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 are some common golf terms?
12 rows · Jul 15, 2021 · Golf Scoring Term: Explanation: Stroke: Any forward club swing that's intended to hit the ...
What is the best score in golf?
May 24, 2019 · Start With Par, Go From There to Understand Golf Score Names. 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. Bogey: You finished the hole in 6 strokes. ...
Does the person with the highest score wins in golf?
Golf Terms. Par | Even | E. A par is obtained on a hole when a golfer uses a number of strokes that is in line with what is deemed standard. It is a score that ... Course Par. Birdie | -1. Eagle | -2. Albatross | Double Eagle | -3.
What is highest score in golf called?
The Different Formats of Golf Scoring. 1. Stroke Play. Exactly what I’ve described in this article so far is stroke play where you take down how many strokes per hole you make and then ... 2. Match Play. 3. Stableford System.
What are the 7 golf scoring terms?
Golf Scoring Terms (Par, Bogey, Birdie, Eagle, Albatross, and More)Jul 15, 2021
What are the different scoring methods in golf?
0:051:43Golf Basics : Golf Scoring Methods - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWell there are several kinds of golf course methods a natural one the most common one used is strokeMoreWell there are several kinds of golf course methods a natural one the most common one used is stroke-play stroke play is where you count your ball.
What is 6 under par in golf called?
Terms exist for even rarer events — "ostrich" for 5 under par (-5) and "phoenix" for 6 under par (-6) — but no one has ever made these shots. Some consider them impossible — they require a hole-in-one on a par-6 or par-7 hole — because these holes themselves are very rare.
What are terms used in golf?
BackThe last nine holes of a golf course. Also a tee position that makes hole the longest.Best Ball / Better BallBest score on a hole by partners in a best-ball match.BirdieOne under par score on a hole.BogeyOne over par score on a hole.9 more rows
What should a beginner golfer score?
According to National Golf Foundation data, 45% of all golfers average more than 100 strokes per round. With that said, it is believed that a 108 is considered to be a good score for a beginner golfer, which equates to double bogey on each hole of a par 72 course.Aug 14, 2013
What are 3 types of scoring on a hole?
Golf 101: What Are the Different Golf Scoring FormatsStroke play. Stroke play is a golf game where each stroke used is accounted for. ... Match play. Match play also takes into account the number of strokes used in each hole the same way in stroke play. ... Stableford system.Apr 30, 2020
What does bogey mean in golf?
A player makes a “birdie” when he uses one fewer strokes than the par of the hole. If a player needs one stroke more than par to finish a hole, he makes a “bogey.” So, if you finish a par 4 with only 3 strokes, you make a “birdie”, but if you take 5 strokes to complete a par 4, you make a “bogey”.Apr 25, 2019
What is a ostrich in golf?
The term "ostrich" is used to describe the completion of a hole using five fewer strokes than the par. Each hole is assigned a number of strokes that are considered to be par, otherwise known as average for the course.
What do the bird names mean in golf?
of one under parBirdie: In the 19th century, the term "bird" was the equivalent of "cool" or "excellent" - golf scholars believe this is where the term came from. An Atlantic City, New Jersey, course claims that the term originated there in 1903. The meaning being a score of one under par.Oct 28, 2014
What is the best score in golf called?
aceAn ace, commonly known as a hole-in-one, is the best score out there. When you get an ace, that means you get to write a “1” on the scorecard.
What is a poor golf shot called?
Shank - A shot struck on the clubs hosel that travels dead right (for a right-handed player). The shank is typically considered the worst shot in golf – even worse than a “whiff”.
Why is it called a bogey?
The term 'bogey' comes from a song that was popular in the British Isles in the early 1890s, called "The Bogey Man" (later known as "The Colonel Bogey March"). The character of the song was an elusive figure who hid in the shadows: "I'm the Bogey Man, catch me if you can."
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 the highest par in golf?
A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an " albatross "). A triple bogey is 3-over par. 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 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 is it called when you need more strokes than the par?
And of course, most of us are not "experts" at golf, and so on most holes we'll need more strokes than the par (called "over par"). That's where those other terms — birdies, eagles, bogeys, and so on — come into play.
How many strokes are required to finish a 150 yard hole?
So a 150-yard hole is one on which the expert is expected to hit the green with his tee shot, take two putts, and, therefore, require three strokes to finish that 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 hole in one called?
But a hole-in-one — knocking the ball in the hole with your first shot — is also called an " ace .". ( On a par-5 hole, making an ace means a golfer is 4-under on that hole and, yes, golfers have a term for that, too: condor .)
What is par in golf?
A par is obtained on a hole when a golfer uses a number of strokes that is in line with what is deemed standard. It is a score that golfers strive to match – if not beat – and is referred to as “even”, or “even-par”.
What does it mean to be up in golf?
In Match Play, a golfer is said to be up when he is leading his opponent in the match. For example, a golfer who is 2-up leads his opponent by 2 holes. That means that he has bested his opponent two times more often than his opponent has bested him. The ultimate goal in match play is 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.
What does it mean to halve a hole?
