How to read a golf pin sheet
A pin sheet describes the day’s pin positions using distances supplied by the course. This generator uses a traditional circular schematic. Always check the stated units.
Try reading one hole
Change a distance or switch sides to see how the sheet reads.
Hole 4 · distances in metres
19m from the front · 6m from the left · 4m beyond halfway along the green’s depth.
Halfway along the supplied green depth is 15m from the front.
- Hole number
- The number outside the circle identifies the hole.
- Green depth
- The underlined number beneath the hole number gives the supplied depth.
- Side distance
- The upper number appears on the indicated left or right side.
- Front distance
- The lower number appears opposite the indicated side.
- Boxed +/-
- Front distance minus half the supplied green depth.
Front and side distances
The number in the upper half is the distance from the selected left or right side. The front-distance number is in the lower half on the opposite side. When the selected side is right, the side number appears upper-right and the front number lower-left.
Green depth is optional
An underlined number beneath the hole number gives the supplied green depth. If no depth was entered, this area stays blank. Blank front or side fields likewise mean no measurement was supplied.
+/- from centre
When front distance and green depth are numeric, the web diagram and PDF show a boxed +/- value: front distance minus half the green depth. Front 19 with depth 30 gives +4. Positive values are beyond the halfway point of the supplied depth; negative values are short of it. Zero is the halfway point. This is a calculation from the entered distances, not the actual geometric centre of the green. Blank or non-numeric entries leave the calculated box off the sheet.
Check the units
A sheet can use metres, yards or paces. Read the units printed near the top of the sheet. A pace is a step-based measure; ask the course how it measures paces. Changing the unit setting in this generator only changes the label, not the numbers.
The circle is a schematic
The circle, horizontal middle line and vertical line towards the front help you read the numbers. They do not show the actual green shape, width, accurate geometry, slope or hazards. The numbers are not plotted to scale, and there is no positioned pin dot.
Make your own free golf pin sheet or download a blank printable template. For actual green shapes, future pin planning and location history, explore Pins Today.