Golf Glossary
Golf Hole (Spielbahn)
In short
A golf hole, in German a Spielbahn or Bahn, is the section of the course from one tee to one green. It includes the teeing area, fairway, rough, hazards and green. An 18-hole course has 18 holes, each with its own number, length and par.
The golf hole as a playing unit: the meaning explained
A golf course consists of several holes. Each hole begins at a tee and ends on a green with a cup. In between lies everything that belongs to playing that hole: fairway, rough, bunkers, trees, water and bushes. A hole is therefore a whole piece of ground.
The German word Spielbahn is the precise term. In practice golfers usually say Bahn or Loch for short. We play hole 7 and we play Bahn 7 mean the same thing. 18 holes means 18 playing holes. The hole as the opening in the green has an entry of its own.
Each hole is played and counted individually. The scorecard shows for each hole the number of strokes you needed. The sum of all holes gives the score for the round.
What parts does a hole consist of?
The Rules of Golf divide the course into five areas. Four of them are specific areas: the teeing area of the hole being played, all penalty areas, all bunkers and the putting green of the hole being played. Everything else is the general area. That includes the fairway, rough and fringe.
In everyday play, though, most golfers think in the familiar parts of a hole:
- Tee: you start the hole from here. Only in the teeing area may the ball be placed on a tee.
- Fairway: the closely mown area where the ball usually lies well.
- Rough: the longer grass beside the fairway.
- Hazards: bunkers and penalty areas such as ponds or streams.
- Green: the especially short mown area with the hole and flagstick.
Beside the hole there are also areas that are not part of play. This is out of bounds. Anyone who hits there plays again with a penalty stroke. How wide the hole is and where its limits run is shown on the course map.
Length, par and playing style
Every hole has a par. That is the number of strokes a scratch player, meaning a player with a handicap of 0, can expect to need for the hole, including two putts on the green. Par 3, par 4 and par 5 are usual. Above all, the length of the hole determines the par. A short hole is played with the tee shot straight to the green, a long hole needs three good strokes.
The length of a hole is measured along the line of play, the line a player normally takes. On a hole with a bend, a dogleg, the line of play is longer than the straight line. The length also depends on the tee. From the front tees the hole is shorter than from the back tees.
For beginners: the shorter the hole, the greater the chance of a good result. That is why short courses and courses with many par 3 holes are so popular. With a little practice every hole becomes easier to handle.
Hole number and stroke index
Every hole has a number, usually from 1 to 18. The number says in which order the holes are played. It is shown on the tee and on the scorecard. Some venues start groups on different holes so that play is spread out.
On the scorecard there is also a second number for each hole: the stroke index. It decides on which holes a player with a handicap receives one or more handicap strokes. Index 1 stands for the hole where handicap strokes are most needed, usually the hardest hole. Index 18 stands for the easiest hole. The distribution depends on the course, so the hole number and the index are not the same thing.
If you play Stableford or a competition with handicap, the stroke index decides where you receive handicap strokes. Your course handicap is then spread across the holes according to their index.
Example from practice: a par 4 hole
Take hole 5, a par 4 of 310 metres. The scorecard also shows stroke index 7. From the tee the hole runs over the fairway, a bunker lies in front of the green. The rough begins to the right of the fairway, a pond lies on the left.
You play the tee shot with a hybrid and land on the fairway after 180 metres. 130 metres remain to the green. With an 8 iron you reach the green, the ball lies ten metres from the hole. Two putts get the ball in the hole. That is four strokes, a par.
If you have a handicap stroke on this hole because your playing handicap is at least 7, your net score counts. Four gross strokes then become a net birdie. Without a handicap stroke it stays a par. The numbers are a worked example. Every hole has its own measurements.
How do I read a hole?
Experienced golfers plan every hole before they hit the first shot. Four questions help.
- Where is the danger? Look for bunkers, water, out of bounds and tall trees. Play away from them.
- How far is it? Check the distance to the hazards and to the green. A course map, a yardage book or a rangefinder helps.
- Where is a good landing area? Choose a target, not the flagstick. The fairway is usually the best target.
- Which club fits? Take the club with which you safely land on the fairway. That is often not the longest.
Holes with a bend, doglegs, or with deep bunkers become easier to read this way. It is important to play the first shot so that the second becomes easy. Anyone who thinks the hole backwards, from the green to the tee, usually makes better decisions.
Comparison: hole, cup, course and round
The terms around the hole are often mixed in everyday talk. Here are the differences.
- Spielbahn or Bahn (hole as a playing unit): the section from one tee to one green.
- Cup: the opening in the green. In everyday talk the word hole is also used for the whole hole.
- Course: the whole venue with all holes, for example a 9-hole or 18-hole course.
- Round: all holes in succession, usually 9 or 18.
- Layout: the course with its sequence of holes. A venue can have several courses.
Out of bounds is no longer part of the hole. Its boundary is usually marked by white stakes or lines. The course map often shows where it runs. A ball that ends up there must be played again with a penalty stroke.
Try it at Golf Lounge
You can practise reading and planning a hole on the 9-hole Black course at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg. It is a par 33 with six par 4 and three par 3 holes, about 1,900 metres in total. There are also water hazards, bunkers and protected greens. It can be played with the Platzreife (DGV) and is open from April to December, and up to four players can book a tee time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hole on a golf course?
A hole, in German Spielbahn or Bahn, is the section of the course from the tee to the green. It includes the teeing area, fairway, rough, hazards and green. Every hole has its own number, a length and a par. Golfers also simply say hole.
How many holes does a golf course have?
A classic golf course has 18 holes, a 9-hole course nine. There are also short courses with fewer holes, for example six. 18 holes therefore means 18 playing holes on the course. Each hole is played and counted individually.
What does par mean on a hole?
Par is the number of strokes a scratch player with a handicap of 0 can expect to need for a hole, including two putts. It is set for each hole and depends mainly on the length. Par 3, par 4 and par 5 are usual. If you need exactly par, you have made a par.
What is the stroke index on the scorecard?
The stroke index shows on which holes players with a handicap receive handicap strokes. Index 1 usually stands for the hardest hole, index 18 for the easiest. It is not the hole number. The index depends on the course and is printed on the scorecard.
Where does a hole begin and end?
A hole begins in the teeing area and ends when the ball lies in the cup on the green. In between lie the fairway, rough, hazards and the green. The limits of the course are marked by out of bounds, beyond which the ground is no longer part of play.
As of: October 2026