fixyurdivot Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Count me amongst those who never really paid much attention to or completely understood their use/meaning. I suppose for those that maintain a formal handicap, course rating and slope are routine topics. Back when I did keep a handicap (late 70's thru mid 80's), I don't even recall this being a discussion point. That now makes sense as formal USGA ratings did not happen until the late 80's. The threesome I was playing with last week were talking about it and I picked up bits and pieces of their discussion. One was pretty adamant that the numbers rarely seem to align with his experience and scoring on various courses - his buddy claiming they align really well. This group of younger bombers (though a couple kind of erratic in dispersion) played from the blue tee and I chose to play from that tee as well. I definitely noticed myself grabbing for longer irons on a number of the par 4's (4-6i vs. 6-8i) than typical. This course offered a "green tee" between the blue and white - which probably would have more closely matched my typical yardage. Anyway, their discussion got me to thinking more about this whole "slope & rating" topic so I read a few articles about the origin and how they are developed. This is a pretty good overview and a more in depth article, covering the very long and contentious history, from the USGA. https://thegolfacademy.org/2018/07/15/slope-vs-course-rating-two-of-golfs-most-confused-numbers/ https://www.usga.org/handicapping-articles/usga-course-rating-history-081854ca.html While I don't have or plan to establish a formal handicap, I will start seeing how my scoring aligns with various course ratings. Lastly, how does one go about getting a job with the USGA traveling around the globe, getting paid to play golf and rate courses... sign me up. PMookie, THEZIPR23, tony@CIC and 1 other 4 Quote G410 Plus, 9 Degree Driver G400 SFT, 16 Degree 3w G400 SFT, 19 Degree 5w ZX5 Irons 4-AW Glide 2.0 56 Degree SW (removed from double secret probation ) ER5v Putter (Official Review) AI-One Milled Seven T CH (Official Review) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavygolffeels Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 For tee position, I really only care about yardage. Trying to stay away from driver wedge every hole and conversely driver 4 iron every hole. Usually blues, sometimes whites but using yardage to make that call. Slope and rating I care about, and look at before playing a new course. Gives you a good sense of what you are in for, and I will usually do a little more prep work on higher rated courses where you really need every advantage you can get to score well. On the local muni you can just stripe it around, but when the slope gets up over 130, you known you are going to need to find the right angles to approach pins, avoid trouble and hit toward the appropriate bail out zones, and always keep your ball in play off the tee. Really have to play from the green backwards and do whatever you can to set yourself up for success because mistakes will be punished. fixyurdivot 1 Quote GARSEN GRIP TESTER Driver: PING G400 MAX, Ventus Blue 6x Woods: COBRA F6 Baffler AD DI 8S Hybrid: CALLAWAY Apex Pro, Ventus Blue 8s Irons: SRIXON ZX5 mk2 5-6, ZX7 mk2 7-PW, Modus 120x Wedges: EDEL 50 C grind, 54 V grind, CLEVELAND 60 RTX6 Low Putter: YES Abbie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP043 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 On 5/25/2020 at 10:47 AM, fixyurdivot said: Lastly, how does one go about getting a job with the USGA traveling around the globe, getting paid to play golf and rate courses... sign me up. I think you pay to take seminars in the rating system, and then you volunteer with your state or regional golf association. the rating teams dont necessarily play, the ratings are all based off measurements and a system of evaluations of various factors. it's not exactly a glamorous boondoggle. revkev and fixyurdivot 1 1 Quote Irons Titleist T200, AMT Red stiff Rogue SubZero, GD YS-Six X T22 54 and 58 wedges 7-wood 5-wood B60 G5i putter Right handed Reston, Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEZIPR23 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 39 minutes ago, DaveP043 said: I think you pay to take seminars in the rating system, and then you volunteer with your state or regional golf association. the rating teams dont necessarily play, the ratings are all based off measurements and a system of evaluations of various factors. it's not exactly a glamorous boondoggle. This is true except for the playing part at least in our association. Been on the golf course side of it and know one who volunteers they play every course. It is not glamorous and it is a lot of work but they do get to play a lot of different courses. fixyurdivot 1 Quote Stealth 2+ 9 (Diamana PD 60 S 45") Stealth 2+ 15 (Diamana PD 70 S 43") G425 19 (Raijin 2.0 85x) G425 22 (Raijin 2.0 85x) ZX7 5-9 (KBS C Taper S) Vokey SM9 45 10 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 49 08 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 55 08 M (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 59 04 T (KBS 610) Spider GT Splitback 34" ProV1 #23 Twitter @THEZIPR23 "One thing Golf has taught me, is that my muscles have no memory." