Course Ratings are an essential part of the Handicap System, and the MGA Course Rating committee has the responsibility of implementing the USGA Course Rating System throughout the Met Area. In a typical year, the committee visits more than 60 MGA member courses and traditionally re-rates courses on a six-year cycle, paying special attention to new clubs, which are re-rated three times in the first 10 years of their existence.
This type of schedule allows a course to mature and for the Course Rating Committee to closely review the growth of the course. Many clubs continue to make design changes to their courses, and the committee works closely with the club staff and membership to gather important information that will be needed during the rating procedure. This collaboration with club leaders such as head golf course superintendents and greens chairmen helps to ensure accurate and updated measurements are being used in a rating.
Precision is of the utmost importance while performing course ratings at MGA member clubs, and members of the MGA Course Rating Committee attend a pre-season workshop to fine-tune their skills and learn about any updates to the course rating procedure. Accurate measurements are necessary components of a reliable course rating, and the MGA Course Rating committee is responsible for one of the most visible and useful of all MGA services.
For more information contact Kevin Kline, Director, Member Services.
Additional Resources:
Course Rating and Slope Database™ Rating Lookup from the USGA
Read "The Rating Game" from the April/May 2016 issue of The Met Golfer.