In match play a golfer or a team is said to halve a hole when its score is identical to that of its opponent. In essence, it is a term used to indicate that the hole was tied. In addition to a single hole, the term halve is also used to describe a match that ends in a tie, with no winner which can be referred as a halved match. Note that this can only apply when the rules of the tournament or round allow for a match to end in a tie. Indeed, in many cases if a match were to stand at all square after 18 holes, extra holes of sudden death are played as long as needed in order to determine a winner.
What does triple bogey mean?
Similarly, a triple bogey occurs when using 3 strokes over par, a quadruple occurs when using 4 strokes over par, and so on. On the scorecard a golfer who has hit a double bogey will mark his score as +2 or will put the number of strokes hit inside two squares.
How many strokes does it take to score an eagle?
As such, a golfer that posts an eagle is said to be 2 under par on that hole. In practice, an eagle is achieved when requiring 3 strokes on a par-5, two strokes on a par-4, and 1 stroke on a par-3 for a hole-in-one. On the scorecard a golfer who has scored an eagle will either mark his score as -2 or will put the number ...
What is a birdie on a hole?
As such, a golfer that posts a birdie on a hole can be referred as having shot one under par. Consequently, a birdie is achieved when using 4 strokes on a par-5, 3 strokes on a par-4, and 2 strokes on a par-3. On the scorecard the golfer who has hit a birdie will ...
How many strokes do you need to par on a par 5?
For example, on a hole that is a par-5, a golfer will par the hole if he requires 5 strokes. On a par-4, 4 strokes and finally 3 strokes on a par-3. On the scorecard, a golfer can write down the letter ‘E’ to designate a par or alternatively can simply mark down the number of strokes that was required for that hole.
Golf Scores – Meaning of Golf Scoring Lingo
Golf’s own language can be very confusing if you’re a newbie, almost like some foreign language altogether. So let’s cover basic ground in terms of the most commonly/popularly used golf scoring terms.
How Does Golf Work In Terms of Scoring – Golf Scores With Relation to Par
Golf scoring terms are all based on the par value. And ‘ par ’ means the expected number of strokes a highly skilled golfer takes for completing every individual hole on the course. This means each hole features its own par rating. The most common ones include par-3, par-4, and par-5.
Golf Scoring System for Beginners – The Basics Where Every Swing Counts!
How to keep score in golf is actually a very simple thing to do. It only seems difficult, complex, and intimidating because you might not be acquainted with scorekeeping.
The Different Formats of Golf Scoring
When golfing, to keep score against opponents or golfing buddies, these are the 3 most commonly used formats…
What About Penalty Strokes In Golf?
In many circumstances, penalty strokes are also added to the scores of a golfer, especially beginners. These strokes are a result of when you hit into a water hazard or if your shot goes out of bounds. At such times then, you have to take another shot i.e. an extra stroke added to your score.
What Is A Good Score In Golf?
If you’re talking about PGA Tour players, that “good” score is any score under par for the golf course.
Conclusion
In comparison to most sports, golf has a pretty eccentric scoring system. Because in golf, the lowest score is considered to be the best score. That just means fewer and fewer strokes or shots taken for a particular hole and in the entire round of golf.
What does "par" mean in golf?
Par. Par is likely the term that you are most familiar with and is one of the easiest golf terms to understand. The reason that we’ve started with par, is that many of the other terms that you’ll encounter in this guide build upon and are defined by their relation to par. The term par refers to the number of strokes that a golfer would be expected ...
What is the most common stroke required to complete a hole in golf?
Most of the time, a hole will be either a par-3, par-4, or par-5. Scorers assessing golf courses have determined that these are the most common amount of strokes needed to complete holes on a golf course. It is possible for you to play a par-6 hole, but these are extremely rare.
What is par in golf?
The term par refers to the number of strokes that a golfer would be expected to take to complete a hole. Different holes will require a different number of strokes, and par is determined by the length, difficulty, and terrain of any given hole. It’s a rule of thumb that par will always account for two putts.
What does it mean to be unable to make a par?
If you are unable to make par (take more shots than par to complete a hole), or if you do even better than the par score (complete the hole in fewer strokes than par), then your score will likely be described by a different term.
What does it mean when a golf ball is shanked?
This occurs when the golfer strikes the ball not with the head of the club, but rather with the shaft before the head. You have to have a pretty strange swing to accomplish this, but it can certainly be done.
What is a chili dip?
A chili-dip is a fun term for those who put a large divot in the ground with their chip swing. This term is usually used in a lighthearted way, so don’t take it too personally if your golf partners call you out on your chili-dip!
What is a coast to coast flight?
A coast-to-coast flight refers to a ball that is hit from one bunker to another bunker on the opposite side of the putting green. Since putting is so key to golf, this is a bad situation that will usually result in a bogey or even a double bogey.
What is the most common scoring format?
Strokeplay is the most common scoring format. Players count up each stroke, write down the number of strokes taken on each hole, add them together, and whoever has the lowest cumulative number is the winner.
What is a bogey in golf?
