Re-rating Schedule and General Information
1. Background
All courses in Worcestershire were fully rated to support the implementation of WHS. This initial rating cycle was completed in 2020.
In line with the requirement of the Course Rating System that all courses are fully re-rated at least every 10 years a new rating cycle started in 2021 and will run through until 2030.
The accompanying schedule (see file entitled Course Rating Provisional Schedule 2021-2030) includes provisional dates when Worcestershire courses will be fully re-rated. Please note that the schedule will be subject to change as the re-rating programme progresses.
In 2022 the County course rating team will also be undertaking several course visits to convert provisional ratings to full ratings, for example for tees on a gender-neutral basis. As the full re-rating cycle is now getting underway, and due to limited resource, the course rating team’s ability to manage future requests which fall outside the 10-year rating cycle will depend on the nature of the request and the workload implications. See Paragraph 4 for more detail.
2. Full Re-ratings
Full re-ratings will be undertaken by a team of qualified and experienced course raters.
Generally, full course ratings require two visits by the course rating team to fully assess the course. Prior to the rating, the course rating team will contact the club to explain the process and request some pre-rating information on the course (eg request valid measurement certificates, confirm the tees to be rated, course set up measurements such as rough heights).
For a full re-rating to be undertaken the following are mandatory:
- Valid measurement certificate for each set of tees to be rated. To be valid, measurements must have been undertaken no earlier than 10 years prior to the date of the rating.
- Permanent tee markers must be in place for each set of tees to be rated to indicate the point from which measurements have been taken.
As course ratings are provided to one decimal place, clubs should be aware that re-ratings are very likely to result in some changes to the course and/or slope ratings which will result in the need to update scorecards and slope boards.
3. Course Changes
Changes to course layout (eg lengthening or shortening of holes, changes to bunkers or course feature or combinations thereof) potentially have an impact on course or slope ratings. If a club is planning changes between full ratings, they should contact the County course rating team (see Paragraph 5 for contact details) for guidance on the rating implications of any changes. WCG Ltd and WHLCG Ltd May 2022
4. Rating Requests Outside Full Re-rating Cycle
Rating requests outside the full re-rating cycle include, for example, requests to rate additional sets of tees or to rate tees on a gender-neutral basis.
Such requests should be addressed to the County course rating team who will assess the request and discuss with the club as necessary.
As indicated above, the ratings team’s response to such requests will depend on the circumstances and the work involved and the timing in relation to the scheduled full re-rating. For example, it might be possible to respond to some requests without a course visit or it might be possible to provide a provisional rating until the full re-rating is due. However, this may not be possible in all cases.
5. Further Information
Clubs are asked to direct any requests or enquires initially to the County course rating team by email at: courserating@worcestershiregolf.co.uk
Information and course rating forms are also available on the England Golf website (link below), however it is recommended that the County course team is contacted in the first instance if the request or enquiry relates specifically to the rating of the course or course changes.
https://www.englandgolf.org/handicapping/club-resources/#changerequest