
Golf Scoring Terms Cheat Sheet
Golf Scoring Term | Explanation |
Stroke | Any forward club swing that's intended t ... |
Par | The number of strokes an expert player i ... |
Birdie | One stroke under par on an individual ho ... |
Eagle | Two strokes under par on an individual h ... |
What is 4 under par called in golf?
In golf, "par" is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete an individual hole, or to complete all the holes on a golf course. Par is the standard to which golfers aspire. Usage Examples: "This hole is a par-4." "The par for this golf course is 71." "I'm 3-over par so far in my round."
What is the highest par rating in golf?
“Par” refers to how many strokes you need for completing a single hole or all holes on the golf course. Par of An Individual Hole Take any single hole on the course, for instance par-5 hole. What this means is that you need to play five strokes to complete that …
What does par stand for in golf?
What is Par in Golf? Each hole on the golf course is given a score that is considered "par." The number designated as each hole's par is the number of strokes it should take an average golfer to complete the hole. There are usually holes rated as par 3s, 4s, and 5s on every golf course.
Do golf course all have the same par?
May 24, 2019 · When explaining golf scoring terms, start with par, because all the other names of golf scores are defined in relation to par. "Par" refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of one hole on a golf course. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.

How many strokes is a par?
Golf Scoring Term | Explanation |
---|---|
Stroke | Any forward club swing that's intended to hit the golf ball. |
Par | The number of strokes an expert player is expected to make for a given hole or a group of holes (usually 9 or 18). |
Birdie | One stroke under par on an individual hole. |
How many shots is a par in golf?
How does par work in golf?
Is par always 72 in golf?
What is 1 over par called in golf?
What does P mean on a golf club?
How many hits is a par?
Is par good in golf?
Is par a bird?
What handicap is a 95 golfer?
Is under 100 a good golf score?
Is 79 a good golf score?
How does par work in golf?
Par is a standard to which golfers aim for. These numbers are not randomly given to each hole, but are mainly based on the number of strokes a golf expert would require to complete them.
Is a par good in golf?
Par sets the line between good golfers and great golfers. Simply put, if you maintain a par score in each hole, then you can consider yourself having a competitive golf score and an expert at that.
How many strokes in a par?
This varies between holes. As mentioned, length may come into consideration in knowing how many strokes you would need to complete a hole. For example, a par-3 hole is considered a short hole and would only require an expert golfer one (1) stroke to reach the green and then two (2) extra strokes to complete it.
What is the deal with par-70, par-71 and par-72?
No, it doesn’t mean a very long hole. As mentioned, each hole has its own par. A typical golf course has 18 holes. So, if you add up all 18 par numbers, you could get around par 69 to 74 total. A regulation golf course has a par of 72 which is equivalent to four (4) par-3, ten (10) par-4 and four (4) par-5.
Par and scoring relationship
Par can also be a golfer’s performance indicator. Basically, you have “parred the hole” if you completed it with the number strokes equal to its par (i.e. four (4) strokes in a par-4 hole). This is also known as “level-par” or “even-par.”
What is par in golf?
In golf, par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient (scratch, or zero, handicap) golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the pars of the played holes), or a tournament (the sum of the pars of each round). Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. A typical 18-hole golf course will have ...
How is par determined?
Par is primarily determined by the playing length of each hole from the teeing ground to the putting green. Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five, which includes a regulation number of strokes to reach the green based on the average distance a proficient golfer hits the ball, and two putts.
How many yards are there in a par 5?
In general, par-3 holes for men will be under 260 yards (240 m) from the tee to the green, par-4 holes will be 240–490 yards (220–450 m), par-5 holes will be 450–710 yards (410–650 m) and par-6 holes will be over 670 yards (610 m).
How many pars are there in a 9 hole golf course?
A typical 18-hole golf course will have a total par around 72, and a 9-hole par-3 course (where all holes are rated as par 3) will have a total par of 27.
What is the score of a golfer?
A golfer's score is compared with the par score. If a course has a par of 72 and a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete the course, the reported score is +3, or "three-over-par" and takes three shots more than par to complete the course. If a golfer takes 70 strokes, the reported score is −2, or "two-under-par".
