted that Ko’olau Golf Club in Hawaii (pictured) is widely considered one of the toughest courses in the world and previously carried a slope rating of 162 from its back tees – a rating not possible under USGA rules. Ko-olau’s current rating from its tips is 152.

Anyway, there are a couple reasons a course has a high slope rating:

First reason: The course is longer. It’s been decided that 6,500 -7,000 yards is an average length for a course. Courses shorter than this will usually have a below average slope rating (e.g. less than 127 from the back tees), while courses longer than this will have a higher slope rating than the average.

Second reason: The course has a lot of defenses. Sand traps, water hazards, narrow fairways, high rough, etc. Some or all are usually present to make sure there is a sufficient challenge.

So, the next time you play, take a look at the scorecard for the course’s total yardage and slope rating from each tee box. If it’s a short course, but has a high slope rating, chances are there are good amount of defenses. If it’s long with a low rating, chances are the course is pretty wide open. If it’s a short course with a low rating, the course probably features a relatively easy layout (or features a windmill and clown’s mouth). Finally, if it’s long with a high slope, you’re on a tough course (or more likely at a PGA Tour event and are viewing the festivities from behind the yellow rope).

That being said, knowing the slope rating will help you decide which tee boxes to play from and give you an idea of what to expect as far as difficulty. Let’s face it, most stinky golfers will end up playing from the forward (white) tees, but if the course has a really low slope from there (and you feel like giving yourself more of a challenge), you might opt to play farther back.

As I’m sure many of our readers can confirm, there’s nothing worse than a bad golfer playing from the wrong tees. So check out the slope rating and make the appropriate choice based on your skill level.

Please note: The “course rating” is another measure rarely paid much attention to by the average weekend hack…and it should stay that way. This is a measure for scratch golfers and those keeping a handicap.