Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Stroke Index is the numbered order of holes used to show where handicap strokes are given or received. The course Committee publishes the order, usually from 1 to 18. A lower number does not automatically mean the hole is hardest for every golfer; the allocation is course-specific.
How it matters in match play
In individual match play, compare each player's Playing Handicap and apply the difference from the lower handicap. The player receiving strokes gets one on holes in the published Stroke Index order: for example, 7 strokes apply on indexes 1 to 7. Each hole is then decided by lower net score, not by the round's total.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Stroke Index |
| Category | handicap |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, Rule 5J(4); Rule 3.2c(1) |
| Related concepts | Handicap Stroke, Handicap Stroke Allocation, Playing Handicap, Course Handicap, Match Play |
Worked example
Alex has a Playing Handicap of 12 and Ben has 5, so Alex receives 7 strokes; on a hole marked Stroke Index 4, Alex's gross 6 becomes net 5 while Ben's gross 5 stays net 5, so the hole is halved.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, Rule 5J(4); Rule 3.2c(1)
Sources: www.usga.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org , archive.golf.org.au
Common questions
Is Stroke Index the same as Handicap Index?
No. Stroke Index ranks the holes on a course for applying handicap strokes. Handicap Index is a golfer's WHS measure of playing ability. Do not use one as a substitute for the other.
If I receive 7 strokes, which holes get them?
Normally, you receive one stroke on the holes labelled Stroke Index 1 through 7. The published scorecard allocation controls; it is not necessarily the seven holes with the highest par or the holes you personally find most difficult.
Who decides a course's Stroke Index?
The Committee is responsible for publishing the order. An authorised association or handicap body may provide guidance based on course data, but the club's Handicap Committee determines the final allocation for its course.