History - 1981 to Present

In 1982, the Colorado Golf Association rated all of its courses using the new procedure, under the leadership of HRT member Dr. Byron Williamson. In 1983, Colorado tested the Slope System with positive results. Five other states joined Colorado in the test during 1984, and others followed in subsequent years.

In 1987, the USGA Course Rating Subcommittee was formed with Joe Luyckx, of the Golf Association of Michigan, as chairman. It included members of the men's and women's Handicap Procedures Committees. The primary functions of the subcommittee are to refine the USGA Course Rating System Manual and Guide and to render decisions on course rating problem situations (similar to decisions on the Rules of Golf, renders by the USGA Rules of Golf Committee). Warren Simmons, from the Colorado Golf Association, succeeded Luyckx as chairman in 1992. In 1998, the subcommittee was changed to a USGA Committee with members appointed by the USGA Executive Committee to include golf association staff and volunteers interested in the policies of the USGA Course Rating System.

Since 1989, the USGA has organized and conducted a national course rating calibration seminar at each USGA annual meeting for course raters from all over the U.S., and from foreign countries licensed to use the System. In 1997, the USGA conducted two national calibration seminars, one on the east coast and one on the west coast. The format was changed to include four person teams from golf associations throughout the world. At this time, the USGA Handicap Department will likely continue to have separate seminars on each coast and invite teams from authorized golf associations.

Today every golf association in the United States that rates golf courses is licensed to use the USGA Course Rating System. As of 1998, foreign golf associations licensed to use the System are: Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brunei, Rarussalam, Canada, Canadian Ladies Golf Association, Chile, the Republic of China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guam, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela. The possibility of a common world-wide course rating system using the USGA System is being investigated.