
Another golfer may shoot a score of 69, meaning they scored three shots under par (-3). Albatross: A score of three strokes under par on a hole. Conclusion Understanding the origins and evolution of golf scoring and terminology can add depth and richness to the game. Ace: A hole-in-one, when a golfer hits the ball directly from the tee into the hole with a single stroke. Golf Pars and Scoring Albatross (Double Eagle): 3 under par Eagle: 2 under par Birdie: 1 under par Par: even Bogey: 1 over par Double Bogey: 2 over par. A score of one stroke under par is still known as a birdie, while a score of two strokes under par is an eagle. The final score a golfer ends with is the total strokes either above, below, or even with par. For example, if a golfer shoots a 76 on a par 72 course, their score is 76, and they shot four over par (+4). If you want a more formal A to Z of golf terms, check our article about that. On the scorecard, a golfer can write down the letter ‘E’ to designate a par. On a par-4, 4 strokes and finally 3 strokes on a par-3. For example, on a hole that is a par-5, a golfer will par the hole if he requires 5 strokes. The combined pars from all 18 holes represent the course par. It is a score that golfers strive to match if not beat and is referred to as even, or even-par. There are different terms used to describe how a golfer shoots compared to the par, as shown below: Par 3’s are much shorter holes compared to par 5’s. Pars generally range from 3 to 5, depending on how far away the tee box is from the hole. If a player scores a 2 on a par 4 hole or a 3 on a par 5, they’ve scored an eagle. Double Bogey: A double bogey is two strokes above par. So if a golfer takes 5 shots to get their ball into the hole on a par 4, they have scored a bogey. Bogey: A bogey is a single stroke above par. This rare score is named for a bigger, better bird. The par for each hole can vary, but a standard round of golf usually has a par of 72 (which means 18 holes with a par 4). But some courses have six of each par or different combination as well. For example, a par-4 hole means that a skilled player would use around four shots to make it in the hole. When a player scores a 3 on a par 4, a 2 on a par 3 or a 4 on a par 5, they’re one under par for the hole that’s called a birdie. On most traditional courses, there are four par-3’s, ten par-4’s and four par-5s. A stroke is counted every time the golfer contacts the ball.Įvery hole on a golf course has a designated par, which is the score that a skillful golfer would typically shoot. This serves as the target number of strokes that golfers want to use to complete the hole. In a golf match, each player will play 18 holes where they will try to hit the ball into the hole using the least amount of strokes. The best score in golf is the lowest score. Eagle This scoring term was coined shortly after the birdie scoring tag, basically following the bird theme.
