Golf Betting Sites
The 2021 PGA Tour season is underway following a 2020 campaign which saw phenomenal golf betting interest.
The PGA Tour was the first of the major North American sporting organizations to return to play last year. The added attention from sports fans and bettors led to the rapid addition of betting markets at most major sportsbooks.
Best golf betting sites. How to bet on golf Outrights and futures bets. Outright betting in golf is simply wagering on a specific player to win the tournament. Because of the difficulty of a player winning a tournament in fields that are often around 150, outright odds are much higher than someone betting.
This page will look at the various ways to bet on golf, which can be done for roughly 50 of 52 weeks in a given calendar year. We’ll highlight weekly golf betting odds and the top sites, and break down the many available betting markets. Finally, we discuss various strategies and areas of research when betting on a golf tournament, and spotlight 2021’s four scheduled majors.
Due to the nature of golf – including the impact of Mother Nature, extensive traveling, and course history – it’s a sport in which research can be used heavily to find the right player on the right week.
Not all sites are equal. We only list golf betting websites that offer odds for all PGA, LPGA, and EPGA events. Most will also offer wagering on smaller tours like the Web.com and Championship tours. Golf Betting Bonuses. A long-running marketing tactic used by golf betting sites around the world is the new player signup bonus. Golf betting websites provide flexibility when making wagers on tournament event winners. They will provide you with the option of gambling on the entire 72-hole tournament or on 18-hole matchups. Wagers can also be made based on the designated tournament groupings. Full golf betting guide including the top 5 sites to bet on, legal sportsbooks in the US including bonuses from Caears, Harrah's & William Hill. Legal Casinos BetMGM Casino (NJ, PA, WV). Best Golf Betting Sites Bovada Sportsbook Review When it comes to sportsbooks geared to American bettors, Bovada offers everything you need to bet on the NFL, NBA, MLB and college sports.
Golf betting odds this week
Best golf betting sites
How to bet on golf
Outrights and futures bets
Outright betting in golf is simply wagering on a specific player to win the tournament. Because of the difficulty of a player winning a tournament in fields that are often around 150, outright odds are much higher than someone betting on team sports is used to.
Strategy: Because the return on investment can be so high, you can bet on numerous players and still make a nice profit if one of your players wins. Betting on a couple players in each “tier” can be effective. For example, favorites (+2500 or lower), contenders (+2500 – +5000), longshots (+5000 or higher). Betting $10 on six players in that scenario would be just $60 invested. Even if you bet on a heavy favorite at +1000, he would win back $100 for a strong profit.
Top 5, 10, 20
A less risky version of outright betting is wagering on a player to finish in the top 5, 10 or 20 in a tournament, depending on what your sportsbook offers. While it doesn’t offer the high odds that outright betting does, it is much less volatile and rewards steady performances from your golfers.
Strategy: If you prefer betting on placement instead of outright, you’ll likely need a slightly larger bankroll to see decent profit. The market for placement betting is completely different than outright. You’re looking for more consistent golfers who may not have the firepower to win most weeks but provide steady results with a high percentage of made cuts.
Matchups
There are many forms of matchup betting on golf depending on your sportsbook.
Head-to-head: These can be week-long or single-round bets that put two players against each other with odds on who will post the better score. This provides a unique market where you can bet against a player you may be down on for the week compared to his pricing.
Nationality: Many sportsbooks will provide lines on which countryman will perform the best for the tournament. If you’re high on a certain player but don’t want to jump into an outright or top 5 bet, you can get decent value on a nationality bet depending on who is in the field.
3-Ball: An increasingly popular way to bet on golf because it provides a way to gamble on each round. 3-Ball betting typically uses the pairings in the tournament and gives odds on which player in the group will perform the best in the round. This can provide for entertaining viewing if you bet on a player in a featured group on TV.
First-round leader
Betting on the first-round leader is a niche market but seems to be growing. It is still not available on every sportsbook.
Strategy: It’s much easier to lead a single round than win an entire golf tournament, but odds for first-round leader mostly remains the same as outright odds. Keeping an eye on weather conditions is key to pick a player who tees off in calm conditions.
Live golf betting
Golf has live betting like most sports, except it allows you to put in much more research with ample time between rounds.
Golf Betting System
Strategy: Most live betting odds on the outright winner stay true to the leaderboard, but the market often still favors the well-known and highly ranked players. Taking a look at statistics and jumping on a player that is in contention but underperforming in a category he or she usually excels in can be a good strategy in live betting on golf.