How many rounds are there in a golf tournament?
Tournament scores are reported by totalling scores relative to par in each round (there are usually four rounds in professional tournaments). If each of the four rounds has a par of 72, the tournament par would be 288. For example, a golfer could record a 70 in the first round, a 72 in the second round, a 73 in the third round, ...
What is a bogey score?
A score of one stroke more than par (+1) for a hole is known as a bogey, e.g. 4 strokes to complete a par 3 hole or 6 strokes on a par 5 hole. The first meaning of bogey in golf was the number of strokes a good golfer should take at each hole, and first came into use at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in 1890, based on the phrase " bogey man " and a popular music hall song Here Comes the Bogey Man. Notionally, players competed against Colonel Bogey, and this gave the title to a 1914 marching tune, Colonel Bogey March. As golf became more standardised in the United States, par scores were tightened and recreational golfers found themselves scoring over par, with bogey changing meaning to one-over-par.
What does "par" mean in golf?
"Par" refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of one hole on a golf course. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.
What is a birdie in golf?
They describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par: A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole.
What does "double eagle" mean in golf?
Double eagle: On a par-5, means you finished the hole in 2 strokes. Eagle: You finished the hole in 3 strokes. Birdie: You finished the hole in 4 strokes. Par: You finished the hole in 5 strokes.
What is a double bogey?
A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an " albatross "). Given that a par-5 hole is the highest par most golfers will ever see, there is a limit to how far under par a golfer can go.
What is a double eagle called?
A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an " albatross "). Given that a par-5 hole is the highest par most golfers will ever see, there is a limit to how far under par a golfer can go. But a hole-in-one — knocking the ball in the hole with your first shot — is also called an " ace .".
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. So you're new to the game of golf and you keep hearing references to birdies and bogeys, eagles and pars.
What is the par score for 18 holes?
Full-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. "Course Par" for the 18 holes will usually be between 69-73, with par-72 being most common for an 18-hole golf course.
How many yards is a par 4?
Par-4 – 211 to 400 yards. Par-5 – 401 to 575 yards. The golf scoring term "Par" is also used to reference the combined par of a group of golf holes. Full-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes.
What is a stroke in golf?
Golf Scoring Terms Explained. Stroke - In golf, a "Stroke" is any forward club swing, including when putting, that a golfer is trying to hit the ball. You can essentially use "Stroke" as a synonym for a shot/putt, but keep in mind that it also includes "whiffs" if you miss the ball when trying to hit it. Par - " Par " is the number of strokes that ...
What is a condor in golf?
Condor - A "Condor" is when a golfer scores four strokes less than par on an individual golf hole. A hole in one on a par 5 is a condor. Only four condors have been recorded in PGA history. Generally, the only way to accomplish a condor is to massively "cut off" a "dogleg" par-5 golf hole for a hole-in-one.
What is an albatross?
Albatross / Double Eagle - An " Albatross " or " Double Eagle " is when a golfer scores three fewer strokes than par on an individual golf hole. Ex: 2 strokes on a par-5 hole. An Albatross is far rarer than even a hole-in-one (ace).

How Does Par Work in Golf?
Is A Par Good in Golf?
How Many Strokes in A Par?
What Is The Deal with Par-70, par-71 and Par-72?
Par and Scoring Relationship
What Does “Par For The Course” Mean?
- You probably heard of the term “par for the course.” It’s basically an idiomatic expression derived from golf which usage is equal to that of “normal”, “expected” or “common.” Like in golf, par is the expected/normal number of strokes. So you could use the phrase to describe a similar situation, event or behavior.
Overview
In golf, par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient (scratch, or zero handicap) golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the pars of the played holes), or a tournament (the sum of the pars of each round).
Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. A typical 18-hole golf coursewill have a total par around 72, and a 9-hole par-3 course (wh…
Determination of par
Course and tournament scores
Hole scores
What Is Par in Golf
Tip #1 – Have A Game Plan
Tip #2 – Keep Your Mind Right
Tip #3 – Improve Your Ball Striking
Tip #4 – Improve Your Swing Speed and Distance
Tip #5 – Improve Your Short Game
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