A bogey is when you take one stroke too many relative to par to complete a hole. In the case of a par 4, that number would be five. If a player takes two strokes too many relative to par the term is a double bogey, three too many a triple-bogey etc.
What is double eagle golf?
A double eagle or albatross is when a player finishes a hole in three strokes less than that hole’s par number. An extremely rare feat that is often only ever seen when a player holes his second shot into a par 5.
What is a birdie on a par 3?
A birdie is when a player finishes a hole in one stroke less than that hole’s designated par number. On a par 3 that score would need to be a two, on a par 4 a three, and a par 5 a four.
What is matchplay in golf?
Matchplay is similar to strokeplay in that players count their total strokes for a hole but then compare that number with their competitor. The player with the least amount of strokes on the hole is awarded the hole, and the winner of the contest is the one who wins the most holes.
What is a penalty stroke?
A penalty stroke is an additional stroke or strokes added to a player’s score for an infraction of the rules during their round. Typically, a penalty will be assessed for lost balls, and shots hit out of bounds.
How does Stableford scoring work?
With Stableford scoring, players score points based on the number of strokes it takes them to finish a hole. The number of total points then decides the winner. Unlike in traditional scoring, the player with the highest score (points) is determined the winner.
What does "birdie" mean in golf?
A term you will hear quite often on the golf course is Birdie. Finishing the hole with one less stroke than what was required for par. You can also use this term as an adjective if someone had just made an outstanding and well-played shot in which they said: “nice birdie” instead of “good.
What is a three stroke under par bird?
For hole completions, three strokes under par in golf is an Albatross. Also known as “double eagles” concerning the “birdie” and “eagle” theme. The name reasons that Albatross is a scarce bird and so is scoring three under par any golfers managing that are on top of their game.
How does scoring work in golf?
Golf scoring works by counting the number of purposeful swings, accounting for penalties, and totaling with handicaps and par. Although it may seem like a complicated system, once you understand the basics, scoring for golf becomes effortless.
How to fill out a golf scorecard?
According to Golf Week, here are the six steps to filling out a golf scorecard correctly: Name of each player – You should have a list of all the players on each scorecard, as well as the name of who is keeping track of your points (also known as the “scorekeeper”).
What is a stroke in golf?
Mark all the strokes for each player – In a game of golf, a stroke is understood to be an intentional swing at the golf ball. Even if the ball doesn’t move, if a player swings at it, that counts as a stroke. You can add or subtract the par and handicap at the end of the game.
How many strokes to score if you hit the ball with a club?
When it comes to marking penalties in golf scoring, follow these twenty rules: If you ask another golfer what club they used to hit the ball with: Add two strokes to your score for that hole. If the ball moves after you put your club behind it: Add one stroke to your score for that hole, unless it falls off the tee.
What is handicap in golf?
According to American Golf, a handicap for golf simply means the variable number of the player’s level of experience that helps people of different levels play together. Another way to think of a handicap for golf is in the context of playing tag with small children. You, a full-grown adult, wouldn’t run as fast as you actually can to give the kids a chance to catch you. It’s the same idea for a golf handicap; it’s so people of any level can play the same field.
What is match play in golf?
Match Play. According to Golf Rules and Etiquette, match play scoring for golf puts more of an emphasis on each hole, rather than the course as a complete system. To score using the match play method, a point is given to the player who had the least amount of strokes per hole.
How to play golf in numerical order?
Usually, you play in numerical order, but if the course is busy, players can start at the halfway point and wrap back to the starting hole after playing the highest-numbered hole. (e.g., from holes 1-18, start at hole ten and play until hole 18, then go to holes 1-9).
What is the back nine of a golf course?
Back Nine – This refers to the last 9 holes of a typical 18 hole course, also known as heading in. Backswing – As the term suggests, this is simply the action taking when swinging back before striking the golf ball. It is important for distance and accuracy.
What is a local rule in golf?
Local Rule – Specific rule or rules that are not mainstream and only for that particular golf course. Long – A term for a golfer who hits the ball far (Dustin Johnson). Long Game – Refers to hitting long irons, woods, hybrids, and driver. Lob Wedge – A type of wedge that is usually in the 60 to 64-degree range.
What is a baseball grip?
Baseball Grip – A type of grip that resembles a baseball bat grip. Others might call it a 10-finger grip. Below the Hole – A term that refers to a putt where the hole is at a higher elevation than the ball. Big Dog – A Driver. Bite – A term used by golfers for a golf ball to stop rolling.
Why is backspin important in golf?
It is important for distance and accuracy. Backspin – Spin is very important in most aspects golf and you will often come across the term when comparing clubs or in golfing instructions. Simply put, more backspin will give you a high ball with a fair amount of control.
What is an ace in golf?
Ace – Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke. It is the dream of many golfers.
What is a fat shot in golf?
The specifics and colors can vary from course to course. Fat – A fat shot is when the club strikes the ground before the ball.
What is green in regulation?
Green in Regulation – Occurs when the golf ball is on the green and the player is putting for a birdie or better. Green Fee – The cost of playing a round of golf at a certain golf course. Grip – There are a number of different grips golfers use to hold the club.
