What is Course Rating
in Golf?
Course Rating is the officially measured expected score for a scratch golfer. It explains why two par-72 courses don't give you the same number of handicap shots — and why that's the right answer.
Definition
Course Rating is the expected score of a scratch golfer (Handicap Index 0.0) under normal playing conditions on a specific set of tees. It is always expressed as a decimal (e.g. 72.4) and is officially measured by trained raters from the national golf body.
Course Rating vs Par
Par is set by the golf club. Course Rating is measured by an independent, trained team from the national golf body. They are often similar — but they are not the same thing, and the difference matters for your handicap.
| Par | Course Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | The golf club | National golf body (e.g. England Golf) |
| Format | Whole number (e.g. 72) | Decimal (e.g. 72.4 or 70.8) |
| What it represents | Target score for an expert golfer | Measured expected score for a scratch golfer |
| Can be above par? | It defines par — no | Yes — course may genuinely play harder |
| Can be below par? | It defines par — no | Yes — course may genuinely play easier |
Par 72, Course Rating 74.2. The course plays 2.2 strokes harder than par for a scratch golfer — tight fairways, long carries, difficult greens. A 14-handicapper gets extra shots to compensate.
Par 71, Course Rating 70.5. The course plays 0.5 strokes easier than par for a scratch golfer — wide open, forgiving layout. The same 14-handicapper gets slightly fewer shots.
How Course Rating is measured
Course Ratings are assessed by teams of trained volunteer raters from England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf, or the equivalent national body. They walk every hole and assess it from the perspective of a scratch golfer, considering all relevant factors.
- —Effective playing length (with roll estimates)
- —Fairway width and landing zones
- —Green target size and firmness
- —Rough penalty
- —Bunker position and depth
- —Water hazards and out of bounds
- —Trees and doglegs
- —Prevailing wind and elevation
Course Ratings are reassessed whenever the course makes significant changes — new tees, extended holes, added or removed hazards, or major bunker work.
National bodies also schedule periodic re-ratings to catch gradual changes like tree growth or tee repositioning. Most courses are re-rated every 5–10 years unless a change triggers an earlier review.
Every set of tees on a course has its own Course Rating. Yellow tees and white tees on the same course will have different Course Ratings because the effective playing length and obstacle positions differ. Always use the Course Rating for the specific tees you're playing.
How Course Rating appears in your handicap
Course Rating appears in two separate WHS formulas — both when a round updates your Handicap Index, and when you calculate your Course Handicap for the day.
(Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating) × 113 ÷ Slope Rating
Course Rating sets the baseline. Subtract it from your adjusted score to find out how much you shot above or below what a scratch golfer would expect on those tees. This produces a comparable number regardless of which course you played.
(Handicap Index × Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)
The Course Rating − Par part accounts for the fact that par is arbitrary. If Course Rating is 74.2 and par is 72, you add 2.2 shots — because even a scratch golfer is expected to shoot 2.2 over par on this course. If Course Rating is 70.5 and par is 71, you subtract 0.5 shots.
Two courses both have a par of 72. Course A has a Course Rating of 74.5 (plays 2.5 over par for scratch). Course B has a Course Rating of 70.8 (plays 1.2 under par for scratch). A 16-handicapper playing Course A should receive extra shots to reflect the additional difficulty — and they do, automatically, through the Course Handicap formula.
Without the CR − Par adjustment, all par-72 courses would give you identical shots. With it, the formula reflects the actual playing difficulty on those specific tees.
Player with Handicap Index 16.0. Both courses have Par 72 and Slope Rating 125.
= 17.7 − 1.2 → Course Handicap 16
= 17.7 + 2.5 → Course Handicap 20
Same Slope Rating, 4 shots difference. The only variable is the Course Rating. Both courses are equally penalising for the gap between scratch and bogey (Slope 125 on both) — but one genuinely plays harder for a scratch golfer, so everyone gets more shots there.
Where to find Course Rating
Course Rating is printed on every golf scorecard, usually in a table near the top. There is one entry per set of tees.
| Tees | Par | Course Rating | Slope Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (championship) | 72 | 74.2 | 135 |
| Yellow (medal) | 71 | 72.1 | 128 |
| Red (forward) | 70 | 70.4 | 119 |
If the scorecard doesn't show it, ask at the pro shop or check the noticeboard near the first tee. Most handicap apps also list Course Rating by course and tee colour.
Common questions
What is Course Rating in golf?
Course Rating is the officially measured expected score of a scratch golfer (Handicap Index 0.0) under normal playing conditions on a specific set of tees. It is expressed as a decimal — for example, 72.4 — and is assessed by trained raters from the national golf body. It differs from par because par is set by the club, while Course Rating is independently measured based on actual playing difficulty.
What's the difference between Course Rating and par?
Par is set by the golf club and is always a whole number (e.g. 72). Course Rating is independently measured by the national golf body and expressed as a decimal (e.g. 72.4 or 70.8). A course can have a Course Rating above or below its par — because par is not a precise measurement of difficulty, just a target. The WHS Course Handicap formula uses both: the Slope Rating scales for relative difficulty, while Course Rating minus Par accounts for the fact that the course might genuinely play harder or easier than its par suggests.
Does a higher Course Rating mean a harder course?
Only relative to par. A Course Rating of 74.5 on a par-72 course (2.5 over par) indicates a hard course for a scratch golfer. But a Course Rating of 74.5 on a par-75 course is actually 0.5 under par — relatively easy. Always compare Course Rating to the par for those tees, not to Course Ratings on other courses.
How does Course Rating affect my handicap?
Course Rating appears in two WHS formulas. In the Score Differential formula, it sets the baseline that your adjusted gross score is measured against — so a round on a Course Rating 75 course produces a different differential than the same score on a Course Rating 70 course. In the Course Handicap formula, the Course Rating minus Par term adjusts your shots for the day, giving you more on courses where the Rating is above par and fewer where it's below.
What is a typical Course Rating for a UK golf course?
Most UK courses rate between 68.0 and 76.0 on their medal tees, depending on length and difficulty. A par-72 parkland course might have a Course Rating of 70–72 (playing around or just under par for scratch). A long, challenging links course might rate 73–75 on its back tees. The Course Rating is specific to each tee set — forward tees always have a lower Course Rating than medal or championship tees on the same course.
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