Golf Stats Glossary

Strokes Gained

How many shots you give up (or take back) versus a benchmark golfer on every shot. Positive means better than the benchmark, negative means worse. Coach by ATX shows Strokes Gained for Driving, Approach, Short Game, and Putting against scratch, 5 handicap, 10 handicap, and tour.

First-putt proximity

The average distance your first putt finishes from the hole. Direct measure of lag putting under pressure — the number that predicts three-putts more than any other.

Recovery shot

Any shot from a lie that prevents you from advancing normally — trees, deep rough, penalty-area drop. Tracked separately in Strokes Gained because the expected outcome is different from a normal fairway or approach shot.

Net double bogey

The maximum score on any hole for WHS handicap purposes: par + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive on that hole. Prevents a single blow-up hole from inflating your handicap.

WHS (World Handicap System)

The global handicap system used by the USGA, R&A, and every affiliated national body. Your index is the average of your best 8 score differentials out of your last 20 rounds, multiplied by 0.96.

PCC (Playing Conditions Calculation)

A WHS adjustment applied when weather or course conditions cause scoring to be significantly higher or lower than expected. Adjusts your score differential up or down by 1–3 strokes.

GIR (Greens in Regulation)

Reaching the green in par − 2 strokes: 1 shot on a par-3, 2 on a par-4, 3 on a par-5. The most-quoted amateur stat — but not the most predictive.

Fairway hit

Your ball comes to rest on the fairway of the hole being played, off the tee. Only counted on par-4s and par-5s. Weakly correlated with scoring for most amateurs.

Scrambling

Percentage of holes where you missed the green in regulation but still made par or better. Measures short-game rescue ability.

Sand save

Getting up and down for par (or better) after being in a greenside bunker. Reported as a percentage of greenside bunker attempts.

Proximity to hole

The average distance your approach shot ends from the pin, usually broken down by starting distance (e.g. 100–125 yd, 150–175 yd). Direct measure of approach quality.

Shot cone

The realistic dispersion pattern of your shots with a given club — not one perfect line, but a fan-shaped area. Modern course management (see DECADE) is built on aiming to keep the whole cone out of trouble, not the center at the pin.

Handicap index

Your portable measure of demonstrated ability under the WHS. Converts to a course handicap on any specific set of tees using the course's slope rating.

Approach distance buckets

Groupings of approach shots by starting distance (e.g. 50–75 yd, 75–100 yd, 100–125 yd) used to compare your accuracy at each range. Reveals which wedge or iron distance is actually weakest.

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