Golf scoring terms: Scoring terms that every golfer should know

Without knowing golf scoring terms, even professional or a beginner no one can understand the golf scoring system.

And because of lack of knowledge, it’s often seems complex in understanding to many new or beginner golfers. When you visit a golf course, you may often hear par, bogey, eagle and many other scoring terms.

In this article we are going to discuss about those scoring terms, which a every golfer should know. After reading this article, you can easily understand the scoring terms of course.

To better understand the golf scoring system we will discuss about the following terms.

Basic golf scoring terms of stroke play

Golf scoring terms of stroke play:-

Par

Even par

Course Par

Ace/Hole in one

Birdie

Eagle

Albatross/Double Eagle

Condor

Bogey

Double Bogey

Triple Bogey

Ostrich

Phoenix

Lets know about this golf scoring terms in detail.

Par

Par is the first term to know about in scoring terms of stroke play. Because all the further terms are directly or indirectly related to par.

Par is the number of strokes which an expert or professional golfer is expected to complete a hole or entire course.

But every golfer has their unique strategies or skills for game. So it’s quite possible that different experts may need different numbers of stroke to complete a hole or course.

If we consider every golfers strokes as a par, it won’t work out, we need a standard score for all. The first definition of the par is common answer to anyone to make understand, what is par?

Actually par is a standard score for a hole or entire course, which states the number of strokes which is expected by expert golfers to complete a hole or an entire course.

Golf course have a rating of par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. Par-6 and par-7 also exist but they are very rare. we have already discussed about par in detail.

For example:- if you take 3 strokes to complete a par-3 hole, you have attained a par. In the course you will get two putts for per hole.

Exactly same way this is applicable for all the holes and every hole on course, includes only two putts. This is why, this holes are also known as two putt holes.

For example:- In par-3 hole a expert golfer is supposed to reach the green in one strokes, then complete the hole with two putts.

Similarly in par-5 hole a expert golfer is supposed to reach the green in three strokes, then complete the hole with two putts.

Even Par(E)

Even par(E) can be described as, a equal number of strokes as standard score(per rating). Or when the golfer uses equal strokes as the combined par of all holes of the entire round.

You can understand the “even par” better by examples.

In individual hole it is same as scoring “par”. If you score 4 strokes on par-4 hole, 3 strokes on par-3 hole and 5 strokes on par-5 hole. It can be referred to as “even” or “even par”.

You need to understand “even par” In multiple holes. Suppose a golfer has played 3 holes and he takes 2 strokes to complete par-3 hole, 4 strokes to complete par-4 hole and 6 strokes to complete par-5 hole.

It will be considered as even par because it has got equal strokes as a combined 3 holes.

On the scoreboard the golfer can write a letter “E” to point a score for even par. Or simply just note down the number of strokes which was needed for the holes.

Course Par

You can say that “course par” is like a “even par” because both terms are used to describe the same score.

But, the term course par is more appropriate to the course, and so it’s used specially for course. A standard golf course have 18- holes, which have a total par of 72.

18- hole course also range a par from 69 to 72. It’s up to you, you can use anyone “even par” or “course par” to describe your score that is equal as your course par.

For example:- a standard course have total 72 pars and your total strokes or score too is 72. So in this situation, you can say this as a course par.

But you should know the difference between “even par” and “course par”. Because many golfers commit mistake at this point only.

“Even par” can be used to describe the score that is equal to the combined pars of round played as well as for the entire round of whole course.

But the “course par” is used only for the score that is equal to the entire round of golf or the whole course. It can’t be used to describe the score of round of some holes.

Ace/Hole in one

“Ace or hole in one” is one of the great achievement for any golfer. When a golfer hit a ball from the tee box and the ball falls directly on the hole in one stroke, then it is said as a golfer has performed an ace or hole in one.

The “ace or hole in one” is very rare, whenever it occurs it can be mostly seen in par-3 holes. Although “ace or hole in one” have also occurred in par-4 and even par-5 holes, but this happen in rare events.

As we know that the “ace or hole in one” happens in rare cases traditionally, the “ace or hole in one” can be considered valid if any golfer have witnessed it.

And in such cases, a golfer who have score “ace or hole in one”, he may have to get a signed by the witness in his scorecard.

Another tradition which I have still not understood haa!!! According to this tradition a golfer who scores “ace or hole in one”.

He has to take their fellow golfers to the clubhouse and adult beverage to celebrate. And excitedly inform his fellow golfers of his recent feat. It seems silly but still important to remember!!

Birdie

Birdie can be described as, 1 fewer stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 1 stroke less than the par number on an individual hole it can be said as birdie. When a golfer scores a birdie on a hole, it can be also referred as “one under par”.

