Louisiana Golf Association

About Us |

Staff Board of Directors LGA Mission History of the LGA Employment Opportunities

Championships |

Championships Schedule / Registration General Championship Information USGA Schedule Results History Future Sites

Handicapping |

Online Score Posting LGA Handicapping Information How To Get A Handicap Forming A Club Authorized Golf Clubs Revision Schedule USGA Handicap Material

Course Rating |

LGA Course Rating / History Course Rating Process / Definitions How Changes Effect Course Ratings

News |

Press Releases "Inside the Ropes" Articles

Volunteer | Links | Site Map

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Carr McCalla
Louisiana Golf Association
(www.lgagolf.org)
E-mail address: lgagolf@lgagolf.org
For Release: Upon Receipt

LGA USING GPS EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE LOUISIANA GOLF COURSES

July 28, 2010 -- Lafayette, LA -- It is hard to believe that we are already into the second half of 2010. The year has been exciting and productive thus far, and we expect to keep the momentum as our championship season wraps up with the Mid Amateur (Southern Trace), Senior Amateur (TPC Louisiana), and Senior 4-Ball (OakWing).

While the championship season does require a significant amount of time and energy during the summer, the Louisiana Golf Association also visits golf courses that are due for a course rating in accordance with USGA guidelines. More specifically, a golf course should be rated every three years in its initial nine years of existence and every ten years thereafter. Also, a course that undergoes a major renovation that causes permanent changes will need to be re-rated.

With all of that said, we are pleased to share with you some information about updates to our course rating process. Beginning in 2010, the Louisiana Golf Association does not differentiate between course rating and course measurement services. That is, when we visit a golf course for rating, it must also be measured to ensure the USGA Course and Slope Ratings are accurate. After all, valid course and slope ratings are essential in producing handicap indexes.

We are confident in our ability to measure courses using recently acquired GPS equipment. The equipment consists of a handheld pc, a GPS receiver, and a backpack/mount for the receiver…just think Sky Caddie commercials. Measuring a golf hole consists of storing features, such as tee boxes, fairway turning points, and front/back of green. The equipment also allows us to measure elevation changes, which has an impact on effective playing length of a hole. All of this is made possible by satellite reception, and we feel that the accuracy and reliability provided by using GPS equipment exceeds that of alterative measuring methods.

Thus far in 2010, we have rated and measured five golf courses. We will continue to measure Louisiana golf courses at a steady pace, and look forward to reaching all of them over time. If you are a golf course representative and are interested in having your course measured and rated, please contact our Course Rating Department at (337) 265-3938 or e-mail lrainwater@lgagolf.org.

Louisiana Golf Association