Durham County Golf Union
Course Rating
Course Rating is the process by which the playing difficulty of a golf course is evaluated for the World Handicap System (WHS). DCGU works alongside England Golf and the DCLGA to ensure all affiliated courses within County Durham are accurately rated.
Course Rating measures the expected score of a scratch golfer under normal playing conditions, providing the Course Rating and Slope Rating used within the WHS to calculate Handicap Differentials. Ratings are carried out by trained England Golf assessors and must be periodically reviewed, particularly after significant course alterations.
Clubs wishing to request a new rating or a re-rating of their course should contact the County Secretary in the first instance. The DCGU Course Rating Policy document is available on the Policies page.
Slope Rating reflects the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. It is used to calculate the Playing Handicap an individual needs when visiting a course with a different difficulty from their home course.