No Slope? No Course Rating?

[Justin Hill]

I don't think I can post a score from Sweetens Cove.  Heard it was because the 4th green is too big. 

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I don't think I can post a score from Sweetens Cove.  Heard it was because the 4th green is too big.

Highly unlikely that's the reason, or The Old Course wouldn't have a rating.

Sweetens - https://ncrdb.usga.org/courseTeeInfo.aspx?CourseID=23982 (no rating, just an entry)
Old Course - https://ncrdb.usga.org/courseTeeInfo.aspx?CourseID=18420

[Paul Jones]

When I played Sand Hills many years ago, the Pro would handicap the card for the wind direction and recalibrate for the afternoon round based on wind change.

[JohnVDB]

When I played Sand Hills many years ago, the Pro would handicap the card for the wind direction and recalibrate for the afternoon round based on wind change.

Handicap Stroke Allocation has nothing to do with course rating and slope and can definitely be adjusted by the handicap committee based on conditions or the form of play.


A club can have different stroke allocations for singles match play vs. four-ball stroke play for example.  There is no need for a stroke allocation for individual stroke play as you just subtract the number of strokes at the end of the round (unless you are playing Stableford or the like).


The course rating system has a wind rating.  I see it has changed since I was last doing a lot of rating.  Before it was an adjustment based on the direction of a prevailing wind on each hole and could support multiple prevailing wind directions.  Now it is just a number of points added to each nine based on the average wind speed in the summer.

[David_Elvins]

In other words, they’re not playing golf there.

No, they want to provide an experience that is better than golf and its hard to argue that they don't.

[Jeff Schley]

I don't think I can post a score from Sweetens Cove.  Heard it was because the 4th green is too big.

Really? I have never heard of this. Source?

[Jim_Coleman]

In other words, they’re not playing golf there.

No, they want to provide an experience that is better than golf and its hard to argue that they don't.

   Sounds like pomposity to me. In my experience, very few pompous people believe they’re pompous, just like very few slow golfers believe they’re slow.

[Tim Martin]

There are plenty of courses that experience different wind directions depending on the day/hour yet don’t vary the handicap holes. What happens when the wind changes on the 2nd and 11th holes? Seems like an overreach with a dose of marketing stirred in.

[Steve Lang]

   Golf or no golf at Sand Hills or Barnbougle or anywhere else without slope or rating... I'm very happy for them that they can play and dream and compete however they want, in any weather they choose... sanctioned by the PGA pro or not. 


I had some buds who liked to gamble and the only rules were to set strokes before teeing off and reset at 9 and a press bet was allowed at any time before a ball was struck. Presses couldn't be denied if you wear two up.  Some of the callouts were hilarious and take out moves were often made hole by hole, the play by play narrative between shots was quite entertaining.  It usually took a while to reconcile the day's competition and by the time post round libations were finished, no one cared much, we'd just walk home from Ottawa Park getting in another 3-6 holes of pure golf depending if the the Marshall was still perched on the lookout to check your ticket... or another ball game was on the agenda before dinner.     


Play on

[David_Elvins]

In other words, they’re not playing golf there.

No, they want to provide an experience that is better than golf and its hard to argue that they don't.

   Sounds like pomposity to me. In my experience, very few pompous people believe they’re pompous, just like very few slow golfers believe they’re slow.

Its the opposite of pompous. Its just practical with a dash of catering to the lowest common denominator.  Irish drop speeds up play.  Relief from divots and footprints in bunkers takes away external  pressure for groundstaff to overmaintain the course and keeps cost of round low. 


It helps make it the best experience in golf outside Scotland.