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How to Make a Yardage Book for Golf: A Junior Guide
Most junior golfers do not need a tour pro's yardage book, and most do not need one at all yet. Here is what a yardage book actually is, when a junior golfer benefits from one, and how to build a simple version for a tournament course.
Tournaments & Events · Updated July 20, 2026
The short version
- A yardage book is a hole-by-hole record of distances and features used to plan shots; most golfers under about 13 do not need one beyond a simple course card.
- The version that matters for juniors is a short one: front, center, and back numbers on the green, plus one note per hole, not a pro-level book.
- Build a simple one during an easy-paced practice round: pace or laser the key numbers and write three or four lines per hole.
- A written yardage book is always allowed under the Rules of Golf, even at events that ban rangefinders under a local rule.
What a yardage book actually is
A yardage book is a hole-by-hole notebook of the distances and features that matter for making decisions on a course: how far a hazard is to carry, how deep the green runs, and where the safe miss is. Tour players carry detailed versions built by professional surveyors. A junior golfer does not need anything close to that, and for a full breakdown of the advanced version, see our complete yardage book guide. This page covers the simpler question: what does a junior actually need, and when.
What juniors actually need, by stage
The right answer depends heavily on age and how competitive the golfer is, more than on any fixed rule:
- Most golfers under about 13 do not need a yardage book at all. A simple printed course-yardage card from the pro shop, or reading sprinkler-head markers on the course, covers what they need to pick a club.
- Juniors moving into full 18-hole competitive play benefit from a short, simple yardage book, mainly to speed up decisions and build the habit of thinking a hole through before hitting.
- Competitive juniors playing ranked multi-day events are where a real yardage book starts paying off, especially for courses they get to see in a practice round beforehand.
If a golfer is not yet at the stage of playing full competitive rounds, this is not something to rush. Our getting-started guide covers the easiest entry points into junior tournament golf.
What a pro's book has that a junior's does not need
A tour-level yardage book records precise carry numbers to every hazard, detailed green contours, and notes built from multiple practice rounds and caddie experience. That level of detail takes years to build and is not what makes a junior golfer better on tournament day.
What actually matters for a junior is much shorter: the distances to the front, center, and back of each green, since those turn a pin position into simple math, and one personal reminder per hole, like a club that tends to get over-hit or a miss to avoid. That is a book that gets used, rather than one that gets left in the bag because it is too much to read standing over the ball.
How to build a simple one
Once a junior golfer is ready for one, building a simple version takes an afternoon:
- Get a course yardage guide or scorecard from the pro shop as a starting point; many courses hand these out free.
- Play or walk a practice round at an easy pace, not a scored round, so there is time to gather information.
- For each hole, write down three or four things: the total yardage, the front, center, and back numbers to the green (if a rangefinder is allowed for that round), and one personal note, like where the safe miss is.
- Keep it small enough to fit in a pocket, and legible enough to read quickly between shots.
Three or four lines per hole is enough for a junior golfer. If the book grows longer than that, it usually stops getting used. For the fuller version with green-reading notes and a per-hole template built for more advanced players, see the complete yardage book guide.
Rangefinders, GPS, and the rules
Under the Rules of Golf, a device that shows distance only is allowed by default, but a tournament committee can prohibit distance-measuring devices with a local rule, and features beyond plain distance, such as slope or elevation, are not allowed in competition even where devices are permitted. Check each event's rules sheet before assuming a rangefinder or GPS watch is allowed.
A written yardage book, on the other hand, is always legal to carry, which is exactly why it is worth having even for a junior who mostly relies on a device. For the full rules picture, including green-book limits, see the tournament rules scenarios guide and confirm anything specific against the current Rules of Golf on USGA.org.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I make a yardage book for golf?
- Start with a course yardage guide from the pro shop, then play or walk a practice round at an easy pace. For each hole, record the total yardage, the front, center, and back numbers to the green, and one personal note. Three or four lines per hole is enough for most junior golfers.
- Does my junior golfer need a yardage book?
- Most golfers under about 13 do not, and a simple printed course card is plenty. Once a junior moves into full 18-hole competitive play, a short yardage book starts to help, and it becomes more useful once they are playing ranked multi-day events.
- What is the difference between a junior's yardage book and a pro's?
- A tour player's book has precise carry numbers, detailed green contours, and years of notes. A junior's version only needs the front, center, and back numbers on each green plus one personal reminder per hole. That shorter version actually gets used on the course.
- Can a junior golfer use a rangefinder instead of a yardage book?
- It depends on the event. A device that shows distance only is allowed by default under the Rules of Golf, but a committee can ban distance-measuring devices with a local rule, so check the rules sheet first. A written yardage book is always legal, which is why many players carry both.
Keep reading
- How to Build a Yardage BookA yardage book turns a course into a plan: carries, green depths, and safe misses recorded before you play. Here's what goes in one and how to build it.
- Your First Golf Tournament: The Complete ChecklistMost first-timer mistakes have nothing to do with the swing. They are a forgotten glove, a late arrival, or a rules slip on the first tee. This checklist covers all of it so you can just play.
- Tournament Prep: The Week Before, the Morning OfPrep doesn't build your swing; it gets the game you already have to the first tee sharp and rested. Here's how to taper, scout, and warm up so you peak on the day that counts.
- Tournament Rules Scenarios Every Player Should KnowIn a tournament you're your own referee. Here are the dozen situations that decide rounds, from the scorecard to lost balls to when to play two balls, stated under the current Rules of Golf.
- What Season Is Golf in High School?There is no single answer. High school golf season depends on the state athletic association, and in some states it even depends on gender. Here is the pattern, a few concrete state examples, when tryouts happen, and how it fits around a junior tournament schedule.
- Free college golf assessmentSee how your golfer's scores compare to real college recruiting benchmarks. Free with a free account.