Claudia Laurent
Golf writer, Golf Handicapp · 29 July 2026
The short answer
Two numbers sit on every scorecard and quietly decide how many shots you get. Course rating is what a scratch golfer should shoot. Slope rating is how much harder the course plays for the rest of us, on a scale where 113 is average. Higher slope, more shots for you.
Everyone glances past them, but course rating and slope are what turn your handicap index into the shots you actually play off. Once you know what each one is, the numbers next to the tees start to make a lot more sense.
The two numbers, side by side
You will find both printed next to each set of tees on the scorecard. Course rating tells you how hard the course is for a scratch golfer, slope tells you how much harder it gets for everyone else.
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| Course rating | The score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot. Usually close to par, for example 72.4. |
| Slope rating | How much harder the course plays for a bogey golfer. Runs 55 to 155, and 113 is average. |
Why slope matters to you
Slope is the reason your handicap gives you a different number of shots at different courses. Play somewhere with a slope of 140 and you will get more strokes than at a gentle 113, because the course is genuinely harder for a mid or high handicapper. It is what keeps a competition fair whether you are playing a wide-open parkland or a brutal links.
Your course handicap, worked out for you
Golf Handicapp turns your index into the right course handicap for every tee. 30-day free trial, no card needed.
Turn it into your shots
You do not need to do the sum yourself. Our WHS handicap calculator takes the course rating and slope and gives you the course handicap you play off, and the app does the same automatically every time you tee it up.
Common questions
What is course rating?+
Course rating is the score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot from a given set of tees, usually a shade either side of par. A rating of 72.4 means a scratch player should average about 72 and a half on that course.
What is slope rating?+
Slope rating measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer. It runs from 55 to 155, where 113 is average. A higher slope means the course punishes higher handicappers more, so they receive more strokes.
How do course rating and slope affect my handicap?+
They convert your handicap index into a course handicap, the actual number of shots you get on the day. A higher slope gives you more shots, a lower slope fewer, which is what keeps a competition fair between courses and tees of different difficulty.
About the author
Claudia Laurent · Golf writer, Golf Handicapp
Claudia writes about the World Handicap System, golf scoring and getting more from every round for Golf Handicapp. She is a mid-handicap golfer who logs every card, the good ones and the ones she would rather forget.
Last updated 29 July 2026.