Stupid Golf Question

What do Out and In mean on a golf scorecard?

The card totals Out and In instead of just saying front and back nine

Plain answer first

The plain answer

Out is the total for holes 1 through 9, and In is the total for holes 10 through 18. The names come from older course layouts that commonly traveled outward from the clubhouse and then returned, but modern courses do not have to follow that shape.

The NPG answer

Out is the first half, In is the second half, and neither one is asking for directions.

When it matters

It matters when checking nine-hole subtotals and adding the complete 18-hole score.

What to do next

Add holes 1 through 9 for Out, holes 10 through 18 for In, then add both subtotals for the round total.

Do this next

How do I read a golf scorecard?

A scorecard combines hole distances, par, handicap-stroke allocation, totals, course ratings, and optional performance stats.

Read the related question

Related questions

Join the loop

Want the next note?

Get simple golf survival notes built for the exact awkward moments regular golfers run into.

Ask Mully the follow-up

If this answer unlocked a second question, open the chat here and keep going.