Course Rating
The VSGA is licensed by the United States Golf Association to issue Course and Slope Ratings in Virginia. The VSGA re-rates golf courses approximately every eight years, even if they have not changed in any way, to comply with the USGA’s 10-year requirement. The VSGA also re-rates courses after significant course renovations are performed. Newly constructed courses are rated every three years for a period of nine years. There is no charge to VSGA member clubs to for the course rating service.
The VSGA Course Rating Teams are made up of trained volunteers throughout the commonwealth. When rating a golf course, the course rating team evaluates each hole using the USGA Course Rating System. The team evaluates a series of obstacle factors (Topography, Fairway, Green Target, Recoverability and Rough, Bunkers, Out of Bounds/Extreme Rough, Water Hazards, Trees and Green Surface) and effective playing length factors (Roll, Elevation, Dogleg/Forced Lay Up, Prevailing Wind an Altitude) and records a numerical evaluation for each which is used to calculate the rating. After rating, members of the team will play the golf course to gain greater insight, from a playing perspective, and to clarify any doubts or questions that may arise on specific holes or shots.
Following the rating, the data is entered into the USGA Course Rating Program to generate preliminary Course and Slope Ratings. These preliminary figures are then sent to the VSGA Course Rating Committee for approval. Once approved by the committee, the Official Course and Slope Ratings are sent to the club. The new rating will become effective on Jan. 1 of the following year.
For a complete list of Course Rating Services and Fees offered by the VSGA, please click here for VSGA Course Rating Fees for 2012. For a list of yardage markers available to VSGA member clubs, please click here.
