Stupid Golf Question
What is stroke index?
The scorecard ranks every hole from 1 to 18 and someone says you get a stroke here
Plain answer first
The plain answer
Stroke index is the scorecard ranking used to allocate handicap strokes across the holes. Index 1 receives a stroke before index 2, and so on; it is an allocation tool, not proof that every golfer will find the same hole hardest.
The NPG answer
It is a distribution list for handicap strokes, not the course predicting your personal disaster hole.
When it matters
It matters in handicap match play and other formats where players receive strokes on specific holes.
What to do next
Confirm how many strokes you receive, then mark the lowest-numbered stroke-index holes where they apply.
Do this next
What is match play?
Match play means you compete hole by hole instead of by total strokes.
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