Golf’s Governing Bodies Host Course Rating Seminar in the United Arab Emirates

(Dubai, UAE) – On December 5-6, 2022, The R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA) in conjunction with the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF) hosted a World Handicap System (WHS) Course Rating Seminar at The Els Club, Dubai. The WHS began its launch in January 2020 with the union of The R&A and USGA in order to provide a uniform level of play for all golfers and a World System of course ratings.

The R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and engages and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale. The USGA is the United States national association of golf courses, clubs, and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules of golf.

The Course Rating is designed to assign a numerical value to represent the difficulty of the course for a scratch golfer and bogey golfer. This number is calculated by measuring the fairways, inspecting the bunkers, measuring the size and contours of the greens, determining the distance to hazards and out-of-bounds locations, and many more golf course characteristics. After rating the obstacles, and rating the golf course the Slope and Index are downloaded on the World System of course ratings.

This past week at The Els Club, Dubai, The R&A and USGA provided a two-day Beginner Course Rating Training Seminar for over 15 delegates from Federations and Association from countries such as United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Mauritius.

Representing and attending the Course Rating Seminar on behalf of the Emirates Golf Federation were Operations and Marketing Manager, Robert Fiala, newly appointed EGF Operations Assistant, Cristina Petrovici, and Thomas Hall, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club Assistant Golf Services Manager.

“It is important for us in the region to continue to push professional development”, said Robert Fiala. “This seminar was a great way to bring the region’s golf industry together while having the opportunity to learn a new skill. Due to the pandemic, many golf courses in the UAE and across the region have [provisional ratings]. The EGF will work with these golf courses in order to make sure the courses are rated properly and are included in the World System of course ratings. I feel that we have put together a team that will focus on accuracy and consistency in order to get the job done.”

The EGF will continue to work with The R&A and the USGA in order to provide golf professionals in the region the opportunities to further develop their careers within the industry. To learn more about The R&A and the USGA please follow this link – https://www.randa.org/