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.
Best Bookmaker For Golf
- As the Number 1 independent resource for golf betting, we often get asked ‘What are the best bookmakers for golf?’ It’s not as straightforward a question to answer as you might suppose though on the basis that we all use different tactics and types of bets, particularly with such a wide range of each-way place options, top 5, top 10, top 20, Bet Builders etc available nowadays. For further details read our Best Bookmaker For Golf page.
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.
Draw Bias
- With full-field events that are contested across the regular 4 days/72 holes, organisers attempt to ensure that no player is inadvertently biased by course playability or weather conditions by balancing tee times across the opening two rounds. In general, players who start day 1 in the morning from tee number 1 will then start day 2 in the afternoon from tee number 10. This sometimes differs in events such as The Open where extended daylight hours may allow all players to start on hole number 1.
- A draw bias occurs when conditions vary between rounds or within rounds, for instance if the wind switches or strengthens during the first two days, which may then mean that some players get easier or tougher playing conditions. Other factors such as rain and heat can make a course play easier or harder if, for instance, greens become softer or firmer.
- Tee times are usually announced Tuesday afternoon local time for a Thursday tournament, meaning that some golf bettors choose to see if their selections may be favoured (or not) by the draw before placing their bet.
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
Enhanced Win-Only
- Regular golf betting markets in the UK & Ireland tend to carry Each-Way betting terms by default, much in the same way that horse racing markets do. This means that the odds set by the golf trading teams make provision for the likelihood of an each-way finish for the player as well as their chances of winning the tournament outright.
- To counter this, some bookmakers offer an ‘enhanced win-only’ market where there is no each-way option available but the odds of winning are typically slightly higher than the regular each-way market.
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.
Major Golf Championships, ‘Majors’
- Played every year, the four Major Championships represent the absolute pinnacle of men’s professional golf. Player careers are often judged on the number of Majors won. Jack Nicklaus has won the most Majors, achieving 18 victories during his career, whilst Tiger Woods reached 15. Of current players, Rory McIlroy leads the way on 6, including the 2025 and 2026 Masters. All Majors are official events for the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Japan Golf Tour, contributing to their season-long standings and count as official Tour wins. The specifics of each Major Championship in the scheduled order they are played are as follows:
The Masters Tournament – April
- Played at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, The Masters Tournament is always the first Major of each year, plus the only Major to be played on the same course each year. Scheduled for the first full week in April, Augusta National Golf Club owns and operates the Masters. Field size is always the smallest in terms of Majors with 85-100 players traditionally qualifying. The winner of The Masters is always given a famous Green Jacket which gives lifetime starts at The Masters, usage of the Champions Locker Room, and membership of Augusta National Golf Club.
- For course details and winner trends read our Masters tips betting preview
PGA Championship – May
- Organised by the PGA of America, the PGA Championship moved from being the final Major Championship played in August to the second Major, played in May, back in 2019. The PGA is traditionally played (although not exclusively) on extremely long, classical, parkland golf courses in the United States. 20 of the 156 man field is kept for PGA of America club professionals, whilst no amateurs are invited to play. In general though, with no qualification routes available (unlike the U.S. Open and Open Championship), the PGA Championship has the deepest, highest-grade field from across the main Tours.
- For winner trends read our PGA Championship tips betting preview.
U.S. Open – June
- The U.S. Open, or to give its full title the United States Open Championship, is the oldest of the 3 United States-based Majors, with Englishman Horace Rawlins winning the first in 1895 played at Newport, Rhode Island. Organised by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the U.S. Open is renowned in golf for being the toughest of golfing tests, with thick rough and firm, fast playing conditions very much the norm. Played across the United States, the course rota is varied with coastal tests (Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines both in California), lowland faux-links (Pinehurst Number 2 in North Carolina), and long, classical, parkland courses (as per Oakmont and Winged Foot in the north-eastern United States). The field of 156 is traditionally made up of the best players in the world, top amateurs, and qualifiers from venues across the United States, Canada, England and Japan.
- For winner trends read our US Open tips betting preview.
Open Championship – July
- The Open Championship is the last Major of the year and the oldest with the very first Open taking place in 1860 at Prestwick, Scotland. Organised by the Royal & Ancient (R&A), The Open is played on varying links, coastal golf courses across England, Ireland and Scotland, with the Old Course at St Andrews, being the most famous and hosting the most Open Championships. The field of 156 undoubtedly is the most international of all of the Majors, with a higher proportion of DP World Tour, International Federation Ranking List players, Open Qualifying Series qualifers located worldwide, top-ranked amateurs from around the globe, plus qualifiers from 4 specific venues located at UK coastal golf courses.
- For winner trends read our Open tips betting preview
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.
Nationality Betting
- Given the diverse range of nationalities of professional golfers, bookmakers will often create ‘Top Nationality’ betting markets, particularly at Majors Championships. These can be specific countries such as ‘Top French Player’ or aggregated to multiple related areas or continents such as ‘Top GB & Ireland’ or ‘Top European’. See Tops for further details.
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!