Golf betting strategies
Bankroll management
Bankroll management can be tricky in golf due to the alarming potential of profit when outright betting. It’s important to stay reasonable and stick to a weekly limit on how much you bet on a tournament. Picking an outright winner is hard and you will often go weeks without getting a winner. But the profit of just one winner will typically make up for multiple weeks and more, especially if it wasn’t a heavy favorite. Pairing your outright bets with top 10 or top 20 bets is a good way to get some return on investment instead of going all-in on outright winners.
Injury reports
Injuries aren’t as common in golf as most sports, so there’s typically not much news on injuries most weeks. But there can be some withdrawals on Wednesday evenings or Thursday mornings, so it’s good to stay up-to-date on any lingering injuries that could come into play and ruin your bet.
Course form and recent form
Form will be talked about endlessly when taking in any content from golf betting experts. Not only is recent form important like it is in most sports, but the unique-to-golf course form is also a key factor. Finding players who perform well at a course in the past is an element that should always be considered when betting. Augusta National is a course that strongly favors course history due to its tricky nature, but an easier, simpler course like TPC Deere Run shouldn’t weigh course history as strongly.
Schedules
Golf requires a lot of traveling at times and has a very exhausting schedule at some points in the year. Keeping an eye on players traveling on short rest from overseas or someone who has played multiple weeks in a row can be a simple way to fade players who might be getting too much love from the casual eye.
Line movement
Most normal golf tournaments don’t have much line movement throughout the week leading up to the tournament, but some sportsbooks will have more favorable odds than others. If you see someone early in the week that might get a push to lower odds because of talk from the media or a storyline, it’s smart to jump on it quickly. Otherwise, it’s usually fine to take your time.
Situational betting
Golf has a lot of external factors to keep in mind each week. Weather is something you should always look at before betting. There are players who excel in easy conditions and there are those who do better when the wind is blowing and good scores are harder to come by. Getting ahead of the curve by checking the forecast and taking players who fit it is important. Motivating factors from week-to-week can also play a role – FedExCup points needed, a win to get a Masters invitation, local support etc.
Golf betting stats: Which ones matter?
Thanks to websites and podcasts specializing in golf betting content, knowing the golf stats that matter each week has gotten increasingly easier for bettors. But there’s still plenty of individual research to be done that can help you get ahead of the market on a player that might be peaking at the right time. Generally, the strokes gained statistics are the golden measure in golf. But certain courses will favor “strokes gained: off-the-tee,” certain courses will favor “strokes gained: approach” and certain courses will favor “strokes gained: putting.” Most courses will favor that statistic year-to-year, but it can change depending on weather and how the course is set up.
It is generally smarter to favor players who excel in ball striking statistics – driving and approach shots – due to their ability to run away with a tournament if they have a good putting week.
Golf majors: odds and trends
Masters Tournament
The 2021 Masters takes place April 8-11, returning to its regular position on the PGA Tour schedule. It is always held at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, and is one of the most famous courses in the world.
Recent winners’ odds: Dustin Johnson (2020): +800, Tiger Woods (2019): +1400, Patrick Reed (2018): +5000, Sergio Garcia (2017): +3000
The Masters favors course history more than any other event on the PGA Tour based on Data Golf’s course history tool. Creative ball-strikers excel, as evidenced by recent winners like Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship will run May 20-23 at Kiawah Golf Resort (South Course) on Kiawah Island, S.C.
Recent winners’ odds: Collin Morikawa 2020: +3000, Brooks Koepka (2019, 2018): +1100, +2000, Justin Thomas (2017): +3000.
The PGA Championship is typically the easiest setup of the four majors and the most similar to a regular PGA Tour setup. That means if conditions allow, the tournament favors long and high hitters. Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship here at 13-under par.
US Open
The US Open is scheduled to return to its standard spot on the golf schedule from June 17-20. Torrey Pines (South) hosts the major for the first time since 2008, when Woods at minus-1 in a playoff.
Recent winners’ odds: Bryson DeChambeau (2020): +2500, Gary Woodland (2019): +7000, Brooks Koepka (2018, 2017): +2000, +4000.
The US Open is typically the toughest test of golf in the world each year. The USGA sets it up to ideally be a challenge to break par, which is often the case when looking at the winning score. Length and accuracy off the tee have been a key statistic in recent years as the courses have gotten longer.
