Update on Golf Course Rating From Golf NL

The following is a letter to Grande Meadows from Greg Hillier, the Executive Director of Golf NL, concerning new regulations for golf course rating.

Over the past few weeks you might have noticed that the rating of your course might have undergone some changes.

In early May our Handicap & Course Rating Committee attended a national course rating workshop in Ontario and there has been substantial changes in the way courses are and will be rated moving forward.

Golf Canada through the USGA (who are responsible for the rating and handicap program) have made some major  changes the weight of the obstacles on the golf course. The new rating has eliminated calculations for downwind or into the wind. All that is required at this point is to know speed. Also, trees are considered the bigger obstacle over OB.  Therefore the major changes are related to the way that obstacles on the course are rated and this is a major change from the way the courses were previous rated.

I should point out that the rating books (for calculations) are only good for this year and more changes are anticipated for next year but should not affect the slope rating. 

Over the course of the next few months all of the courses will be reviewed to meet the new requirements and aside from this work The Willows, Gander Golf Club and Grand Falls Golf Club are scheduled for site visits to begin their rating.

Please review the information and share with your members as required and trust this has not caused and inconvenience. In the meantime if you have any questions do not hesitate to call or e-mail.

Regards