So you want to learn how to read a golf scorecard? Perhaps you’re new to golf  or maybe you’ve just never kept score. Maybe you’ve kept score but are curious about what those other numbers besides “Hole” and “Par” mean. Or maybe you’re just bored because it’s December and, like me, you’re reading anything remotely golf-related to pass time until spring. Whatever your reason, welcome to MyGolfSpy’s guide on how to read a golf scorecard.

This is intended only as a general introduction and not a detailed explanation. Details on handicapping, scorekeeping, stroke play versus matchplay and all other aspects of the game can be found on the web site of your local golf association.

What’s on a golf course scorecard?

There are a few standard things that most scorecards will have so let’s cover the basics. Information on your scorecard will be broken down into two categories: course information and scoring information. Let’s break those down.

Tell me about the course.

There is likely a section on your scorecard that covers the general rules of golf, any special local rules, pace of play (how long it should take a group to play 18) and a few other reminders including course etiquette.

You should also see these items listed on your scorecard for each tee box:

Course Rating: This tells you the general difficulty of a golf course. Generally, you’ll see the course rating get higher as you move back from the most forward set of tees. However, In my example here, you see that the red tees have a higher slope and course rating than the white tees.  Slope Rating: This ranges between 55 and 155 with 113 considered average. This number represents how challenging this particular course is in relation to other courses.

Who Determines The Rating?

The USGA/R&A determine the calculations that go into course rating and slope rating.  A course rating uses total yardage and factors such as trees, penalty areas and bunkers.

These figures could be noted in the scoring section like the Pinehills scorecard above or they could be stored in the local rules section like the scorecard from Maplegate below.

These become important when you want to compete against another golfer or a group of players with different skill levels in what is called a “net” competition. The handicapping system in golf uses a formula that takes the course rating and slope rating of the tee you are playing along with your handicap index to determine the number of shots you are expected to be over par in stroke play. You and your playing partner(s) will do this to see how many handicap strokes you are getting. You will then subtract these from your total score (gross score) to get your net score at the end of the round. A “gross” competition does not allow for any handicap strokes to be allocated.

Stableford or Matchplay

If you’re playing a different kind of such as Stableford or match play, you leverage the handicap ratings on the holes themselves (more on that below) to determine on which holes you get strokes.

That would mean if your course handicap was five, you would get a stroke on the four hardest holes so getting a par would count as a net birdie for match play after you deduct your stroke.

Where do I put my score?

On the scoring section of the scorecard, you will find columns or rows to record the scores for each hole. You write your group scores for each hole next to the respective hole number.

Your scorecard will likely be broken into two sections of nine holes each. From time to time you may need to flip it over to record your scores on the second nine:

Hole Number: Is the number of the hole being played. Holes one through 9 (the “front” or “out” half) will be in one section. Holes 10 through 18 (the “back” or “in” side) will be on the other. Par: The number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to complete the hole.  For most courses, this will be either a 3, 4 or 5.   Handicap: The relative difficulty of each hole compared to others on the course. The lower the handicap number, the more difficult the hole is considered. So the No. 1 handicap hole is the most difficult hole and the 18th-ranked hole is the easiest. This information is necessary. Especially if you are trying to compete against fellow golfers using handicap indexes to calculate where you get strokes. Yardage: The distance in yards from each tee to the green.

Additionally, your scorecard may be like mine here and show a hole overview with fairway shapes, doglegs and penalty areas.

There will generally be lines for four players’ scores. There may also be a +/- section you can use to mark who won the hole in matchplay.

There’s also places for the date, the scorer’s signature, and an attester’s signature. If you are playing in a tournament, you’ll need to submit your card after your round is over. Also remember it will not be valid without the two signatures.

Why should I care?

When playing a casual round or just starting out in golf, it is understandable why one might not be interested in keeping track of your scores. Especially if you’re not finishing a few holes a round.  No one likes to be putting Xs or double-digit numbers on the scorecard. However the information you get from it can be helpful in learning where you have an opportunity to improve.

On the other hand, if you want to play a match against your partner you will need to keep track of scores. This happens at each hole to see who is winning. If you want to make it as fair as possible, you’ll want to establish a handicap index. This will further enable you to compare yourself to and compete against fellow golfers on an even playing field.

At the end of the day, I do feel that keeping score is great. It will help you get a good summary of your round and provide a benchmark for future rounds.  And you’ll want some record of your first eagle, albatross or hole-in-one!

Thank you for reading the How to Read a Golf Scorecard: A MyGolfSpy Guide. If you liked this article and learned more while reading it please comment below!

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