
- Find the "hole" column which lists the holes from 1 to 18. Typically, the first thing on a golf scorecard is the list of holes.
- Identify the front and back 9 sections that split the course into 2 halves. ...
- Note the color names on the side which indicate each hole's distance. These colors represent the placement of the tee boxes on each hole.
- Look for the handicap section which ranks the holes by difficulty. Most scorecards also have a column which notes the handicap or index of each hole.
- Spot the par information which states how many shots you should take. Par means the expected number of strokes on a hole.
How to fill out a golf scorecard?
Understanding a Golf Scorecard and How to Use It History and Accolades. The front of a scorecard will usually have the golf course’s logo or a picture of its signature... Tees and Yardage. A golf course’s tees and yardages are always listed in …
How to use the handicap line on a golf scorecard?
Oct 25, 2019 · Use A Golf Scorecard App. If you have a phone handy then you may be more inclined to use technology and use a golf scorecard app to complete your scores such as mScorecard. This can prove to be a more efficient method for many golfers and help to provide more in-depth data about a round which will help with improving your golf game.
How to read a golf scorecard?
1. Play brilliant golf, have loads of fun and hopefully clean up. 2. Accurately mark the score of one of your playing partners by filling in a scorecard. You’ve heard the phrase ‘you shouldn’t mark your own homework’ – this is the golf equivalent. By marking someone else’s scorecard, you are saying you witnessed them play that round of golf.
How to keep score in golf?
First, find the member with the lowest course handicap and subtract that number from all four players' course handicaps. The lowest member should now have a handicap of zero. In our example foursome, Jack has the lowest handicap of 12 and subtracts that number from the three other players. Applying Course Handicaps

How do you read a golf score?
0:062:16Golf Basics : How Does Golf Scoring Work? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo every shot counts whoever has the lowest scores wins the other scoring on golf is like if you'reMoreSo every shot counts whoever has the lowest scores wins the other scoring on golf is like if you're watching it on a television.
How do you use a handicap scorecard in golf?
To find his handicap for a round, a golfer locates on the scorecard the slope and course rating for the tees from which he played. The course rating is subtracted from the player's score, which is then divided by 113 and multiplied by the slope for the tees played. The resulting number is the handicap for that round.
How do you keep score on a golf scorecard?
The Simple Basic of Golf Scoring: Count Every Swing Every time you make a stroke, count it. At the end of each hole - after you've rolled the ball into the cup - tally the strokes you used on that hole. And that's your score for the hole.Jun 28, 2018
What does par 4 5 Mean on a golf scorecard?
Par 4: 251 to 470 yards. Par 5: 471 yards or more. For women, the values vary only slightly. Par 3: Up to 210 yards.Jan 10, 2020
How do you read a handicap scorecard?
To find his handicap for a round, a golfer locates on the scorecard the slope and course rating for the tees from which he played. The course rating is subtracted from the player's score, which is then divided by 113 and multiplied by the slope for the tees played. The resulting number is the handicap for that round.
What should a beginner golfer score?
According to National Golf Foundation data, 45% of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round. With that said, it is believed that a 108 is considered to be a good score for a beginner golfer, which equates to double bogey on each hole of a par 72 course.Aug 14, 2013
How many GIR should I hit?
So how many greens in regulation should amateurs strive to hit per round? Tina Tombs, a former LPGA pro and a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, said a high-handicapper should set a goal at seven greens in regulation, while a lower handicap should strive for 10 per round.Nov 10, 2021
How are Stableford points calculated?
Stableford ScoringCalculate your standard score for each hole. For example, if you shoot two over par, your score would be +2. ... Adjust your score for each hole based on your handicap. ... Convert your score for each hole to the Stableford system. ... Add up your total points for the course.
Why do golfers use scorecards?
The golf scorecard is used by golfers all over the world when they are playing a round of golf at any of the vast amount of golf courses. This can range from the PGA Tour to even crazy golf! It helps players to track their performance both individually and in competition against others.
