Here at Golf Betting System we often get asked what certain golf terminology means, how that relates to golf betting in general, and if there’s any difference between bookmakers when it comes those different aspects.
In true A-Z style, here’s our Golf Betting Glossary:
Ace
- An ‘Ace’ is when a golfer completes any given hole in a single shot, also known as a hole in one. This is typically achieved on a Par 3, although an Ace on a Par 4 is also possible.
- Some bookmakers have betting markets on whether there will be an Ace in a tournament, and others offer odds on a specific player to achieve the feat. For further details read our best bookmaker for hole in one article.
Ante-Post
- With golf tournaments happening almost every week of the calendar, the regular betting cycle is for odds to be published by bookmakers from Monday with most events starting on Thursday of the same week.
- For some key tournaments such as Major Championships, bookmakers may publish an ‘Ante-Post’ market many weeks or months in advance, allowing bettors to back players well ahead of tournament week – albeit with standard Each-Way place terms instead of the extended terms that may be available nearer the event.
Albatross
- An Albatross is a golf term for when a player completes a hole in three strokes under Par for that hole. This is typically achieved on a Par 5 hole where a player holes their second shot from the fairway, however it can also be achieved with an Ace on a short Par 4.
- Some bookmakers have betting markets for there to be an Albatross in a tournament. For further details read this article.
Alternate Shot
- Alternate Shot is a format of golf whereby two players, playing as a team, take it in turns to play shots using the same ball. This is also often referred to as ‘Foursomes’ and is most prevalent at the professional level in events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
- Most bookmakers will offer betting markets for Alternate Shot/Foursomes and will often allow this to be rolled into multiples or accumulator bets.
Back/Backing
- A simple betting term that describes placing a bet on a player to win, or achieve a certain outcome in a golf tournament.
Cash Out
- In line with most major sports, some bookmakers offer a ‘Cash Out’ option on golf bets which allows you to close your bet early and take a profit/reduced loss at that point in time, rather than waiting until the conclusion of the tournament.
- Cash Out varies between bookmakers – some offer it only on Win Only bets; others offer it on Each Way Bets – read our Golf Cash Out Guide for further details.
Cut Line
- Professional golf events consist of limited-entrant fields of typically 78 or fewer players, or ‘Full Field’ events that can range from 120 to 156 players or more. Full field events usually have a halfway ‘Cut’ whereby players who don’t achieve a certain level are eliminated from the tournament and don’t play the final round(s).
- Under current rules, most DP World Tour and PGA Tour events have a ‘Cut Line’ which is determined by the top 65 players and ties that is made after the first two rounds of a four round tournament. Players who fail to finish inside the Cut Line are said to have missed the cut.
- Some bookmakers allow betting on players to make or miss the cut, often included in Bet Builders – for further details read our Golf Bet Builders explained article.
Dead Heat
- A dead heat, or ‘tie’, can occur in golf betting when two or more players finish with the same score over a given round or tournament.
- Typical markets where we see Dead Heats are First Round Leader and 2-Ball/3-Ball betting and, unless otherwise stated, the betting return is reduced proportionately. For further details read our Reduction for Ties in Golf Betting article.
Drift
- Golf betting markets are typically established on a Monday for events that start on a Thursday, and once the initial odds for a player have been established, they can move for a variety of reasons, including betting activity, changes in market sentiment, player news, weather forecasts and tipster opinions.
- Players whose odds reduce from their starting point are said to be ‘Shortening’ in price; conversely, if a player’s odds are increasing then they are said to be ‘Drifting’. If a player’s odds move from 20/1 to 16/1, they have shortened; if they move from 20/1 to 25/1, they have drifted.
Each Way
- Each-Way bets on golf are essentially 2 bets placed on the same player: 1 bet for the player to win and the other for the player to finish within a certain number of places from the lead.
- Each-Way place terms can vary between bookmakers meaning that some will offer a return if your player finishes within 12 places of the lead, whereas others will only offer a return if your player finishes within 5 places of the lead. For further details read our Best Each Way Terms For Golf article.
Each Way Extra
FedExCup
- The FedExCup is the PGA Tour’s modern-day ‘money list’ using points accrued from completed tournaments in any given season to create a ranking of players.
- Under its current rules for the 2026 season, the top 70 players in the FedExCup Standings after the Wyndham Championship qualify for the PGA Tour Playoffs. Most bookmakers offer a market for FedExCup Champion both before the season starts and also while the season is in progress.
