Course Rating
Under the Golf Canada jurisdiction, Golf Québec is in charge of the slope and handicapping in its territory. If your golf club would like a new rating, you must make a request by email.
Golf Canada is the authoritative body for the purposes of establishing and maintaining a uniform handicap system for golf clubs in Canada in co-operation with the provincial golf associations. The purpose of Golf Canada Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable for golfers by providing a means of measuring one's performance and progress and to enable golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.
Through this system, each golfer establishes a "Golf Canada Handicap Factor", which is a numerical measurement of a player's potential (not actual) scoring ability on a course of standard difficulty. The Handicap Factor is calculated using the best 10 of the player's last 20 rounds and updated with each new round played. The Handicap Factor travels with the golfer from course to course and is adjusted up or down depending on the length and difficulty of the course played, resulting in a "Course Handicap". The Course Handicap is the number of strokes a golfer receives from a specific set of tees at the course played and represents the number of strokes he would require to play equitably against a "scratch" golfer (a golfer with a Handicap Factor of "0'). The harder the golf course, the more strokes the golfer receives and vice versa.
The relative difficulty of a golf course is determined jointly by Golf Canada and the provincial golf association using Golf Canada Course and Slope Rating System. Specially trained Course Rating Teams evaluate the difficulty of a golf course based on such variables such as length and a number of obstacle factors (i.e. topography, bunkers, water hazards, severity of rough, etc.).
Active season
The Golf Québec active season when scores must be posted for handicap purposes is from April 15 to October 31.
Scores made in an area having an active season (i.e. Florida in December) shall all be posted at the player’s club as soon as practical.
If you would like more information on Golf Canada Handicap System and Course Rating System, please review the information on Golf Canada web site.
The terms "Golf Canada Handicap Factor", "Handicap Factor", "Factor" and "Golf Canada Handicap System" are registered trademarks and service marks of Golf Canada.
Course Rating
The books are available on Golf Canada online boutique.
The Tournament Committee is attempting to standardize the Slope Ratings and Score Differentials, in the Regional designated tournament rounds, so that all competitors are on equal footing with regards to Provincial Ladder Rankings. In essence, the tournament rating should not differentiate from that of the rating of the course being played and are therefore verified and matched to the course where the competition is being held. Only in extreme inclement weather can ratings be adjusted and this does not allow, under any circumstances, modification by more than 1. The change in length is the primary factor that influences adjustment of ratings. All changes must be approved by the Tournament Committee in advance.