What Are The Golf Scorecard Symbols? The different golf scorecard symbols include a solid circle, a circle, no symbol, a square and a solid square symbol. These represent scoring for a golfer on a particular hole.
What is on a golf scorecard?
Typically, the first thing on a golf scorecard is the list of holes. Golf courses vary between 9 hole courses and 18 hole courses. Some scorecards will have a map of the course with each hole on the map having its number next to it. Holes are typically played in order from 1 to 18.
How do you Mark strokes on a golf scorecard?
Basic Stroke Play The simplest way to mark the scorecard is straightforward. When playing stroke play, count the number of strokes you've taken on the hole just completed, and write that number down in the box corresponding to that hole on the scorecard.
What do the symbols on a golf score mean?
You can note that some holes are circled or squared. The circles represent below-par holes and the squares above-par holes. A score that is neither circled nor squared is a par. Here is some explanation of such symbols: Solid square - Double-bogey or worse.
What do the squares mean on a golf scorecard?
One square represents a bogey, while a score with two squares drawn around it represents a double-bogey or worse. Many golfers like to keep track of their statistics while playing. The statistics most commonly kept on a scorecard are fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putts taken per hole.

What do the symbols mean on a golf scorecard?
So one circle represents a birdie, and a score circled twice represents an eagle or better. One square represents a bogey, while a score with two squares drawn around it represents a double-bogey or worse.
What is the markers score on a golf scorecard?
Marker's Score This is where the person marking your scorecard will post their own score. This is because someone else marks your scorecard in Competition but if playing socially you'll probably mark your own so you'd actually write your Score under 'Player A' so this box won't be used by you.
How do you read a handicap scorecard?
0:062:38How to Read a Golf Scorecard - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then anyMoreIn means the back nine the total is it would be your total score for the two 18s two nines then any handicap that you have subtracted from your total would be the net.
How do you read a golf Scoreboard?
For example, if a player shoots 70, 70, 70 and 70 in a 72-hole tournament, then they scored 280 for the four rounds. If the par on the golf course is 72, then the total expected par would be 288. That means the player shot 8 under par in relationship to par, as 280 subtracted by 288 is -8, reflected as 8 under par.
What is a non competing marker?
Players who go out alone in the weekend rounds of the Masters have the option of playing with a non-competing marker -- that is, a person who plays alongside you but whose score doesn't count in any way.
What do circles and squares represent in golf?
You can note that some holes are circled or squared. The circles represent below-par holes and the squares above-par holes. A score that is neither circled nor squared is a par.
How do you read a golf slope and rating?
The higher the slope number, the harder the course is for the bogey golfer relative to the difficulty of the course for the scratch golfer. Slope numbers can range anywhere between 55 and 155 with the average slope in the United States being 120.
What does HCP mean in golf?
Handicap rowAlternate Designations: The Handicap row on the scorecard might be designated as "HCP" or "HDCP," and you might see two handicap rows if a golf course has rated its holes for both men and women.
How to score a golf scorecard?
When playing stroke play, count the number of strokes you've taken on the hole just completed, and write that number down in the box corresponding to that hole on the scorecard. At the end of each nine holes, tally up the strokes for your front nine and back nine totals ( often marked "out" and "in" ), respectively, then add up those two numbers for your 18-hole score.
What does a circle on a golf scorecard mean?
But because it's a PGA Tour thing, some golfers like to do it this way. So one circle represents a birdie, and a score circled twice represents an eagle or better.
How to mark stableford on scorecard?
To mark Stableford on a scorecard, it's most common to use two rows. Using two rows makes the scorecard easier to mark and easier to read later. The top row is your stroke play score — the number of strokes you took to complete the hole. The second row is the Stableford points earned on that hole.
What does a scorecard look like?
Here's what a scorecard looks like when your course handicap is 18 or above, which means that you get to take a stroke on every hole, and sometimes two strokes on a hole.
How to score a stableford?
For Stableford with handicaps, begin by marking the scorecard as you would for regular stroke play using handicaps (using the dots and slashes). Add a second row to the scorecard and mark it "Stableford — Gross.". Then add a third row marked "Stableford — Net.".
What is a match play vs par?