To achieve birdie, a golfer need to use 2 strokes on par-3 holes, 3 strokes on par-4 holes and 4 strokes on par-5 holes. A birdie is possible on a hole with any par and so you can easily become familiar with birdie.

If you have hit a birdie, you can mark your score on a scorecard as -1 or you can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Eagle

Eagle can be described as, two fewer stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 2 stroke less than the par number on an individual hole it can be said as eagle. When a golfer scores a eagle on a hole, it can be also referred as “two under par”.

To achieve eagle, a golfer need to use 2 strokes on par-4 holes and 3 strokes on par-5 holes. An eagle is considered as a “hole in one or ave” in par-3 holes.

An eagle is often achieved by many golfers, but still it’s rare for most amateur golfers.

If you have hit a eagle, you can mark your score on a scorecard as -2 or you can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Albatross/Double Eagle

Albatross or double eagle can be described as, three fewer stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 3 stroke less than the par number on an individual hole it can be said as albatross or double eagle.

Albatross can be also referred to as “three under par”. To achieve albatross, a golfer needs to complete par-5 hole in 2 strokes.

And in par-4 holes, albatross is considered as “ace or hole in one”. It is considered that, an albatross is much harder and rarer than even a hole-in-one or ace.

A golfer who have achieve an albatross, can mark his score on a scorecard as -3 or he can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Condor

Condor can be described as, four fewer stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 4 stroke less than the par number on an individual hole it can be said as condor. Condor can be also referred to as “four under par”.

A “hole in one or ace” on a par- 5 is a condor. It is the rarest event in golf and only few numbers of golfers are able to achieve condor till now.

Scoring two in par-6 would also count as condor, but this has never been done. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par.

A golfer who have achieve an condor, can mark his score on a scorecard as -4 or he can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Bogey

Bogey can be described as, 1 more stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 1 stroke more
than the par number on an individual hole, it can be said as bogey. when a golfer scores bogey on a hole, they generally referred it as “one over par”.

Bogey is considered as a bad result for low handicap or professional golfers. And even for new or beginner golfers too “1 over par” Is considered as average score.

Bogey occurs when a golfer use
6 strokes on par-5, 5 strokes on par-4, or 4 strokes on par-3.

If you have score a bogey, you can mark your score on a scorecard as +1 or you can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Double Bogey

Double bogey can be described as, 2 more stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 2 stroke more
than the par number on an individual hole, it can be said as double bogey. And the golfer generally refer double bogey as “two over par”.

Double bogey occurs when a golfer score 5 on a par-3, 6 on a par-4, or 7 on a par-5. It is considered bad result for both professional and beginners too, no golfer wants to score double bogey.

If anyone scores a double bogey, he can mark his score on a scorecard as +2 or he can note down the number of strokes needed for that hole.

Triple Bogey

Triple bogey can be described as, 3 more stroke than a standard score of a given hole.

Or when a golfer scores 3 stroke more
than the par number on an individual hole, it can be said as triple bogey. Golfer generally refer triple bogey as “three over par”.

Triple bogey occurs when a golfer score 6 on a par-3, 7 on a par-4, or 8 on a par-5. Similarly quadruple bogey occurs when using 4 strokes over par, quintuple bogey occurs when using 5 strokes over par, and so on.

If any golfer scores a triple bogey, a quadruple bogey, or a quintuple bogey. Then he can mark his score on a scorecard as +3, +4 and +5 or he can note down the number of strokes needed for the individual holes.

Basic golf scoring terms of match play

Golf scoring terms of match play:-

Up

Down

Halve

All Square

Dormie

Lets know about this golf scoring terms in detail.

Up

In match play it can be said as up, when a player leads his opponent. Or when a golfer wins more holes than his opponent, then it can be said as up.

For example:- If a golfer wins 2 more holes than his opponent or if he leads his opponent by 2 holes, it will be said as 2 -up.

In match play every golfer or team trys to be up by more holes than there are holes left to play.When that happens, the golfer who is up at that point will win and the match will end.

And suppose if the match is playing in 18- holes and the match is all square up to 17- holes. Then a golfer who will be successful in winning the last hole of a round, will win the match. And the golfer will said to have won his match 1-up.

Down

In match play it can be said as down, when a player is trailed by his opponent. Or when a golfer loss the holes from his opponent, then it can be said as down.

For example:- if a player loss 2 holes from his opponent or if he trailed by his opponent by 2 holes, than it will be said as 2 -down.

The golfer who is down in his match, he trys to win the number of lossed holes and make all square.

He wants to make all square quickly because not enough holes are left to play, at which point the match ends and the golfer who is down loses. Read more