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Australia Adopts US Course Rating System
Aussie GolferMar 16, 2009
And it's about bloody time too!
At long last Golf Australia has decided to implement the US course rating system which will come into effect for every golf course in Australia as soon as it has been re-rated.
Aussie Golfer has been pushing for this to happen for a long time. The current system is antiquated and Australia sits behind the rest of the world in this regard. This change also paves the way for a much better club competition and handicapping system.
Under the current system if a player has a handicap earned on difficult course, he (or she) will have an advantage when he competes against a player who carries the same handicap on an easier course. Under the new system, a golfer will consult a chart before play, to determine his handicap before a round at a different course.
The re-ratings will begin in September 2009 with the majority of all metropolitan courses completed by the end of 2010. In the article on the Golf Australia website where the announcement was made, Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said:
At long last Golf Australia has decided to implement the US course rating system which will come into effect for every golf course in Australia as soon as it has been re-rated.
Aussie Golfer has been pushing for this to happen for a long time. The current system is antiquated and Australia sits behind the rest of the world in this regard. This change also paves the way for a much better club competition and handicapping system.
Under the current system if a player has a handicap earned on difficult course, he (or she) will have an advantage when he competes against a player who carries the same handicap on an easier course. Under the new system, a golfer will consult a chart before play, to determine his handicap before a round at a different course.
The re-ratings will begin in September 2009 with the majority of all metropolitan courses completed by the end of 2010. In the article on the Golf Australia website where the announcement was made, Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said:
"“The USGA Course Rating System is considered world’s best practice and is the result of significant financial and scientific investment. It is exciting that all Australian clubs and handicap players will now be exposed to the benefits experienced by most golfers around the world.”"
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There has been a lot of resentment towards this change from many golfers and I believe it's due to a couple of reasons. The first is they don't understand the US slope system. It's not claiming to be any easier to understand than the current system, but once you've read the details, it becomes obvious that it is the way to go.
The second comes from the fact that it is branded the "US system." This is indeed correct and is a perfect name for the system, but it unfortunately then inherits some anti-American feelings with it.
Chin up Australian golfers! We can now express our handicap with pride! I look forward to a change in the handicapping system itself (such as being allowed to contribute a card for handicapping purposes outside of a competition, provided a member is marking it) in the coming months. Good times.
I will now delete the posts I had ready to publish entitled: "Why Australia should adopt the US golf course rating system?" and perhaps write a few outlining what is in store for us all.
Chin up Australian golfers! We can now express our handicap with pride! I look forward to a change in the handicapping system itself (such as being allowed to contribute a card for handicapping purposes outside of a competition, provided a member is marking it) in the coming months. Good times.
I will now delete the posts I had ready to publish entitled: "Why Australia should adopt the US golf course rating system?" and perhaps write a few outlining what is in store for us all.
Questions?!
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