Understanding Slope
Compliments of SCGA.
The slope rating system was implemented by the USGA in 1987. This system was designed to allow players to travel with their handicaps and be able to fairly compete at any golf course. Prior to this system, a player’s handicap was not adjusted based on the relative difficulty of the golf course he was playing. Assuming a player carried a 10 handicap from Pine Valley, he would also be a 10 handicap at Open Flats Golf Course. As we all know, this would not be fair. So the slope system was designed to address this portability problem. The slope system now converts a player’s handicap index to a course handicap based on the slope number. This course handicap allows the player to compete on an equal level to a scratch player on the same course. In essence, it levels the playing field and allows players to compete equally against each other at almost any golf course in the world.
To find the slope number, a rating must first be established for a bogey golfer and a scratch golfer. The male bogey golfer is defined as a player with a handicap index of 17.5-22.4. He can hit tee shots on average of 200 yards and can reach a 370 yard hole in two shots. The male scratch golfer is a player who reaches the stroke play portion of the US Amateur Championship. He can hit tee shots an average of 250 yards and can reach a 470 yard hole in two shots. His better half scoring average will equal the course rating.
From the bogey and scratch ratings we can then find what the slope rating is. Slope is simply a mathematical formula used to adjust a player’s handicap index to the relative difficulty of a golf course. The slope rating is derived from the following formula: (Bogey Rating - Scratch Rating) x 5.381 = Slope