A yardage book is only as useful as the information it contains. The distances are the foundation, but the landmarks, hazards, and course features you annotate on top of those distances are what separate a good yardage book from a great one. This lesson covers what to mark, how to mark it clearly, and the specific observations that make the most difference to players on every hole.

Hazard annotations — the most critical category

Every hazard on the course should be marked in your book with three pieces of information: its location on the diagram, the carry distance required to clear it, and the penalty for failing to clear it (lateral hazard, stroke and distance, drop zone location if one exists).

Bunkers: Mark each bunker on the hole diagram in red. Note two distances: the front edge of the bunker from the tee (the minimum carry to avoid it) and the back edge (how far you can hit and still be safe). A fairway bunker that starts at 245 yards and ends at 263 yards is marked as “245–263 carry” in red. A player who hits 250 yards with a driver knows they need to lay back or fly the bunker completely.

Water hazards: Mark water in blue on the diagram. Note the carry required to clear the water completely, not just reach its edge. Also mark the drop zone if one exists and its yardage to the green — a player who knows the drop zone is at 80 yards can make a strategic decision about whether to challenge the water or take the known drop zone yardage.

Out of bounds (OB): Mark OB areas with parallel lines or a distinct notation. Note the yardage at which the OB stake begins and ends on the relevant side. “OB right from 220 yards” tells a player exactly when their tee shot is at risk.

Natural hazards and trouble areas: Trees, thick rough, forced carries, and areas with poor lie conditions should be noted even if they aren’t formal hazards. “Deep rough left of bunker — no clean shot from here” is the kind of observation that protects a player’s score on the holes where it applies.

Preferred landing zones and ideal lines

Beyond hazards, the most valuable annotations identify where you want the ball to be — not just where you don’t want it. For each tee shot, mark the ideal landing zone: the 30-40 yard wide area of fairway that gives the best approach angle, the most level lie, and the fewest challenges on the next shot.

For approach shots, mark the quadrant of the green that leaves the easiest putt for each common pin position. “Front-right pin: approach from the left center” is a note that applies every time that pin location is used. Over a full season, these approach angle notes become some of the most valuable information in the book.

Wind and elevation notes

Every hole plays differently in different conditions. Once you have observed a hole in various conditions, add condition notes to your book:

• Prevailing wind direction and effect: “Hole 7 — typically into the wind from the left; plays one-to-two clubs longer than the yardage suggests”
• Elevation change: Uphill or downhill holes play significantly different from flat holes. A 150-yard uphill approach may actually require a 165-yard club. Note these adjustments once you have observed them.
• Firm vs. soft conditions: A fairway that is firm in summer allows much more rollout than a soft fairway in spring. Note which holes are most affected by seasonal conditions at your facility.

Unique features and local knowledge

Every course has unique features that only caddies who have walked it extensively know about. Annotate these specifically:

• Optical illusions — holes that look uphill but play flat, or greens that look flat but have a significant back-to-front slope
• Hidden hazards — bunkers not visible from the tee, water obscured by a rise in the fairway
• Bounce and roll patterns — fairway sections where the ball reliably kicks one direction due to camber
• Common miss reactions — where the ball typically goes from a missed tee shot (and whether the miss is recoverable)