The Open Championship
The Open Championship was canceled for 2020 but returns to the schedule for July 15-18. Royal St. George’s Golf Club in England will remain the host the 2021 Open Championship after losing the 2020 Open.
Recent winners’ odds: Shane Lowry (2019): +6600, Francesco Molinari (2018): +2500, Jordan Spieth (2017): +1400.
The Open Championship is always held at a classic links-style golf course that often has windy and tough conditions. If the weather is calm, players can go low and any style of player can win. Windy conditions favor solid ball strikers who can keep the ball low. It’s one of the few golf tournaments where long hitters don’t have much of an advantage.
Golf has always been a popular game with scores of fans around the world but the rise of golf betting has taken interest in the sport to a new level. PGA Tour, lower-level tour and international golf events run nearly every weekend of the year now and that brings plenty of golf betting opportunities along with them.
If you’re a passive golf fan, you can bet on a tournament winner from time to time and call it a day. If you’re a more passionate golfer (and fan) you can consider a wide range of PGA golf bets every week from the top 10 finishers to the score of your favorite golfer vs. another golfer, to live “next shot” bets and more.
You can also get out the crystal ball for the four Majors and pick your winners well in advance (at very good prices) thanks to a vast futures odds market for the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship.
With major technological advances in golf coverage and the volume of golf events increasing exponentially, live golf betting has also taken off. Golf bettors have taken notice with hundreds of thousands more spent on golf bets each year compared to the last.
Top golf betting sites online
Where to bet on golf online in the US
In years past, betting on golf required a trip to LasVegas or taking your chances with an offshore sportsbook. That’s no longer the case. In May 2018, the US Supreme Court weighed in on a case involving the legality of sports betting.
In a nutshell, the justices decided that it was a matter for the individual states to decide. Several states have picked up the ball and ran with it, and they now have a thriving sports betting industry as a result.
Golf bettors in legalized states will find that they have plenty of legal sportsbook options. Even better, they can bet on the PGA and smaller tours when and where they would like via sports betting apps or legal and regulated online sportsbooks. Here is a partial list of where you can bet on golf legally online in the US:
- NJ sports betting: Golf betting is thriving in New Jersey and it’s only going to get more prominent in the coming years. For those looking to attend and bet on a signature golf event in person in 2021, theUS Open takes place from June 17-20, 2021 at Torrey Pines, CA.
- PA sports betting: Pennsylvania entered the sports betting fray only a few months after New Jersey in 2018. There are several places for PA bettors to bet on golf online or via a sportsbook app. As always, it’s a good idea to find the best deal when opening up a new account. There aren’t any PGATour events scheduled for PA in 2021, but neighboring states New Jersey and Maryland will see The Northern Trust and BMW Championship respectively, in August.
- Indiana sports betting: Indiana sports betting took some time to go live, but it was time well spent. The retail side of things opened in September 2019, and online and mobile options launched the following month. The PGA Tour isn’t touching down in Indiana in 2021, but some options aren’t too far away for live golf. In July, the John Deere Classic will be in Silvis, IL and Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, KY.
- WV sports betting: West Virginia was one of the first states to act on legalizing sports betting in 2018. The retail side got up and running without a hitch, but there were some hiccups with online and mobile sports betting options. That’s all sorted out now. As mentioned, West Virginia is a regular stop on the PGA circuit.
- Iowa sports betting: The retail side of sports betting is up and running in the Hawkeye State. Because online and mobile are being unveiled in stages, bettors will need to visit a retail sportsbook to complete their registration in person.
- Colorado sports betting: Colorado has legal sports betting as of May, 2020. There are no scheduled PGA tournaments happening in the Centennial state this year.
- NewHampshire sports betting: New Hampshire legalized sports betting as of July 2019 and DraftKings launched in December.
How to bet golf futures
The most significant events on the PGA golf calendar naturally attract the most interest. On the PGA Tour, these four tournaments are, of course, the Majors. These events have a select line-up of the most prominent names to the field plus who has played well lately or placed well in past events.
Majors draw the most attention when it comes to golf betting and, thanks to golf futuresodds, you can weigh in on the winner of the events before they even take place.