How long is a golf scorecard?
Typically the scorecard will be around 6 inches long by 4..5 inches when it is folded. This makes it easy to carry in a pocket or golf bag without taking up too much room. Each golf scorecard has some common elements that are important to understand when playing a round of golf.
How to score a birdie in golf?
They work as follows: 1 Solid circle symbol – Represents an Eagle or better score (e.g. an Albatross or hole in one) 2 Circle symbol – Represents a Birdie 3 No symbol – Represents a Par 4 Square symbol – Represents a Bogey 5 Solid square symbol – Represents a Double-bogey or worse
What does 18 mean on a golf scorecard?
18 means that it is the expected easiest hole on the golf course and 1 means that it is the expected hardest hole on the golf course. The handicap strokes section of a scorecard is fundamental for golfers when calculating their score based on their golf handicaps.
What is handicap strokes?
The handicap strokes section of a scorecard is fundamental for golfers when calculating their score based on their golf handicaps. This is the case both individually and in competition. The best way to illustrate this is to use an example golfer of with a 9 golf handicap. What happens in this case is you will deduct one stroke for the each ...
What are the different formats of golf?
There are different formats that golf is played under. Ranging from stroke play to stableford. It is important to factor this in when completing your score card, especially in competition. Depending on the type of competition that you are playing will impact how you mark your scores.
Does each hole have a handicap?
As mentioned above, each hole is assigned a handicap index . By using the calculations above you will be able to correctly enter your net score for the round oppose to your gross score.
What is a golf scorecard?
Golf scorecards allow golfers to track their score as well as providing vital information about the course. The total score is based upon strokes and handicaps and compared to the other players to determine a winner. If you are tracking your own progress as a golfer, scorecards can also be useful as a non-competitive reference.
What does par mean in golf?
Par means the expected number of strokes on a hole. For example, you should take 4 shots on a par 4 and 3 shots on a par 3. You can find the par information in the par row on the scorecard. The average golf course is a par 72, which means that the pars of all the holes added together equals 72.
How many holes are there in golf?
Golf courses vary between 9 hole courses and 18 hole courses. Some scorecards will have a map of the course with each hole on the map having its number next to it. Holes are typically played in order from 1 to 18.
What is the back 9 of golf?
Holes 1 to 9 are known as the front 9 and holes 10 to 18 are known as the back 9. After the 9th and 18th hole sections of the scorecard you will see the words "Out" and "In" respectively. The 9th hole marks the end of the "Out" section which means playing away from the clubhouse.
What is it called when you take 2 shots on a par 5?
Getting the ball in the hole from the tee is a "hole in one." Taking 2 shots on a par 5 is called an "albatross" or a "double-eagle." Taking 2 shots on a par 4 or 3 shots on a par 5 is called an "eagle." Taking 2 shots on a par 3, 3 shots on a par 4, or 4 shots, on a par 5 is a "birdie."
Why is a scorecard important in golf?
The scorecard has a lot of useful features that are very beneficial when playing your golf round. Learning the yardage for each hole and knowing how to write in scores helps keep golf competitive and fun!
How many holes are there in a golf scorecard?
Standard golf courses usually have a total par of 36 for each side making 72, par for 18 holes. Some courses may be higher or lower depending on the hole structure of the course.
What is the hardest hole in golf?
Handicap numbers range from 1-18 and rank the difficulty of each hole. A hole with a 1 handicap will be the hardest hole, and a hole with an 18 will be the easiest hole. Note: Some courses will split the handicap ratings per 9 holes so you will have a different set of handicap ratings for every 9 holes you play. (1-9)
How to play golf after work?
You and your friends decide to play a round of golf after work one day and head over to your local golf course. After you book your tee time, you head in the pro shop and pay for your round. The pro shop attendant hands you a scorecard and tells you where the first hole is to tee off.
What is the slope rating?
