If you are new at the game of golf, you may find certain terms confusing when heading out to the course. Each course may have several different ratings. But what does golf course slope rating mean? Is it an indicator of the number of slopes on a course? Does it tell the steepness of the slope?
On the contrary, a slope rating has nothing to do the with elevation of the ground along the course. This rating is a numerical measurement on how difficult a course will be for an average player who is considered a bogey golfer as they will more often get an average of 18-over-par along the course. This course rating system is determined by a number of factors that include hazards, narrow fairways, dog legs, gulleys and other obstacles or course configurations. Another factor used to determine this rating is to gather information about how bogey golfers and scratch players (golfers who often shoot par on the course no matter the difficulty of each hole) play on a particular course in different weather conditions. All this information is gathered and used to create a numerical calculation as to what the slope rating will be for each course.
Do not get a course rating and a slope rating confused. Course ratings will tell you a course difficulty be based on the number of strokes it will take for a scratch golfer to play. The slope rating system gives a numerical measurement of playing difficulty of the course. So if a course has a rating of 72, it will mean that the scratch golfer could shoot 72 on that course. If the same course has a slope rating of 110, the scratch golfer will still shoot 72, yet a bogey golfer will shoot 110 as it is a more difficult course for the second player. The higher the slope rating, the more difficult the course will be for a bogey golfer to play.
Not all golf courses are given a rating. It can take months for the data to be gathered to create a course and slope rating. Also, some courses may be re-rated because the relative difficulty of playing these courses has changed due to different terrain conditions over time.
Now that you understand what slope rating means for the course, get out the golf clubs and play a few holes. Improve your game as you will understand how difficult the course will be as you can concentrate on improving your score as you move from being a bogey player up to a scratch player.
Source: River’s Edge Golf Blog