How to Calculate Golf Yardages at Altitude

Golf is an international sport of leisure. Almost every country in the world has at least one golf course, and these courses are located in a multitude of natural environments, from humid deserts to dense forests. Many people like to play golf when they travel on vacation, and many professionals travel all around the world playing at different courses. The altitude you are playing golf at has an effect on how far your ball will travel, so it can be difficult to calculate yardages at an altitude different from what you are used to. Although there is no exact formula for calculating yardage, there are general rules you can follow to help you select the correct club.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the trajectory of your average golf shot. A low trajectory golf shot is less likely to be affected by altitude. A high trajectory shot will initially travel farther because of less air pressure, but will also drop faster because there is less density in the air to hold the ball up. The biggest beneficiary to a high altitude course is a trajectory that is somewhere in the middle.

    • 2

      Add 10 percent of extra distance to most of your clubs for every 5,000-foot increase in altitude. For example, if you can hit a 3-wood 200 yards at sea level, you can expect the ball to travel 220 yards at 5,000 feet above sea level. The exact amount will differ between clubs, but be aware that every shot will travel farther.

    • 3

      Decrease your estimated distance the closer you travel to sea level. When playing in lower altitudes a higher trajectory shot should be preferred because the same density that will slow down your ball will also keep the ball in the air longer.