The slope rating is the difficulty the USGA has rated the course comparing the score for a ‘bogey golfer’ to a ‘scratch’ golfer. The range of the slope is usually between 55 and 155 with the average course rating being 113 for a course of medium difficulty.
Introduction
If you are new to golf and picking up a scorecard for the first time it can look more complicated than learning a foreign language. What do all the numbers mean? What should I fill in and when?
Before Your Round
In this paragraph we will show you what to do before you even tee off. Shown in our example with a blue box around it, you’ll want to complete the top part of the scorecard. Here’s how you should complete each box:
During Your Round
This is when you fill in most of the scorecard (shown in the red box ). Here’s what each column means and how you should fill it in:
After Your Round
After you walk off the final green there is a final bit of admin to do before you hit the bar! This is shown in the green box. This will make sure the card is ready for submission and no silly penalties or disqualifications happen:
What is handicap in golf?
The "Handicap" line of the scorecard rates the holes for use by golfers who carry a handicap index. The handicap index is used to produce a course handicap, and the course handicap tells golfers how many strokes they get to take off their gross scores to produce a net score .
How do you know how many strokes you get to take in order to make use of the handicap line?
If your course handicap is 18 and you're playing just to post a score for handicap purposes (you're not playing against someone in a match, in other words), then 18 is how many strokes you get to take.
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Most golf scorecards contain several rows of information. For example, a scorecard will always have the "Hole" row, the numbers 1 through 18 corresponding to the holes being played.

Hole #
- Find the "hole" column which lists the holes from 1 to 18. Typically, the first thing on a golf scorecard is the list of holes. Golf courses vary between 9 hole courses and 18 hole courses. Some scorecards will have a map of the course with each hole on the map having its number next to it.[1] X Research source Holes are typically played in order from 1 to 18. In some case…
- Identify the front and back 9 sections that split the course into 2 halves. Full size or 18 hole c…
Yardage
Tee Colors
Name
- Now that you know which hole you are starting on, it’s time to observe the yardage for each hole. The yardage distance for each hole will be displayed under the hole number and will vary depending on what the par is for the hole (more on this later). If you ever want to find yardages on your own, you are going to want to use a rangefinder. Check out my options foraffordable rangef…
Par
- Each colored tee represents different yardagesthat you will play on each hole. If you want to play the course longer, you can play from the top tee which is the first tee all the way to the top- left of the scorecard. The yardages of each colored tee keep going down the further you go down the scorecard. All courses have different colored tee markers so it’s best to look at which color you …
Keeping Score
- Under the colored tees, there is a box on the far left side to put the names of those playing. The maximum number of players in a group will be 4 golfers.
Handicap
- After everyone’s name has been written on the left side of the scorecard, it is important to look at the PAR for each hole and then at the total for each 9 holes. Standard golf courses usually have a total par of 36 for each side making 72, par for 18 holes. Some courses may be higher or lower depending on the hole structure of the course. 1. Par 3’s, will have lower yardage and it is expect…
Course Rating
- When playing a standard stroke play match, you will be counting the number of shots it takes to get the golf ball in the hole from the tee box, writing the total under the appropriate hole. Golf Scoring Vocabulary: After counting the number of shots, you can use the following terms when writing in your score 1. Double eagle (Albatross): 3 strokes under par 2. Eagle: 2 Strokes under p…
Slope Rating
- Each scorecard will have a row titled “handicap,” and there will be a number under each hole. Handicapnumbers range from 1-18 and rank the difficulty of each hole. A hole with a 1 handicap will be the hardest hole, and a hole with an 18 will be the easiest hole. Note: Some courses will split the handicap ratings per 9 holes so you will have a different set of handicap ratings for ever…
Making The Round Official
- The course rating located on the scorecard is the assumed score a “scratch” golfer would shoot at the course. The number is usually between 67-77. The lower the course rating, the easier the course, as rated by the USGA. (United States Golf Association) There will be a course rating for each colored tee so make sure you are looking at the correct row of the tee you are playing.