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 an eagle birdie and bogey in golf?
What Is an Eagle, Birdie and Bogey? Eagle, birdie and bogey are all golf terms for the number of strokes required to complete a hole. They are relative to par, which is the number of strokes set as the standard for a particular hole. A player scores an eagle when he or she hits the ball in the hole with two strokes fewer than par.
Who coined the term birdie in golf?
Golfer Ab Smith is widely credited with coining the term. Just as a reminder, a birdie in golf is a score of 1-under par on any given hole; an eagle is a score of 2-under par on an individual hole.
What is the difference between an eagle and a birdie?
Just to recap: A birdie in golf is a score of 1-under par on any given hole; an eagle is a score of 2-under par on a hole. In American slang of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, the term "bird" was applied to anything particularly great or outstanding. "Bird" was the "cool" of its time.
What is an eagle in golf?
A player scores an eagle when he or she hits the ball in the hole with two strokes fewer than par. For example, if par is five, a player scores an eagle by completing the hole in three strokes.
Why is it called birdie and eagle in golf?
' In 19th-century American slang, 'bird' refereed to anyone or anything excellent or wonderful. By analogy with 'birdie,' the term 'eagle' soon thereafter became common to refer to a score one better than a 'bird. ' Also by analogy, the term 'albatross' became common to refer to a double eagle.
What does the term eagle mean in golf?
2-under parAn eagle in golf is a score that is achieved when you are 2-under par. For example, you need to do it in one stroke to score an “eagle” on a par-3 hole and two strokes on a par-4 hole. An eagle is a good indicator of advanced gameplay and is typically not achieved until the professional level.
Why is golf named after birds?
Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.
What score is a birdie?
Technically, birdie is a golf term associated with scoring one stroke less than the declared par of any given hole. So, for instance, you are dealing with a par-3 hole. To score a birdie, you simply need to make sure you complete the hole consuming only two (2) strokes.
What is meant by albatross in golf?
Albatross: This term means three under par, but the "double eagle" synonym is simply a continuation of the aviary theme of good scores. The albatross is rare, as is a three under par.
What is 4 birdies in a row called?
1 = Strike. 2 = Double. 3 = Turkey or Gobbler. 4 = Hambone. 5 = Recently heard referred to as yatzee or five bagger.
Why is it called a mulligan?
Theory: 'Mulligan' Is Named After a Golfer Mulligan probably originated when the golf do-over was christened mulligan after the name of a golfer who kept replaying shots. That's the most likely explanation, and according to Occam's Razor the simplest explanation is more likely to be the true one.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
Why do you yell fore on a golf course?
It Is Derived from the Word 'Forecaddie' Forecaddies were in charge of watching the golf balls and indicating where the golf balls landed. To let the forecaddie know when the ball was being struck, the golfers would yell out forecaddie. Eventually, the caddie part was dropped, leaving just the fore.
What is the best score in golf called?
aceAn ace, commonly known as a hole-in-one, is the best score out there.
Is a birdie 3 shots?
For those not familiar, a birdie is when you take one shot less than the par of the hole. So, if you played a par-4 in three shots, that would be a birdie. Or, if you played a par-5 in four shots, that would also be a birdie.
Why is a bogey called a bogey?
So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil. Golfers of the time considered they were playing a Mister Bogey when measuring themselves against the bogey score.
What is the difference between an eagle and a hole-in-one?
Definition of an Eagle If you holed your ball in three shots on a par-5, that's considered an eagle. Another eagle would be if you holed your ball in two shots on a par-4. A hole-in-one on a par-3 is also considered an eagle, but is almost always referred to as a hole-in-one.
How many shots under par is an eagle?
two under parEagle. A hole score of two strokes fewer than par (two under par, −2) is known as an eagle, e.g. 2 strokes to complete a par 4 hole or 3 strokes on a par 5 hole. The name "eagle" was used to represent a better score than a birdie due to it being a relatively large bird.
What is better than an eagle in golf?
An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.
Is an eagle a hole-in-one in golf?
Eagles on par-4 holes are much rarer because they require either driving the green and 1-putting, or holing out an approach shot from the fairway. Note that an eagle on a par-3 hole is a hole-in-one. And you can call a par-3 ace either an "eagle" or a "hole-in-one;" both terms are correct.
What is the difference between an eagle and a birdie?
Just as a reminder, a birdie in golf is a score of 1-under par on any given hole; an eagle is a score of 2-under par on an individual hole. Which makes scoring an eagle even better than scoring a birdie.
Who coined the term "birdie"?
So we can say that "birdie" was coined by Ab Smith and his fellow-competitors during a match at Atlantic City Country Club in 1903. (Today, on the hole at ACCC where it happened, a plaque commemorates the event.) The term immediately became common around that club, visitors to the club learned it and it spread out across the golf world from ...
When did the term "birdie" come into use?
The term birdie was in worldwide use by the 1910s. And it was during a match at Atlantic City Country Club that birdie came into existence.
