Do you know how your golf course gets it’s Course Rating??
Did you know that each golf course must have a full rating every 10 years? Full 10yr Course Ratings are free but there may a charge if clubs request a review within their 10 year cycle. This may be due to course alterations such as new tess or bunkers or for requests for additional tee sets.
Middlesex has a team of Course Rating Volunteers, under the leadership of Graham Jones. Firstly, all golf courses must be officially measured from each set of tees. Once the measuring has been completed, the Course Rating Volunteers can attend the club and begin the process.
The length of the course will obviously be a big factor in the eventual rating. However, length isn’t everything. Measurements are taken to all obstacles that a golfer will encounter on their round, from the carry, rough, bunkers, penalty areas, ponds, ditches, out of bounds markers and the green targets, etc.
Each course is rated hole by hole and measurements taken. It’s not so much about how many penalty areas there are, but more importantly, where they are.
Courses are rated for the Scratch Golfer and the Bogey, (Handicap), Golfer. Different distances for each are taken into account. The scratch golfer is expected to drive the ball 250 yards and bunkers, rough or penalty areas are measured from there. The bogey golfer is measured from 200 yards.
A lot of hard work goes into providing our clubs with a course rating, more than you would imagine. Each rating usually takes 4 to 4½ hours or sometimes longer for more difficult course with lots of hazards.
The hard work doesn’t stop there. The measurements are then plotted into a system & uploaded to England Golf. They are then checked & re-checked for anomalies. Once the measurements are confirmed by England Golf a Course Rating Certificate is issued directly to the Clubs by England Golf.
FOR INFO – England Golf are currently advising a minimum 3 month delay in issuing Course Rating Certificates once they receive the paperwork from the relevant Counties.
Would you like to become a Volunteer Course Rater? Its hard work but interesting, fun and very rewarding, knowing that you are supporting golf in your County.
For further details, please contact Lee Patterson, Middlesex County Secretary via email secretary@middlesexgolf.co.uk or via the office countyadmin@middlesexgolf.co.uk
Come along and join us, what’s not to like!