Topography

1. TOPOGRAPHY GENERAL

Topography is an evaluation of the impact of terrain on play. Topography is a factor only if: • Slopes and mounds in the fairway landing zones affect stance and/or lie; or • The shot to the green is uphill or downhill. NOTE: Slopes, hills, mounds, or stance problems in the rough bordering the landing zones and around the green are taken into account by the Recoverability and Rough rating, not Topography.

ONE-SHOT HOLES (PAR-3)

Use the Par-3 Hole column and rate Topography based on the elevation difference between the tee and the green. For holes where the bogey player cannot reach the green in one shot, rate Topography as a two-shot hole.

TWO-SHOT HOLES

Rate the approach shot to the green based on the stance or lie in the landing zone and the elevation change from the landing zone to the green.

THREE (OR MORE) SHOT HOLES

For shots from landing zone to landing zone, use the top “Almost Level with Fairway” row and rate Topography based on stance or lie difficulty only. Rate the approach shot to the green based on the stance or lie in that landing zone and the elevation change from that landing zone to the green. Rate each of the individual landing zones and use the highest rating.

TOPOGRAPHY RATING TABLE

The table provides ratings for both scratch and bogey players. The same table is used for both genders. Determine the scratch rating value, then re-enter the table to determine the bogey rating value. Minimum rating for par-4 and par-5 holes is 1. Evaluate both scratch and bogey landing zones. • Consider lay-ups when determining the landing zone locations. • Use the “Almost Level with Fairway” row unless the change in elevation from approach shot landing zone to green is at least 10 feet. Elevation changes of more than 10 feet should be rounded to the nearest 10-foot increment.

Follow these guidelines when evaluating stance and/or lie: • Use the “Minor Problem” column even if the fairway is level.

• Use the other four columns if the fairway terrain makes stance or lie increasingly more difficult. • Consider the nature of the shot being played (e.g. an uphill lie to an elevated target is much easier than a downhill lie to the same target).

TOPOGRAPHY RATING TABLE

Change in Elevation (feet) from Approach Shot Landing Zone to Green

Uphill Downhill Par-3 Hole

Minor Problem Stance or Lie in Landing Zone

Minor to Moderate Moderately Awkward Significantly Awkward Extremely Awkward

Almost Level with Fairway Less than 10'

0 1 2 3 4 5

+10 10 through 14 +20 15 through 24 +30 25 through 34 +40 More than 35 –10 -10 through -14 1 2 3 4 5 6 –20 -15 through -24 2 3 4 5 6 7 –30 -25 through -34 3 4 5 6 7 8 –40 More than -35 4 5 6 7 8 9