Under the course rating system, there may be a situation where the effective playing length is adjusted because the scratch or bogey golfer does not have the option to hit their full tee shot. This happens when a golfer is faced with a dogleg, a forced layup, or layup by choice.
The 6th hole at the North Course at Los Angeles Country Club is an excellent example. The hole plays 330 yards, however, a men’s scratch golfer may not have to hit his full 250-yard tee shot as the hole is relatively short. When rating the sixth hole, the golfer is adjusted to only hitting their tee shot 210 yards which means we adjust the effective playing length by 40 yards he does not need to hit his full shot.
If a golfer is forced to layup because the golfer does not want to be penalized for hitting his/her full tee shot, we would adjust the landing zone to a safe landing zone.
Do the courses you play on a regular basis have holes the present you with layups by force or by choice?
If you would like to see a hole by hole flyover of Los Angeles Country, host of the 2023 U.S. Open click here
