Alaska Golf Association
Course Rating Services
The AGA administers the USGA Course and Slope Rating System across Alaska — ensuring every rated course meets the official standard that makes Handicap Indexes meaningful and fair.
14
Courses in Alaska
12
Currently Rated
78.0
Highest Rating (AK)
142
Highest Slope (AK)
What Is Course Rating?
The Foundation of Fair Golf
The USGA Course and Slope Rating System is the worldwide standard for measuring the playing difficulty of a golf course. Without it, a Handicap Index has no meaning — because a "bogey golfer" at a 6,000-yard mountain layout isn't experiencing the same challenge as one playing a 7,300-yard championship track.
A Course Rating expresses the expected score for a scratch golfer (0.0 Handicap Index) under normal playing conditions. A Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. Together, they allow players of all skill levels to compete fairly on any rated course in the world.
In Alaska, the AGA is the authorized USGA allied golf association responsible for conducting official course ratings and maintaining those records for all courses in the state.
"The Course Rating and Slope Rating system ensures that a 7 Handicap Index means exactly the same thing whether you're playing in Anchorage, Augusta, or Aberdeen."
— USGA World Handicap System
How the Rating Process Works
01
Course Measurement
A trained AGA rating team physically walks every hole, measuring yardage and documenting all obstacles, hazards, rough, fairway width, green size, and topographic features.
02
Obstacle Scoring
Each of the USGA's 10 obstacle factors is evaluated for both scratch and bogey golfer profiles: topography, fairway, green target, recoverability, rough, out of bounds, water, trees, bunkers, and psychological.
03
Rating Calculation
Using USGA-certified formulas, the team calculates both the Course Rating and Slope Rating for each set of tees — men's and women's ratings are calculated separately for all applicable tees.
04
USGA Submission
Ratings are reviewed, approved, and submitted to the USGA National Course Rating Database (NCRDB) where they become the official record used by GHIN and all handicap systems worldwide.
The 10 USGA Obstacle Factors
Topography
Elevation changes, uneven lies, and slope of fairways and greens.
Fairway
Width of the fairway at the landing zone and the consequences of missing it.
Green Target
Size of the putting surface and difficulty of the approach shot target.
Recoverability
How easily a player can recover from a missed green or fairway.
Rough
Density and height of rough adjacent to fairways and greens.
Out of Bounds
Proximity and frequency of out-of-bounds stakes and lateral hazards.
Water Hazards
Frequency and placement of lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands.
Trees
Density, height, and placement of trees in the line of play.
Bunkers
Number, placement, size, and difficulty of sand hazards.
Psychological
Visual intimidation, forced carries, and mental pressure on the player.
How to Request a Course Rating
The Request Process
1
Contact the AGA
Reach out to the AGA by email or phone to initiate a rating request. Provide your course name, location, number of holes, and approximate yardage for each set of tees you wish to have rated.
2
Schedule a Site Visit
The AGA will coordinate with a certified USGA rating team to schedule a visit during the playing season. Rating visits typically take a full day for 18-hole courses and a half day for 9-hole courses.
3
Prepare the Course
Ensure the course is in representative playing condition on the day of the visit — normal mowing heights, hazards clearly marked, and course setup as it would be for typical daily play. Temporary conditions should not be in place.
4
Rating Team Visit
A team of two or more certified raters will walk every hole, evaluate all obstacle factors, and complete the official USGA rating forms. Course management is welcome to accompany the team and provide course-specific information.
5
Review & Publication
Ratings are reviewed for accuracy and submitted to the USGA NCRDB. Once published, scores posted at your facility can be used by any GHIN member for their official Handicap Index. Re-ratings are recommended when significant course changes occur.
Request a Rating
Contact the AGA Handicap & Course Rating department to schedule a rating visit or ask questions about the process.
Phone
Hours
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm Alaska Time
USGA Database
Unrated Courses in Alaska
The following Alaska courses are not currently rated under the USGA Course and Slope Rating System. Scores posted at these facilities cannot be used toward an official USGA Handicap Index. The AGA encourages these courses to pursue a rating — contact us to get started.
Muskeg Meadows — Wrangell
Mendenhall Golf Course — Juneau
If you represent one of these facilities and are interested in obtaining an official USGA Course and Slope Rating, contact the AGA at handicappingalaska@wagolf.org or 907-216-4719.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a course be re-rated?
A course should be re-rated whenever significant changes have been made that affect playing difficulty — such as new tee boxes, major tree removal, added or removed water hazards, significant bunker changes, or green reconstruction. The USGA recommends reviewing ratings every 10 years at a minimum even without major changes.
Is there a cost to have a course rated?
Rating fees vary. Contact the AGA directly at handicappingalaska@wagolf.org or 907-216-4719 for current fee information. The AGA works to make course rating services accessible to all Alaska golf facilities.
Can a 9-hole course be officially rated?
Yes. Nine-hole courses receive an official USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating just like 18-hole courses. Scores on 9-hole courses are posted as 9-hole scores in GHIN and are combined into 18-hole differentials for handicap purposes.
What is the difference between men's and women's ratings?
Men's and women's ratings are calculated separately because the USGA system uses different scratch and bogey golfer benchmarks for each gender. A tee set will have both a men's and women's Course Rating and Slope Rating — the same tee can play quite differently for each group, which is why both are calculated.
What is the USGA National Course Rating Database (NCRDB)?
The NCRDB is the official USGA database of all rated courses in the United States and is publicly accessible at ncrdb.usga.org. It is the authoritative source for Course and Slope Ratings and is the data used by GHIN to calculate Handicap Indexes. If a course's rating in GHIN doesn't match what you see posted at the course, the NCRDB is the official record.
Does military course access affect rating eligibility?
No. Military-access courses like Moose Run, Eagleglen, and Chena Bend receive official USGA ratings just like public courses. AGA-authorized members who gain access to these facilities — through active duty status, retirement, or guest privileges — can post scores for official handicap purposes.
Play Alaska. Track Your Game.
A USGA Handicap Index through the AGA lets you compete fairly on any rated course in Alaska — and anywhere in the world.