GUIDE · STROKE INDEX
Stroke index, shown as HCP on many scorecards, ranks the holes from 1 to 18. Here is what it means and how it allocates your strokes.
Stroke index 1 is regarded as the hardest hole on the course, and stroke index 18 as the easiest. The ranking has nothing to do with the hole number: hole 7 can perfectly well be stroke index 1.
Stroke index has one main job: deciding on which holes you receive your strokes.
The strokes of your playing handicap are given in stroke index order, starting with stroke index 1.
| Playing handicap | Strokes received |
|---|---|
| 5 | One stroke on stroke index 1 to 5 |
| 18 | One stroke on every hole |
| 24 | One stroke everywhere, and a second on stroke index 1 to 6 |
| Plus 2 | You give one stroke on stroke index 17 and 18 |
Your playing handicap depends on your Handicap Index, the Slope and the Course Rating: the strokes received calculator works it out for you.
The club sets the ranking. It mainly shows where a stroke is most useful, and it tries to spread those strokes evenly around the course. That is why odd numbers are often on one nine and even numbers on the other.
So the ranking doesn’t strictly follow difficulty: a hole may feel harder to you than stroke index 1. Some scorecards also have a separate column for ladies, so check you are reading the right one.
In Stableford, the strokes you receive on a hole lower your net score, which raises your points. On a par 4, a 5 with one stroke received is a net 4, worth 2 points.
In match play, the player receiving strokes takes them on the lowest stroke index holes. That is where a match can turn.
In BirdiePot, your strokes are allocated automatically from the course’s HCP column, hole by hole, and your points appear as you enter your scores.
Scores, Stableford points, strokes received and distances to the green, on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Free · No account · No ads