Course Rating - the Raters View and Situation in Your Country, Association

[mauricio]

Hello everyone, I'm doing a research as a rater from Brazilian Golf Confederation, as you know Brazilian golf is not as big as some other countries, so I'd like to find more information and how it works around the globe. Trying to find the pros and cons for raters all around, the similarities and what could be improved. I know mostly of the raters are volunteers, but the reality isn't the same all around, we have in Brazil less than 9k players with handicap, in my opinion we should start in Brazil to pay an amount per day of rating for those who can travel around a big dimension country like Brazil to help rating the courses and help to grow the number of raters, the quality of rating and to make more people get involved in Course Rating. Please share your thoughts, what are the pros and cons on your place? Best regards!

Edited May 4, 2023 by mauricio

[klineka]

IIRC @iacas either does or did at one time do some of the course ratings for courses in his area. He might be able to chime in.

[iacas]

What do you want to know?

I've been on my course rating team for northwestern PA (for the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association) for 16 years now, and have been the captain for about nine or ten of those years.

[mauricio]

28 minutes ago, iacas said:

What do you want to know?

I've been on my course rating team for northwestern PA (for the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association) for 16 years now, and have been the captain for about nine or ten of those years.

I mean, in a country like ours we do not have many raters available, so we propose to make it a technical role where people interested will have the proper training and after that those who rate courses should receive a daily fee for rating day. What are your thoughts about it? 

[iacas]

40 minutes ago, mauricio said:

I mean, in a country like ours we do not have many raters available, so we propose to make it a technical role where people interested will have the proper training and after that those who rate courses should receive a daily fee for rating day. What are your thoughts about it? 

I would suggest that you're in a far better position to understand what you may need where you live than I. I'm a volunteer, and I've spend hundreds of dollars to do my course rating: gas, etc. Sure, we often get to play the course if we want afterward, but… we don't do that super often. This "you get to play the course after you rate it" is not only encouraged by the USGA here, as it helps to ensure better ratings, but it's a perk that IMO is often better than a small "daily fee for rating" the course would be.

[mauricio]

12 hours ago, iacas said:

I would suggest that you're in a far better position to understand what you may need where you live than I. I'm a volunteer, and I've spend hundreds of dollars to do my course rating: gas, etc. Sure, we often get to play the course if we want afterward, but… we don't do that super often. This "you get to play the course after you rate it" is not only encouraged by the USGA here, as it helps to ensure better ratings, but it's a perk that IMO is often better than a small "daily fee for rating" the course would be.

Great to hear different point of views, especially from people living where the "industry of golf" is far ahead of us. We got almost 9k players for 111 courses ( official numbers ), don't know exactly how many raters, I would say less than 20 (from the last calibration seminar in Rio 2019), maybe near 12 rating courses more often. Thanks again! 

P.S.: I see you live in Pennsylvania , whenever in Bryn Athyn , try to meet All Aboard Cafe from a brazilian friend, us citizen, some good stuff.

All Aboard Cafe - Facebook

facebook.com

https://www.facebook.com › allaboardcafepa

[iacas]

15 hours ago, mauricio said:

Bryn Athyn

That's about six and a half hours away. 😄

[mauricio]

21 hours ago, iacas said:

That's about six and a half hours away. 😄

OK, don't go only for that, if you're on the surroundings. 😉