I've read about rating and slope. I know how the slope is used to calculate handicap differentials. But what is a rating used for? As far as i can tell, all it does is show how a scratch player would score (on average), regardless of what the course's par score is (70, 71, 72, etc.).

But other than that, what other value does it serve?

Couldnt one just use slope to determine the difficulty of a course. We know that the baseline is 113. Anything > than that is a more difficult course, etc.

Roger,

Go here:

http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/manual/manual.html

Look at section 10 for a complete explanation.

Kevin

The course rating tells scratch golfers how hard the course is as the slope rating isn't really applicable to them. Also, you need the course rating to figure out handicaps.

Course Rating (in addition to Slope Rating) is one of the elements used in the formula for determining handicap. The formula for determining index handicap is:

[[Score - Course Rating] x 113 / Slope Rating] x .96 = index handicap for an individual round.

To determine handicap index you take the average of the best ten of your last 20 scores.

Thanks all. I see where i went wrong. I was using a course's par when i should've been using the course rating. Live and learn. Thanks again for your help.