For example say the Masters, one of the four Majors, is still a few months away. Let’s say you like the way one golfer has been playing thus far but he hasn’t captured a lot of attention. As a result, he might have some long odds to win the Masters. You can place a bet on him to win at these long odds and cash-in a nice payday if he wins.
It’s similar to how NFL bettors will place bets on the winner of the Super Bowl for the coming year. That’s another very active futures market and one which provides a chance at an excellent return if your hunches prove correct.
Check the live odds below for the latest odds on the next PGA tournament. Click on any odds to go directly to the sportsbook and start the process of making your bet.
Bet on golf majors in 2021
As mentioned, golf’s four Majors attract the most betting and viewing interest. These events are rich in history, stacked with the world’s best golfers and played on the most breathtaking golfcourses on the planet. What are these signature events and when do they take place? How can you bet on all aspects of them? Let’s take a look.
Bet on the Masters
Still the most popular of all golf’s events, the Masters is a massive highlight for sports bettors. It is typically the first Major on the calendar.
The 2021 Masters will return back to its usual spot in the Spring after last year’s tournament being postponed to November, and new champion Dustin Johnson is expected back to defend his green jacket.
2021 Masters Dates
- April 8-11, 2021
- Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA
- Purse Size: $11,500,000
- Defending Champion: Dustin Johnson
In 2020 Johnson blitzed his way to his first green jacket with a record -20 under par performance. In 2019, Tiger Woods completed a comeback for the ages in winning the Masters, the fifth time he has won this prestigious event in his legendary career. He’s second on the all-time list for Masters’ wins, behind only Jack Nicklaus and his six victories.
Bet on the PGA Championship
In 2020 the PGA was the first Major on the PGA rescheduled due to the Coronavirus lockdown earlier in the year. 23-year-old Collin Morikawa dazzled with a final round 64 and a tee shot on 16 at TPC Harding Park that will be remembered for decades.
Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey tied for second while Tiger Woods tied for 37th. Here is the current schedule for the 2021 PGA Championship.
2021 PGA Championship Dates & Location
- May 20-23, 2021
- The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina,
- Purse size: $11,000,000
- Defending Champion: Collin Morikawa
PGA Odds to Win
If you want to make a futures bet on the 2021 PGA Championship, check our full page for updated odds.
Bet on US Open 2021
While the Masters is held in high esteem, the PGA’s US Open can also stake its claim as the biggest event of the year for golfers.
The 2020 US Open fit that billing to a tee with a difficult course (Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY) navigated under par by only the best. In this case it was Bryson DeChambeau, who was the only player to finish under par at -6 despite, confoundingly, not hitting many fairways—usually considered essential at a US Open.
DeChambeau’s dazzling display earned him $2,250,000. If all goes according to plan, the 2021 US Open will return to its typical dates in mid-June.
US Open 2021 Dates & Location
- June. 17-20, 2021
- Torrey Pines, South Course, San Diego, CA
- Purse size: $12,500,000
- Defending Champion: Bryson Dechambeau
US Open Odds to Win 2021
If you want to bet on a player to win the 2021 US Open, odds on key players will be posted at DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook & BetMGM Sportsbook at the beginning of the 2021 PGA season.
Bet on the Open Championship
Held across the pond in the UK, the Open Championship has a history that can match up with any of the other majors. Sadly, due to Covid-19, the Open Championship was postponed for 2020, but returns in 2021.
2021 Open Championship Dates & Location
- July 15-18, 2021
- Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, ENG
- Purse size: $10,750,000
- Defending Champion: ShaneLowry
If the US Open is the toughest to win, then the event that’s also known as the British Open isn’t far behind. Ireland native Lowry celebrated the biggest win of his career in his home country, as last year’s edition in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Harry Vardon holds the record with six victories at this event, the last of which came in 1914.
How to bet on golf
If you’re comfortable betting on football or basketball, betting on golf can take some adjustment. At first glance, the different kinds of bets can seem like foreign concepts. The best place to start is with the golf betting basics and work your way up. A clear understanding of the main concepts and types of golf bets will help position you to make smarter bets as you go.
In golf, you bet on the performance of an individual, unlike the major team sports. Like team sports, though, you’ll still be doing research on past performance and current trends before making your bets.
Most popular types of golf bets
Let’s take a look at the basic types of golf bets you can place:
- ToWin: For this bet, you’re merely choosing the golfer who you think will win the event. You’ll find odds for all golfers in the field with odds ranging from favorites to longshots.