First Round Leader
- First Round Leader, or FRL when shortened, is a popular golf betting market that is determined by a player’s performance in the first round of a tournament only. As the lead after the first round is often contested by two or more players, this market can often be subject to Dead Heat rules. For further details read our Reduction For Ties In Golf Betting article.
Match Play
- Match Play golf is an alternative to regular Stroke Play golf tournaments where players either play individually or in pairs/teams against another individual or pair/team. Scoring is often accrued on a hole-by-hole basis rather than an aggregate of shots taken over the course of a round.
- Examples of Match Play golf in the modern professional game include the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.
- Most bookmakers will offer betting markets for Match Play tournaments and will often allow this to be rolled into multiples or accumulator bets.
Maximum Payout
- Each bookmaker operates to its own terms of use, included in which is a maximum payout for golf bets which can and does vary considerably.
- Whereas some bookmakers offer a maximum payout of £500,000 on PGA Tour and DP World Tour golf, others offer as little as £100,000. The maximum can also differ between Major Championships and lower grade tournaments and bookmakers are not obliged to pay out anything above the amount stated in their rules. For further details read our Golf Maximum Payout guide.
Par
- Golf holes are allocated a ‘Par’ score which is the expected number of shots to complete any given hole, typically determined by its length or yardage.
- Holes are split into Par-3, Par-4 and Par-5 where the expected number of shots to complete the hole is 3, 4 or 5 respectively. Players who, on aggregate, take fewer shots than expected are said to be ‘Under Par’; conversely those who take more shots are said to be ‘Over Par’
- Some bookmakers allow in-play betting where it’s possible to bet on whether a player shoots under, level, or over par on any given hole.
Play-off (deciding a tied tournament)
- In the event that two or more players are tied for the lead after all holes have been played on a given tournament, the winner is typically determined by means of a play-off. One or more additional holes are then played whereby the first player to produce a lower score than their competitors will be deemed the champion if the play-off format is classed as ‘sudden death’
- Some tournaments have different playoff rules which can span the aggregate of 3 or more holes.
- Some bookmakers offer in-play betting during play-offs, whilst others offer a ‘will there be a play-off’ before the event starts.
Playoffs (end-of-season series of events such as the FedExCup Playoffs)
- There are two major golf Playoffs at present, the PGA Tour Playoffs which forms part of the FedExCup and the DP World Tour Playoffs which forms part of the Race to Dubai.
- For the 2026 season, the PGA Tour Playoffs are comprised of the FedEx St Jude Championship (Top 70 players); the BMW Championship (Top 50 players) and the Tour Championship (Top 30 players)
- For the 2026 season, the DP World Tour Playoffs are comprised of the Abu Dhabi Championship (Top 72 players) and the DP World Tour Championship (Top 50 players)
Stroke Play
- Stroke Play golf is the most popular form of professional competition whereby players compete individually against each other and each shot, or ‘stroke’ they take is recorded and aggregated to an overall score.
- The winner is determined by the player who takes the fewest strokes over the course of the tournament, with most PGA Tour and DP World Tour events comprising of 4 days and 72 holes in total.
- The Stroke Play winner or ‘Outright Winner’ market is by far the most popular betting market for golf, with bookmakers offering different odds and Each Way place terms to attract players to place their bet with them.
Tops
- ‘Tops’ markets are extremely popular in golf betting and come in a number of forms which either reduce a field into categories or allow a return for a certain level of finish.
- Top categories can include markets such as Top European Player, Top LIV Player, Top Debutant, Top American, Top Former Champion, Top Senior and many more.
- Top finish markets can include Top 5 Finish, Top 10 Finish, Top 20 Finish and Top 40 Finish. These can sometimes be used in Bet Builders – for further details read our Golf Bet Builders explained article.
Ties
- In golf betting, a tie occurs when two or more players finish with the same score or position. See Dead Heat for details of how bookmakers settle tied bets.
Withdrawn Player
- In professional golf it’s not unusual to see players withdraw from the tournament during play. This can happen for a variety of reasons but most typically due to illness or injury.
- Whilst unfortunate if this happens to a player that you’ve backed, it is part of the game and typically bookmakers are under no obligation to refund your stake if your player has started.
- If a player withdraws before their first tee time then most bookmakers will classify the player as a non-runner and will refund stakes, although this can vary from bookmaker to bookmaker so it’s important to check the terms of your bet before placing it.
Have you got a golf betting term that you think should feature on this list? If so simply email us your thoughts to feedback@golfbettingsystem.co.uk! and we’ll get it added!
