Golf Course Rating
Golf courses are required to be rated every ten years or any time a significant change is made to the layout of a given hole. In addition, in 2023 the United States Golf Association (USGA) updated their requirements for minimum yardage necessary for a golf course to be rated and use the GHIN handicap system.
Accordingly, the Landings golf course underwent an updated golf course rating on August 15th, 2024. This involved a team of Florida State Golf Association volunteers evaluating the entire golf course to update the handicap assigned to every hole, as well as getting a “correct” yardage for each hole on the scorecard.
When the golf course was last rated (ten years ago), The Landings course did not meet the necessary yardage to be rated, and thus have access to the GHIN Handicap system. In order to be USGA compliant, and make sure The Landings was able to have access to the GHIN system, an agreement was reached to use fictitious yardages on certain holes in order to meet the minimum yardage requirement. Hole #18, for example, had its yardage calculated from the other side of the road across from the village of Ariel. Holes #4 & #6 were also among the list of holes that had their yardage inflated in order to meet the USGA minimum yardage requirement. Under the USGA’s new yardage minimum for a golf course of 1,500 yards, the actual yardage of each hole on The Landings course can easily meet the requirements and maintain our status as a USGA golf course without any manipulation of the numbers.
The new rating did change some of the difficulty ratings on certain holes, which will be reflected immediately on all league and tournament scorecards, as well as in the GHIN system. Rest assured that Hole #6 still remains the hardest hole for both men and ladies.
