"The problem is that not even 5% of players actually know this, " said Steven Edmondson, the USGA's managing director for handicapping and course rating.

WSJ: Golf Journal: Does the Handicap System Need a Makeover?

Most of the world already uses the USGA's course rating and Slope standards, but CONGU relies mainly on its own system and Australia does not yet use Slope, although it will by the end of 2013.

WSJ: Golf Journal: Does the Handicap System Need a Makeover?

It may seem peevish to complain that the course generally acknowledged as the toughest in America (the Ocean Course's Slope rating is 155 and its course rating is 79.6 from the extreme tips) is not tough enough, but the truth is that, for the pros, Dye's masterpiece can be had.

WSJ: PGA Championship: The PGA Meets Pete Dye's Tricks

Moreover, they would advise you that is your best course to maintain your credit rating.

FORBES: Addressing The Various Debt-Limit Delusions

Of course, an initial junk rating isn't the end of it, and GMAC could make it back to investment grade, even shortly after the deal closes.

FORBES: Still In The Junkyard

These include side deals "not made in the ordinary course of business, " debt-rating changes, unregistered stock sales and more.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The simple message from Moody's to Germany is that it won't retain its AAA rating if the eurozone continues on its course of muddling through each successive crisis.

BBC: Eurozone nations�� sovereignty v AAA

The shopping agents and rating sites will themselves no doubt be ranked in due course, and their numbers are bound to come down.

ECONOMIST: A survey of e-commerce

And when a sovereign gets a downgrade (as Greece of course has) then corporates based in that country will see their own credit rating downgraded.

FORBES: Why Coca Cola Is Leaving Greece