Did You Know?

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

To read about the proposed changes to the Handicapping System click here

 

 

New Course Rating (excerpt from Inside Golf Australia).

Q: What is Course Rating?

A: Course rating is the measure of difficulty of courses for a scratch golfer under normal course and weather conditions. A male scratch golfer is defined as a player who hits his tee shots an average of 225 metres and can reach a 430-metre hole in 2 shots. A female scratch golfer can hit her tee shots an average of 190 metres and can reach a 365-mere hole in 2 shots.

Accuracy and consistency are the keys to effective course rating. The measured length must be corrected to the effective playing length - an error of 18-20 metres in overall length can change the course rating by 0.1 strokes.

 

The main formula component of the effective playing length of the course is derived from the course's measured length and applying the following five factors, which gives a more accurate reflection of the true playing length of the course:

 

  1. Roll
  2. [Changes in] Elevation
  3. Dogleg/Forced Lay-up
  4. Prevailing Wind
  5. Altitude

 

The measured length and the effective playing length adjustments are used to determine the 'Yardage' Rating. The USGA system differs from our current system in as much as the Australian system uses measured length only to determine a Length Rating.

A further analysis of each hole is undertaken in order to assess the 10 obstacle factors which affect playing difficulty as follows:

  1. Topography: the impact of the terrain on play
  2. Fairway: the difficulty of keeping the ball on the fairway
  3. Green target: the size and difficulty of hitting the green
  4. Recoverability & Rough: covers the difficulty of a shot when the fairway or green has been missed
  5. Bunkers: how they come into play and the difficulty of recovery
  6. OOB / Extreme Rough: the proximity of these factors and how they come into play
  7. Water Hazards: the proximity of these factors and how they come into play
  8. Trees: based on the density, proximity and the difficulty of recovery
  9. Green Surface: assesses the difficulty of the green, and includes speed and contouring of each green
  10. Psychological: evaluation of the cumulative effect the other 9 obstacles will have on a player's score (few golfers would argue that a tight water-lined course is a far more difficult proposition to play than a course that is long, but very forgiving of wayward shots!)

 

The values allocated to the above obstacles are multiplied by various weighting factors giving a final number, which may be an addition or reduction to the Scratch Yardage Rating. The result is the Course Rating.

 

Q: What is wrong with the current system?
A: The 'rating' of many of Australia's 1500 or more courses are out of date. Some of the reasons relate to the fact that the training, auditing and re rating process has been minimal at best. This has led to inconsistencies across States, and even regions which in a national system is not ideal.

 



Rules of Golf

It is in your interest, your playing partners interest and your clubs interest to learn the Rules of Golf.

 

General Points

Before commencing your round:

Read the Local Rules on the score card or notice board

Put an identification mark on your ball. (Rules 12-2 and 27-1)

Count your clubs. You're allowed a maximum of 14 clubs (Rule 4-4)

During the round:

Don't ask for "advice" from anyone except your partner (i.e. a player on your side) or your caddies.

Don't give advice to anyone except your partner.

You may ask for information on the Rules, distances and the position of hazards, the flag stick, etc

Don't play any practice shots during play of a hole

At the end of your round:

In match play, ensure the result of the match is posted

In stroke play, ensure that your card is completed properly and return it as soon as possible.