- Versus The Field: These bets can help to open up your rooting interest. Typically, these bets are offered as one of the favorites for the tournament versus the field. If you take the field (or a small field) of golfers vs. one particular player, and someone in your group wins, you have a winner.
- FinishingPosition: These bets revolve around which golfers will finish high in the tournament. Generally, you can place bets on a golfer to finish in the Top Five, Top 10 or Top 20.
- Head to Head: These types of bets are similar to what you see in the major team sports. Sportsbooks will pair up two golfers entered in the tournament and you can bet on which one you think will outperform the other.
- Group Betting: Similar to head-to-head bets, these bet surround a group of four golfers. Your job is to determine which of the four will post the best score.
- 2/3 Balls: These are head-to-head bets for a pair or group of 3. You pick which of the group you think will post the lowest score. Bettors can also select a tie if they believe that’s the most likely outcome.
- Each Way: An each-way bet is a wager on a golfer to win or place in the event, such as in the top five.
- First Round Leader: On the PGA Tour, tournaments span four rounds. For these bets, you’re simply choosing who you think the leader will be after Round One.
- Nationality: Sportsbooks will post odds for you to choose the best performing golfer by nationality, such as the top-performing American player or top UK finisher.
While there are distinct differences between betting on teams and individual sports, there is also some crossover. In fact, you’ll find that solid research skills translate well as you expand your horizons into different areas of sports betting.
If you have a knack for breaking down contests or events in another niche, there’s a chance you’ll catch on quickly as you look to branch out into new areas.
Live golf betting
One of the most significant developments in the sports betting world over the past few years has been live betting. Also known as “in play” betting, these are bets you can place as the action unfolds in real-time.
As a golf tournament plays out, you can react to what’s going on by placing some live bets. This market moves fast, so odds and opportunities will vary. Options include a head-to-head matchup of two golfers, or how many strokes it may take a golfer to complete an upcoming hole.
You can enjoy live betting online or via the mobile app of your choice. Since golf tournaments typically begin on a Thursday and go through Sunday, there could be a lot of unforeseen developments along the way.
In-play betting via a mobile app allows you to bet as the event happens, no matter where you are in one of the legalized states.
Golf prop betting
Prop betting is another way to get some skin in the game. It is different from worrying about which golfer is going to win or place. In short, prop bets are side wagers on events that may or may not happen during a tournament.
Offerings will vary by sportsbook and event, but you’ll find many similarities with the more experience you get. For example, you may see prop bets on the following:
- Will there be a playoff round?
- Top-performing American golfer
- Will combined birdies on hole four be over or under nine?
Prop bets can open up a new world of possibilities outside of your standard win and place bets. Be sure to check out the menu of offerings for upcoming tournaments at your sportsbook of choice.
How to bet on other PGA events and tours
While the majors get the most attention, that’s not all there is to see when it comes to betting on golf. The tour calendar is full of events that run from September through August.
The action intensifies in the spring and summer months with numerous events that are smaller than the Majors but attract plenty of interest.
For each of these events — and all of the others on the PGA Tour — you’ll find a full range of betting markets. You should note that most golf betting action will come on PGA Tour events. You may find action on lower-level tours such as the Senior and European circuits as well.
Bet on the LPGA
The LPGA, or Ladies Professional Golf Association, runs a full calendar of events as well. While prize pools are slightly smaller than on the men’s side of the equation, the competition is just as fierce.
You should note that LPGA events don’t attract as much betting interest as the PGA Tour does so you may have limited options. However, you can find some good value opportunities in a sport that doesn’t receive as much attention from oddsmakers.
Bet on Match Play Golf & Ryder Cup
For another wrinkle in golf betting, select match-play events occur throughout the year. In these events, you’ll find head-to-head opportunities, so a change-up in your approach is necessary.
In stroke-play events, the general goal is to find the winners and those who will play well. For match play, it’s all about the matchups. Which golfer in a pair will outperform the other?
Quite simply, it’s like betting on the winner of an NBA game. You’ll have a favorite and underdog for each matchup, and moneyline odds to go along with that.
The Ryder Cup is perhaps the most popular match-play event in the world. Teams from Europe and the US go head-to-head every two years, with the venue changing each time.
Fantasy golf
The daily fantasy sports(DFS) industry has come a long way since the early days. The various innovations contribute to its explosive growth.
