Course Rating and Slope Rating

For a score to be acceptable for handicap purposes, it must be played on a set of tees on a golf course with a valid Course Rating and Slope Rating. All tees up to 6,000 yards on an 18-hole course (3,000 yards on a 9-hole course) must be rated for both men and women. It is recommended that all tees up to 6,500 yards on an 18-hole course (3,250 yards on a 9-hole course) be rated for both men and women. If one or more sets of tees on a course have not been rated, the Handicap Committee should contact its AGA for assistance.

Newly constructed courses change rapidly in the first few years and must be re-rated within five years. An established course must be re-rated at least every 10 years, even if it has not been changed in any way. A course must no longer use its Course Rating and Slope Rating if the Ratings are more than 10 years old and scores recorded on that course may not be posted to a player’s scoring record.

The rating information from every set of tees should be:

• made readily available via online applications,
• displayed in a prominent place at the club, or
• printed on the scorecard.