Match play vs. par or bogey describes a match in which you are playing not against a fellow golfer, but against par itself, or bogey itself. In our example above, the match is against par. This means that if you par the hole, you've halved; if you birdie, you've won the hole (because you beat par), and if you bogey you've lost the hole (because par beat you). This is a good game to play when you're on the course by yourself.
How to take a stroke on a golf course?
Always start by marking the holes on which you get to take a stroke. Make a little dot somewhere within the box for the holes on which your course handicap will be used. (The "handicap" row of the scorecard tells you where to take strokes. If your course handicap is 2, then take a stroke on the holes marked 1 and 2.
The Scorecard Layout
The golf scorecard is usually a card stock folded with the various elements of the course laid out horizontally across the card in columns. It’s foldable so that you can fit it into your pocket, onto your golf trolley, or on the golf cart steering wheel.
How To Read A Golf Scorecard: Marking Your Card
The first step is to fill in your name and the names of the players in your group. Then, as you progress from hole to hole, fill in the score on each hole after completion. This should be done honestly to get a correct score and indication of how well you played.
Handing In Your Scorecard
Before handing it in, make sure you sign it as the player and the marker, especially if you are playing competition; failure to sign your card will get you disqualified. Similar to how pro golfers keep score and turn in their scorecards.
What is a golf scorecard?
Golf scorecards allow golfers to track their score as well as providing vital information about the course. The total score is based upon strokes and handicaps and compared to the other players to determine a winner. If you are tracking your own progress as a golfer, scorecards can also be useful as a non-competitive reference.
Where to find par information on golf scorecard?
You can find the par information in the par row on the scorecard. The average golf course is a par 72, which means that the pars of all the holes added together equals 72. Par generally relates to length. Par 3s are the shortest holes on golf courses and par 5s are the longest holes.
What is it called when you take 2 shots on a par 5?
Getting the ball in the hole from the tee is a "hole in one." Taking 2 shots on a par 5 is called an "albatross" or a "double-eagle." Taking 2 shots on a par 4 or 3 shots on a par 5 is called an "eagle." Taking 2 shots on a par 3, 3 shots on a par 4, or 4 shots, on a par 5 is a "birdie."
What does it mean when you take 72 shots on a par 72 course?
If they take 72 shots on a par 72 course, they take 3 from 72 to give them 69, meaning they've shot 3 under par with their handicap. Your handicap is essentially an allowance to help you. Better players have lower handicaps and less-skilled players have higher handicaps. ...
How many shots do you need to play a par 72?
Handicaps make things a little more tricky. If you have a -15 handicap and it takes you 85 shots to play a par 72, take 15 from 85. This leaves you with 70 shots on a par 72, or 2 under par. A player with a -3 handicap will take 3 from their total.
What is the back 9 of golf?
Holes 1 to 9 are known as the front 9 and holes 10 to 18 are known as the back 9. After the 9th and 18th hole sections of the scorecard you will see the words "Out" and "In" respectively. The 9th hole marks the end of the "Out" section which means playing away from the clubhouse.
What do blue markers mean on a golf course?
Blue markers reflect the tee boxes for local competitions. These tees are normally used by very good amateur players. If a course doesn't have black or gold tees, the blue tee boxes are the furthest from the hole. White tees are the middle tees, most often used by golfers with middle to high handicaps.
What is the idea of having more circles than squares on a golf scorecard?
Then, with that number at the end of nine holes, a player can add that number to the par for the side and get their nine-hole score. Circles and squares on the scorecard making scoring in golf easier.
Why do golfers put squares on their scorecards?
Golfers use circles and squares on a scorecard to indicate their scores against par, giving them an easy way to tally up their score ...
What does a circle on a scorecard mean?
A circle around a number on a scorecard indicates a score under par. So, for a birdie, a player puts one circle around the score. For an eagle, a player puts two circles ...
What does a square around a number mean in golf?
A square around a number on a scorecard indicates a score over par. So, for a bogey, a player puts one square around the score. For an double bogey, a player puts two squares around the score. And it goes on like that. This way, instead of adding numbers to get a score, a golfer just has to keep track of a count that starts at zero.
How many circles do you put around a birdie?
So, for a birdie, a player puts one circle around the score. For an eagle, a player puts two circles around the score. And in the event of the very rare albatross (incorrectly called a double eagle), a player puts three circles around the score. A square around a number on a scorecard indicates a score over par.