Included on that list is DFS golf, a game that continues to grow in popularity. The two largest operators, DraftKings and FanDuel, offer games for the weekly PGA tournaments. Here’s how they compare to each other:
As with sports betting, the major events attract the most interest; however, there’s a loyal and devoted player base anytime there’s an event.
Thegoal is to build the highest-scoring lineup from a pool of golfers scheduled to compete, all while staying under the salary cap. Traditionally, the games will span the entire four days but you can also find DFS for single rounds and weekends.
You can find various game types such as tournaments and 50/50s, at different price points with the chance to win real money prizes. For the biggest events, such as the Masters and US Open, prize pools for the major tournaments can be massive.
As an example, DraftKings often runs a $2.5m guaranteed DFS special for The Players with a $1m prize for first. Visit DraftKings DFS to claim your $20 free and play golf DFS in over 40 states
Understanding golf betting odds
As with all other kinds of sports betting, the odds are a significant factor when it comes to golf. There are favorites and longshots to win each tournament. Your job is to find the winners and potential value plays that may win or place. For the 2020 SentryChampionship, for example, these were the starting odds for the fivefavorites:
- Dustin Johnson: +600
- Justin Thomas: +700
- Jon Rahm: +850
- Xander Schauffele: +1000
- Bryson DeChambeau: +1100
Oddsmakers deemed Johnson and Thomas as the most likely to take down the Sentry. They have shorter odds than the field as a result. You’ll find odds listed for all of the players in the field each week, ranging from low to high.
Sports Betting Golf
For example, odds for golfers at the Sentry start at a low +600 to an eye-popping +50,000. You’ll find a similar listing of odds when you dig into a future event.
It’s a similar story when you’re looking at other kinds of golf bets, such as top 10 or top 20 finishers in a tournament. For head to heads, groups and various prop bets, it’s a little different. Let’s take a look at the odds for a head-to-head matchup at the Sentry using a⅔ balls format as an example:
- Dustin Johnson: -185
- J.T. Poston: +230
- Tie: +750
As you can see, Johnson is a pretty big favorite here. To break down this head-to-head matchup, you’d want to approach it like how you would bet on a game:
- Which golfer is better overall?
- Who has played the best at recent events?
- Has either of them had success at the Sentry in the past?
As you gain experience with golf betting, you’ll come to find that the odds aren’t that hard to understand. Also, you’ll get to the point in which you’ll see those potential value opportunities, for example, such as a point spread that seems off in an NFL game.
For more on other “niche” sports you can bet on at US online sportsbooks, check our page here:
How to live stream Golf online
The traditional PGA Tour event stretches over four days, from Thursday to Sunday. It can be challenging to be in front of the TV for that long; however, you have options if you are on the go.
You can find live streams of PGA events online and via mobile. Some of them will come right from the sportsbooks themselves. The advent of live betting and sports wagering, in general, has been a catalyst on this front. We can assume that there will be a lot more to come here.
For your safety, stick to the legal and regulated US sites we recommend. If they offer a stream for an event you’re interested in, you’re good to go. If not, check out PGA.com for information on how and where you can legally and safely stream tour events.
Best Golf Betting Sites
GOLF TERMS
Betting On Pga Golf
There are hundreds of golf terms, some even the professional sometimes forget. Here are just a few of the basic terms you might hear. There are many sites online offering the full index.
Golf Betting Sites
- Birdie: When golfers achieve one stroke under par on a particular hole, for example, making a two on a par three hole is a birdie.
- Par: Players who meet the listed number of strokes for a hole make par.
- Bogey: If par for a hole is four and the player takes five strokes, this would be a bogey.
- Double bogey: Making two extra strokes above the listed par is a double bogey, something that can be fatal to a golfer’s card.
- Ace: Hitting a hole in one is known as an ace.
- Dogleg: A dogleg is a hole with a direct fairway, but then veering to the right or left.
- Sand trap: This is a green-side bunker or a fairway full of sand instead of grass.
- Approach shot: This is the term for a golfer aiming to land the ball on the green. The average measure is between 150 to 180 yards to the target.
- Follow through: Describes that part of the golfer’s swing that occurs after the club has connected with the ball.
- Flagstick: The flagstick is the tall pole indicating where the hole is on the green.
- Heading in: A term used when a player is heading toward the back nine and the clubhouse.
- Line: This is the line a golfer expects the ball to take as heads toward the hole.