ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Areas) as GUR

[Lihu]

Slope might be affected depending on how extensive and how much in play the area is.  If it's something where a bogey golfer is likely to be entangled with it somewhere on the course every round then It could easily make an average difference of a stroke per round - maybe even a stroke and a half.  Seems to me that this would have to make the slope somewhat higher for rounds where this is played as a water hazard.  However, since I have no experience with course rating, I could be wrong.

Sounds about right. I suppose Bogey rating is done the same way as CR? As in they get a bunch of bogey golfers to play the course and average the score then calculate accordingly?

[Rulesman]

What about the slope ratings? Do they also factor in obstacles and such?

Yes. They factor in all such things in relation to their position on the course relative to (the distance) where the scratch or bogey player is expected to hit the ball.

There are two ratings calculated. One for the scratch player and one for the bogey play. The slope is the gradient on a graph between these two points.

No one plays the course.

[turtleback]

My guess would be that it's fairly insignificant.  Mind you, I say this as only a layperson with a hunch.  But I play a lot of courses that have all holes bordered by other holes that have higher or very similar ratings to similar length courses that are through the canyons with hazards on all sides.

To me, the ratings system seems to rely heavily on length.

I remember back in the day when course ratings were first being talked about the original formula was to divide the yardage by 200 and add 38.25.

This is an interesting article from back in 1977 when they were changing from that yardage-only based system to the present system.

http://www.popeofslope.com/history/newratings.html

Slope, of course, is another matter and that was what I really meant when I referenced course rating.

[Lihu]

I remember back in the day when course ratings were first being talked about the original formula was to divide the yardage by 200 and add 38.25.

This is an interesting article from back in 1977 when they were changing from that yardage-only based system to the present system.

http://www.popeofslope.com/history/newratings.html

Slope, of course, is another matter and that was what I really meant when I referenced course rating.

This formula is within a couple tenths of a stroke on the courses I normally play. Nice. Thanks for sharing it. Looking at your link right now.

[iacas]

Yes. They factor in all such things in relation to their position on the course relative to (the distance) where the scratch or bogey player is expected to hit the ball.

There are two ratings calculated. One for the scratch player and one for the bogey play. The slope is the gradient on a graph between these two points.

Yes. Additionally, though we're getting well off topic now and have a thread for this already, landing areas (+/- about 20 yards) are considered for the scratch golfer, and the entire length of the hole is given some weight for the bogey golfer.