Where did the word "birdie" originate?
The Birth of 'Birdie' in Atlantic City. Who first used "birdie" on a golf course? Most sources point to Atlantic City Country Club in Atlantic City , N.J., as the place of origin. The USGA Museum cites the book Fifty Years of American Golf, published in 1936, which itself references a match played at Atlantic City Country Club in 1899.
Who said a birdie is a hole done in one stroke under par?
Writing in 1913, English golf writer Bernard Darwin said that "it takes a day or two for the English onlooker (in the U.S.) to understand that a birdie is a hole done in one stroke under par" (citation from The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms ).
What does "birdie" mean in golf?
Birdie. "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent. The September 1911 edition of Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as - '"bird" straight down the course, about two hundred and fifteen yards.'.
What is the meaning of the eagle in golf?
Eagle. "Eagle", a score of two under par for a given hole, was clearly the extension of the theme of birds for good scores from a " birdie " . It would be natural for American golfers to think of the eagle, which is their national symbol and the term seems to have developed only shortly after the 'birdie'.
What is par in golf?
Par is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure. In 1870, Mr AH Doleman, a golf writer, asked the golf professionals David Strath and James Anderson, what score would win 'The Belt', then the winning trophy for 'The Open', at Prestwick, where it was first held annually from 1861 to 1870. Strath and Anderson said that perfect play should produce a score of 49 for Prestwick's twelve holes. Mr Doleman called this 'par' for Prestwick and subsequently Young Tom Morris won with a score of two strokes 'over par' for the three rounds of 36 holes.
What are the three terms used in golf?
There is quite a history behind the golfing terms bogey, par, birdie, eagle and albatross. Bogey and par were central to the development of handicapping, pioneered by the LGU. The modern meaning of three of the terms - bogey, birdie and eagle - comes from their use in USA. Bogey Par Birdie Eagle Albatross.
What is the bogey score?
Here Comes the Bogey Man", which was popular at that time. So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil.
When was the first birdie hole?
The Atlantic City Club date the event to 1903. The First Birdie Hole, Courtesy of Atlantic City County Club. By 1913, the term had crossed the Atlantic and Bernard Darwin writing in the September 1913 issue of Country Life of a visit to the USA said.
When were bogey competitions introduced?
This allowed the introduction of bogey competitions, which we would call handicap competitions or stablefords. On 2nd January 1892, The Field reported that 'a novelty was introduced in the shape of a bogey tournament for a prize. ... Fourteen couples started but the bogey defeated them all.'.
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 forward club swing?
Any forward club swing that's intended to hit the golf ball. The number of strokes an expert player is expected to make for a given hole or a group of holes (usually 9 or 18). One stroke under par on an individual hole. Two strokes under par on an individual hole. Three strokes under par on an individual hole.
Is a bogey bad for golf?
While a bogey is a bad result for a low handicap or professional golfer, new and less skilled golfers are often fine with only needing one more stroke than par to complete a hole. If you got a bogey on every hole of a par-72 course, you'd shoot a 90. This is a major milestone for newer golfers.
What does "Birdie" mean in golf?
Brent Kelley. Updated May 24, 2019. "Birdie" is one of the basic scoring terms used by golfers, and it means a score of 1-under par on any individual golf hole. Par, remember, is the expected number of strokes it should take an expert golfer to complete a hole.
What is a birdie putt?
A "birdie putt" is a putt that, if the golfer makes it, results in a score of birdie on the hole. A "natural birdie" is a term some golfers use for a gross birdie. On a par-4 hole, if you take only three strokes, you made a "natural birdie.".
How many strokes does a golfer need to play a hole?
Every holf on a golf course is given a par rating, those ratings usually being either par-3, par-4 or par-5. That means that an expert golfer should need three strokes, four strokes and five strokes, respectively, to play those holes.
What does "circle on the scorecard" mean?
Some golfers like to mark their scorecards in away that makes under-par and over-par scores stand out. The tradition is to circle birdies on the scorecard. If you write down a "3" on a par-4 hole, you can circle the "3" to make it stand out as a birdie. Hence, "circle on the scorecard.".
What score do you get for a birdie?
The Scores That Result in a Birdie. As for your actual score: If you make a "birdie" on a hole then you have: Scored a 2 on a par-3 hole. Scored a 3 on a par-4 hole. Scored a 4 on a par-5 hole. Par-6 holes are rare in golf, but they do exist. So you can also claim a birdie by making a score of five on a par-6 hole.
When did the birdie happen?
The transformation of "bird"—as in, "hey, that was a bird of a shot"—into " birdie " is believed to have happened around the dawn of the 1900s, at a specific golf course, within a specific group of golfers in New Jersey.
Where did the term "birdie" come from?
How Did Birdie Become a Golf Term? "Birdie" isn't just a golf term that originated in the United States , it's one of the earliest innovations in the game that originated in America.
What Is A Birdie In Golf?
