Definition: USGA Slope Rating is a number ranging from 55 to 155 that represents the difficulty of a course for bogey golfers relative to the USGA Course Rating (which represents the difficulty for scratch golfers).
Slope rating is not expressed in strokes, but, rather, is a ratio. The higher the slope, the more difficult the course plays for bogey golfers. A slope rating of 113 is considered average.
Slope rating plays an important role in figuring handicap indexes and also is used to figure course handicaps.
For a more in-depth explanation, see our FAQ, "What is Slope Rating?"
See also:
• How are course rating and slope rating determined?
• Why is it called "slope"?