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP043 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 6 minutes ago, THEZIPR23 said: This is true except for the playing part at least in our association. Been on the golf course side of it and know one who volunteers they play every course. It is not glamorous and it is a lot of work but they do get to play a lot of different courses. Do you know, do they usually play before they do the rating, or after? Quote Irons Titleist T200, AMT Red stiff Rogue SubZero, GD YS-Six X T22 54 and 58 wedges 7-wood 5-wood B60 G5i putter Right handed Reston, Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEZIPR23 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 31 minutes ago, DaveP043 said: Do you know, do they usually play before they do the rating, or after? Typical schedule that I have seen is arrive 8ish walk course and do rating notes. Lunch and the golf. Finalizing takes place after the round. Not sure how they come about that though. DaveP043 1 Quote Stealth 2+ 9 (Diamana PD 60 S 45") Stealth 2+ 15 (Diamana PD 70 S 43") G425 19 (Raijin 2.0 85x) G425 22 (Raijin 2.0 85x) ZX7 5-9 (KBS C Taper S) Vokey SM9 45 10 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 49 08 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 55 08 M (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 59 04 T (KBS 610) Spider GT Splitback 34" ProV1 #23 Twitter @THEZIPR23 "One thing Golf has taught me, is that my muscles have no memory." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEZIPR23 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Just now, THEZIPR23 said: Typical schedule that I have seen is arrive 8ish walk course and do rating notes. Lunch and the golf. Finalizing takes place after the round. Not sure how they come about that though. The ones I have seen the walking and note taking take longer than playing does. DaveP043 1 Quote Stealth 2+ 9 (Diamana PD 60 S 45") Stealth 2+ 15 (Diamana PD 70 S 43") G425 19 (Raijin 2.0 85x) G425 22 (Raijin 2.0 85x) ZX7 5-9 (KBS C Taper S) Vokey SM9 45 10 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 49 08 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 55 08 M (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 59 04 T (KBS 610) Spider GT Splitback 34" ProV1 #23 Twitter @THEZIPR23 "One thing Golf has taught me, is that my muscles have no memory." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revkev Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 Kenny witnessed them rating his course a couple of years ago. I’m not great at digging up old threads but it was a great read if someone can find it.I go by yardage as well - I’m bordering on Super Senior hood which means according to the FGA that I would play from 6200 as a top level player. Honestly I try to keep it between that and 6,000. That’s just right for me at Sea Level. I can go longer up North or in the mountains. My club has a set of tees that are 6100, 71.7 slope of 132. Its perfect - if I break 80 from those tees I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Kenny B, cnosil, tony@CIC and 2 others 5 Quote Taylor Made Stealth 2 10.5 Diamana S plus 60 Aldila R flex - 42.25 inches SMT 4 wood bassara R flex, four wood head, 3 wood shaft Ping G410 7, 9 wood Alta 65 R flex Srixon ZX5 MK II 5-GW - UST recoil Dart 65 R flex India 52,56 (60 pending) UST recoil 75's R flex Evon roll ER 5 32 inches It's our offseason so auditioning candidates - looking for that right mix of low spin long, more spin around the greens - TBD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEZIPR23 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 13 minutes ago, revkev said: Kenny witnessed them rating his course a couple of years ago. I’m not great at digging up old threads but it was a great read if someone can find it. I go by yardage as well - I’m bordering on Super Senior hood which means according to the FGA that I would play from 6200 as a top level player. Honestly I try to keep it between that and 6,000. That’s just right for me at Sea Level. I can go longer up North or in the mountains. My club has a set of tees that are 6100, 71.7 slope of 132. Its perfect - if I break 80 from those tees I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy Google is your friend for searches. fixyurdivot, Kenny B and PDT816 3 Quote Stealth 2+ 9 (Diamana PD 60 S 45") Stealth 2+ 15 (Diamana PD 70 S 43") G425 19 (Raijin 2.0 85x) G425 22 (Raijin 2.0 85x) ZX7 5-9 (KBS C Taper S) Vokey SM9 45 10 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 49 08 F (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 55 08 M (KBS 610) Vokey SM9 59 04 T (KBS 610) Spider GT Splitback 34" ProV1 #23 Twitter @THEZIPR23 "One thing Golf has taught me, is that my muscles have no memory." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDT816 Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 May just be me, but give me 10 rounds on 5 courses with the exact same 128 slope rating and I can probably guarantee that there's going to be a consistent 5-6 stroke difference in the average score on at least 3 of the courses. Quote Driver: Titleist 917 10.5* 3 Wood: Titliest 917 Hybrid: Titleist 818 Irons: Mizuno JPX 850 Forged w/ True Temper XP 115 Wedges: Volkey SM5 M Grind 54° & 58°; 8° bounce Putter: 2016 Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Notchback Grips: Golf Pride MCCPlus4 midsized Preferred ball: Bridgestone Tour B-RX, ProV 1X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fixyurdivot Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 On 5/29/2020 at 3:45 PM, PDT816 said: May just be me, but give me 10 rounds on 5 courses with the exact same 128 slope rating and I can probably guarantee that there's going to be a consistent 5-6 stroke difference in the average score on at least 3 of the courses. Well, the par/slope rating system is definitely not perfect science. This is partly why I started the thread/poll. I do suspect that, on average across the populous of golfers, the ratings align with scoring. That said, I think a significant factor in how we play courses is how they fit our eye. I've consistently scored better on a harder rated course in Yuma than one that's easier. For some reason the front nine on the easier one has my number - always scrambling for score. Quote G410 Plus, 9 Degree Driver G400 SFT, 16 Degree 3w G400 SFT, 19 Degree 5w ZX5 Irons 4-AW Glide 2.0 56 Degree SW (removed from double secret probation ) ER5v Putter (Official Review) AI-One Milled Seven T CH (Official Review) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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