Golf scoring basics: Everything you need to know about pars, birdies, bogeys

When it comes to golf scoring, things can get complicated fast. Sure, experienced players have it all memorized, but this guide is not for them. This breakdown of scoring in golf is for beginners and those coming back to the game after a long layoff.

Golf can be an intimidating game when getting started. The rules take a lifetime to learn, for example. But when it comes to scoring, and all the pars, birdies and bogeys that come with it, the essentials can be learned quickly.

And knowing the basics of scoring will increase your confidence when heading to the course or watching the PGA Tour with friends and family.

Basics for golf scores

First thing first. In golf, the goal is to complete all 18 holes with the fewest number of strokes. Your final score is simply the total number of shots you made in the round, plus any penalty strokes.

That should help you get started. But now it’s time to get into the terminology for scores on a single hole. And it all starts with “par.”

What is a par in golf?

In golf, every hole receives a number referring to the number of strokes a player is supposed to take to complete that hole. That number is known as “par.” Virtually every golf hole is either a par-3, par-4 or par-5.

Instruction

In the case of a par-3, a player has three strokes to make par on the hole. For par-4s, that number rises to 4. Players are allotted 5 strokes on a par-5.

You’ll also hear a reference to the “total par” for a golf course. That total number is the sum of pars on all 18 holes. Typically, total par for a course runs from 69-72.

In tournament golf, a player is at “even par” if they have used the correct number of total strokes to that point in the round. On leaderboards this is often denoted as “E”.

What is a birdie in golf?

A golfer earns a “birdie” if they play a hole with one fewer strokes than par. So if you’re playing a par-4 and you only take three shots to get your ball in the hole, you’ve made a birdie on that hole.

When it comes to tournaments, a player who starts a hole at even par then makes a birdie is said to be “one under par,” or “one under.” Should that same player make birdie on the second hole as well, he will move to two under par or two under. Often numerals are used. For example, “1 under” or “2 under”.

On a golf scorecard, a birdie is recorded by drawing a circle around the number scored on that hole.

What is an eagle in golf?

To make an “eagle”, a player must use two fewer strokes on a hole than the par. For example, if a golfer completes a par-5 with only three shots, that golfer makes an eagle on that hole.

For tournament scoring, a player at even par who makes an eagle improves to a total score-to-par of two under or 2 under. In terms of scorecards, an eagle is usually noted with a double circle around the number.

What is a bogey in golf?

A “bogey” is essentially the opposite of a birdie. If a player uses one stroke more than par to complete a hole, they’ve recorded a bogey. So on a par-4, a bogey would be five shots. For a par-5, six shots counts as a bogey.

At tournaments, a player who starts at even par but makes then makes a bogey drops to one over or 1 over. To write a bogey on a scorecard, draw a square around the number.

Lifestyle

What is a double bogey in golf?

A double bogey is the equivalent of two bogeys on a single hole. In other words, a player makes a double bogey when they take two shots over par to play a hole. On a par-3, a double bogey is five strokes. Double bogeys drop a player from even par to two over or 2 over.

What is an albatross in golf?

An “albatross” is also known as a double eagle, although that latter name is not as intuitive as double bogey. A golfer records an albatross when they take three fewer shots than par to complete a hole. Therefore, a golfer who takes only two strokes to finish a par-5 makes an albatross or double eagle.

An albatross drops a golfer’s total score to par by three, so a player at even par improves to three under, or 3 under, with an albatross.

The only other way to record an albatross is with a hole-in-one on a par-4.