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Measurements and Course
Rating
By Gary Donat, FSGA Director of Course Rating |
Yardage is the most
difficult obstacle to overcome in the USGA Course Rating
System, which is why accurate measurements are essential
in providing accurate course ratings. All too often, I
see courses that want to have a certain “vanity”
yardage, whether it is for marketing purposes or pure
ego, the intent is to have the longest measurements
possible. Measurements are taken at the back of tee pads
and measured to the back of the greens. While this looks
great on a scorecard or in a marketing brochure for
Vanity Country Club, it is not an accurate measurement
for course rating purposes.
By the Book Country Club wants accurate measurements so
I would first start with a permanent marker designating
the starting point of the measurement. The permanent
marker shall be placed at the midpoint of the teeing
area. This placement allows the club to maintain
consistent yardage by moving the tee markers in back of
and in front of the permanent marker. When multiple tees
share a teeing area the permanent markers should be
placed at the midpoint of the tee’s allocated area.
For example, if I had a teeing area that was 40 yards long
and 2 sets of tees to place in the teeing area, I would
allocate 20 yards for each set of tees, then I would
place the permanent markers 10 yards from the back of
the 40 yard teeing area and 10 yards from the front of
the 40 yard teeing area. From the markers I then measure
to the center of the green.
Vanity measurements can be a reason clubs call the
office to complain about their members getting trounced
in team match competitions. Their members have played to
a higher course and slope rating, which lowers their
differentials, which ultimately calculates to a lower
USGA Handicap Index. When the members of Vanity Country
Club go to play members By the Book Country Club, odds
are Vanity Country Club is going to lose that match. While
Vanity Country Club will win occasionally, my money will
be on the club that has the accurate measurement, thus
the most accurate ratings and thus the most accurate
Indexes. |
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