Now we understand what par is, the rest of the key terms we are looking at are all very simple to explain because they directly relate to the concept of par. A birdie is a score of one under par; so for example registering a score of two shots on a par three hole will be described as a birdie, or we may say the player birdied the hole.
What Is A Bogey In Golf?
A bogey is, in a sense, the opposite of a birdie and is when a player completes the hole in one more shot than par. So should a player take six shots to complete a par five, that is a bogey and they may be said to have bogeyed the hole. Birdies are brilliant but bogeys are bad and players want to keep bogeys off their card.
Eagle
In keeping with the ornithological theme first introduced by a birdie, an eagle is a score that is two shots better than par. The most common way to record an eagle is by making a three at a par five, although a player can also make a two at a par four or score a hole in one (otherwise called an ace) at a par three.
Albatross
An albatross is exceptionally rare and, as you might have guessed, is when a player scores three under par on a single hole. This is impossible on a par three but on occasion, a player may hole their tee shot on a par four or, more commonly, hole their second shot from distance on a par five.
Double, Triple And Quadruple Bogey
Whilst birdies, eagles and albatrosses are highly desired, at the opposite and of the spectrum we have the relatively self-explanatory double, treble and quadruple bogeys. Unsurprisingly these represent scores of two, three and four over par respectively.
Other Golf Terms
Whilst the main focus of this piece is the terminology used in relation to scoring, golf is packed with other unusual phrases too. Here we look at some of the more common ones.
What does an eagle mean in golf?
An eagle, which simply means shooting two strokes under par on one hole, is not a common score for most golfers. Even for professionals, eagles don't come around that often. In order to make an eagle, you have to have a combination ...
What does it mean to be an eagle?
What is an Eagle? An eagle means that you shot two strokes below par on one hole. For example, if you holed your ball in three shots on a par-5, that's considered an eagle. Another eagle would be if you holed your ball in two shots on a par-4. A hole-in-one on a par-3 is also considered an eagle but is almost always referred to as a hole-in-one.
What is double eagle golf?
A double eagle is a term for when you shoot three shots below par on one hole. The score is extremely uncommon. To accomplish it, you'll need to make a hole-in-one on a par-4 or hole your second shot on a par-5. It's also referred to as an albatross. Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers win The Match.
Where did the term "eagle" come from?
The term "eagle" was originated from the term "birdie," which means shooting one stroke below par on a hole. In H.B. Martin's book, "Fifty Years of American Golf," an account of a foursome match played at the Atlantic City Country Club was described. After a well-played hole, one of the players said, "That was a bird of a shot.".
Can you hit an eagle on a par 3?
It's uncommon for golfers to hit the ball onto the green on their tee shot, though it can be accomplised on a short par-4. For an eagle on a par-3, the formula is simple: hole the ball in one stroke.
'Birdie' Based on Early American Slang
The Birth of 'Birdie' in Atlantic City
- Who first used "birdie" on a golf course? Most sources point to Atlantic City Country Club in Atlantic City, N.J., as the place of origin. The USGA Museum cites the book Fifty Years of American Golf, published in 1936, which itself references a match played at Atlantic City Country Club in 1899. Atlantic City Country Club itself, however, says the match was in 1903, so that's th…
'Eagle' Soon Followed 'Birdie' Into Existence
- Unlike with birdie, we don't know the time and place that "eagle" entered the golf lexicon. But it was very soon after the creation of "birdie." The same Ab Smith who coined "birdie" said that he also recalled using "eagle" at ACCC soon thereafter. Eagle was just a natural extension of the avian theme of birdie. What's better than 1-under? Two-under. What's bigger, grander, more maje…
The Scores That Result in A Birdie
How Did Birdie Become A Golf term?
- "Birdie" isn't just a golf term that originated in the United States, it's one of the earliest innovations in the game that originated in America. (In fact, The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms cites a 1913 quote by the great English golf writer Bernard Darwin: "It takes a day or two for the English onlooker [in the U.S.] to understand that ... a birdie is a hole done in a strokeunder par.") The wor…
Other Forms and Uses of Birdie in Golf
- Do "double birdies" exist? The word "bogey" means 1-over par on a hole, and 2-over is a "double bogey," 3-over is a "triple bogey," and so on. Does the same pattern hold with birdie? If 1-under is a birdie, do golfers call 2-under a "double birdie"? No. Two-under on a hole is an "eagle." And 3-under on a hole is an "albatross" ... or a "double eagle." Hey, nobody ever claimed golf's scoring terms …
Birdie Is Also Known as ...
- Other ways golfers say they made a birdie on a hole: 1. bird 2. 1-under 3. 1-under par 4. circle on the scorecard. Let's explain that last one. Some golfers like to mark their scorecardsin away that makes under-par and over-par scores stand out. The tradition is to circle birdies on the scorecard. If you write down a "3" on a par-4 hole, you can circle the "3" to make it stand out as a birdie. Hen…