If you have ever examined a scorecard or posted a score for handicap purposes, you have probably seen the terms Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®. While most golfers know they pertain to course ...

For a score to be acceptable for handicap purposes, it must be played on a set of tees on a golf course with a valid Course Rating and Slope Rating. All tees up to 6,000 yards on an 18-hole course ...

Course Rating and hole handicap allocation is more of a science than ever before, but still involves some artistry and local knowledge. The post How does a course assign each hole’s stroke index?

With the arrival of each new Top 100 ranking, the world’s premier course architects peek to see where their work stands — even as they’re skeptical about this business of calling something “the best.” ...

When I was commissioned to write this article, my immediate thought was, “Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Statistically, and working on averages, female golfers don’t hit it as far as male golfers do, ...

Information on The List was obtained from the United States Golf Association's Course Rating and Slope Database. Data was compiled as of August 28, 2025. In case of ties, the toughest golf courses are ...

The toughest golf courses in Massachusetts have an average course rating of 74.1 and an average slope rating of 138.8. The data refers specifically to the men’s back tee for each course. The online ...