Yardage Book
A yardage book is a distance booklet in which every hole of a golf course is mapped out with measurements, hazards and green details.
The yardage book is the pocket-sized course plan. For every hole you find a drawing of the hole with the key distances: the length of the hole, the position of the Bunker, Water Hazards, distances to distinctive points and often the contours of the green. Professionals and their caddies work almost exclusively with these booklets at tournaments. Many club facilities also sell their own editions in the club office. On German courses the figures are usually in metres; internationally they are often in Yards.
In practice, the booklet helps you most on unfamiliar courses. An example: you are standing on the tee of a Dogleg and cannot see the corner. The yardage book tells you that the bunker on the fairway side lies at 220 metres and that the hole turns left after it. So you choose a club that safely stays short of the bunker instead of blindly pulling the Driver. For the approach, the booklet also gives you the depth of the green, so that with a back Pin Position you take one more club.
A typical mistake is needless studying in the middle of the group's Pace of Play. It is best to read the booklet on the way to your ball, not only once you are at the ball position. And it is no substitute for your own judgement: wind, lie and how you are playing that day decide the club in the end. As a supplement or alternative, many golfers today use laser rangefinders or GPS watches — both deliver the same information faster, though without the useful overview of the whole hole.
FAQ
Is a yardage book also worthwhile for amateurs?
Yes, especially on unfamiliar courses. From the booklet you can spot hidden hazards, dogleg angles and green depths before you pick a club. Many clubs sell their edition in the club office, and the few euros quickly save you a stroke on unknown holes.
How do I use the yardage book without holding up the group?
Read the hole overview on the way to your ball or from the previous green, not only at your ball position. That way you know the key distances when addressing the ball and keep the group's pace of play up.
Do I still need a yardage book if I have a laser or a GPS watch?
A laser and GPS give you the distance to the flag faster, but they do not replace the overview of the hole. The yardage book shows you bunkers, water and green shape in context — ideal for strategy from the tee. Many players combine the two: the booklet for planning, the laser for precise measuring.