In golf, the term “course rating” refers to a numerical value that represents the relative difficulty of a golf course for scratch golfers (golfers with a handicap index of 0.0). It is an assessment of the course's playing difficulty under normal course and weather conditions.

Here are a few key points about course rating in golf:

1. Determination: Course rating is typically determined by a team of experts, including course raters, who evaluate various aspects of the golf course. They consider factors such as length, obstacles, terrain, green complexes, rough, bunkers, and prevailing weather conditions.
2. Scratch Golfer: The course rating is based on the assumption that the golfer playing the course is a scratch golfer. A scratch golfer is defined as a player with the skill level to play to the exact par of the course on most rounds.
3. Yardage: The length of the course is an essential factor in determining the course rating. Longer courses generally have higher ratings, as they pose more challenges in terms of distance and shot-making requirements.
4. Difficulty Factors: Course rating takes into account other difficulty factors besides length. These factors include the layout and design of the course, the presence of hazards (such as water, bunkers, or trees), the undulation of the greens, and the overall demands placed on different aspects of a golfer's game.
5. Slope Rating: In addition to course rating, golf courses are also assigned a “slope rating.” Slope rating measures the relative difficulty of the course for golfers with different handicap levels. It indicates how much additional stroke difficulty a higher-handicap player should expect compared to a scratch golfer.
6. Handicap Calculation: Course rating and slope rating are used in the calculation of a golfer's handicap index. The handicap system allows players of different skill levels to compete on an equitable basis by adjusting their scores based on the difficulty of the course being played.

Course rating provides golfers with a standardized measure of a golf course's difficulty. It helps golfers assess the challenge they will face when playing a particular course and enables fair competition across different courses and skill levels.

Course rating – a classification of difficulty of a course according to a scratch player. Is usually posted on the score card and is rated according to the par of the course. Example. A course with a rating of 72.4 will be more challenging than a course with a rating of 70.