
What does over par mean in golf?
In golf, any score, whether on an individual hole or for a completed round, that is higher than the par rating for that hole or for the round is said to be "over par." "Over par" is usually spoken and denoted in relation to par itself; for example, a score of 5 on a par-4 is termed "1-over par."
What is a par 3 hole on a golf course called?
Such a hole is therefore called a par-3. And every hole on a golf course is rated as either a par-3, a par-4 or a par-5 (par-6 holes also exist, but they are rare). A very good golfer — or a very lucky golfer — might complete a hole in fewer strokes than the par (called "under par").
What is a stroke under par in golf?
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.
What is considered a good par on a golf course?
For an 18-hole course, the most common par is 72, though 70 and 71 round out the most common golf course par. If you shoot even par, you have, by USGA standards, played a tremendous round of golf. Par, however, is also different from a course rating, which is what a scratch player is expected to shoot under normal scoring conditions.

What is it called when you go over par?
Bogey: A hole played one stroke over par. Or you could end up with a double bogey (two over par), a triple bogey (three over) or worse — it is not uncommon to suffer from a bogey five.
What is it called when you hit one over par?
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. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.
What is over par in golf?
If a hole is a par-4, "over par" is any score greater than 4 for that hole. If the par for the course is 72, over par is a score of 73 or higher. Most golfers are, therefore, scoring over par on a regular basis.
What is it called to shoot one shot over par in golf?
Bogey A hole played one stroke over par.
What are some golf sayings?
19 Different Golf Sayings For Good LuckGood Luck.Enjoy The 19th Hole.Hit 'Em Long And Straight.May The Fores Be With You.Play Well.Swing Easy.Only Birdies.Have A Great Round.More items...•
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 is a mulligan in golf?
The basic definition of mulligan, a term most associated with golf, is a "do-over," a second try after your first has gone awry. Every weekend golfer has taken a few mulligans in their lifetime, and there's no shame in that.
What are the 7 golf scoring terms?
Beta ProgramScoring TermWhat It MeansEagleTwo strokes under par on a holeBirdieOne stroke under par on a holeParScore a good player would expect to make on a hole or roundBogeyOne stroke over par on a hole3 more rows•Mar 15, 2022
What do you call scoring in golf?
Let's start simply with the golf terms “par”, “birdie” and “bogey”. All three of these golf terms refer to scoring. “Par” represents the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to make on the hole or course.
What are the golf shots called?
Fade (aka Cut Shot):A golf shot (right handed golfer) in which the ball gradually moves left to right.Fly the green:A shot that goes over the green.Fore:Shouted when the ball is heading towards someone.Forward tees:The teeing ground located closest to the green.9 more rows
What does albatross mean in golf?
three under parAlbatross: 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.
Can I get a mulligan?
Mulligans are definitely, absolutely not allowed under the Rules of Golf. If you're playing in a competition governed by the Rules of Golf, mulligans aren't allowed.
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 it called when you complete a hole in less strokes than the par?
A very good golfer — or a very lucky golfer — might complete a hole in fewer strokes than the par (called "under 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").
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.
How many strokes are required to play 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. Such a hole is therefore called a par-3.
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 does "under par" mean in golf?
Under Par - The term "under par" describe a player's score when they've taken fewer strokes than par up to a given point of the golf course.
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 ...
How many strokes to complete a par-3?
A golfer would be even through three holes if they took 4 strokes to complete a par-3, 3 strokes to complete a par-4, and 5 strokes to complete a par-5 hole. Birdie - A " Birdie " is when a golfer scores one less stroke than par on an individual golf hole. Ex: 2 strokes on a par-3 hole.
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.
What is the main determining factor in a hole's par rating?
Distance, or more specifically "effective distance" (the distance a hole plays after accounting for whether it's uphill/downhill, its elevation, etc.), is the main determining factor in a hole's par rating.
How many condors are there in the PGA?
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. Hole-in-One / Ace - A "Hole-in-One" or "Ace" occurs when a golfer hits their first shot into the hole (cup), completing the hole in just one stroke.
What is double bogey?
Double Bogey - A " Double Bogey" is when a golfer scores two strokes OVER par. Ex: 6 strokes on a par-4 hole.
How Does ‘Par’ Work In Golf?
Par is the benchmark you should be aiming for. And these standard numbers aren’t just randomly selected for each hole. Rather they’re a total of the number of strokes needed for completing those individual holes.
How Many Strokes In A Par?
This is why the par-3 hole, since it’s a short one, requires a single stroke (by a highly skilled golfer), followed by two putts. And if it’s a long hole, then its rating is par-4 or par-5.
What does "one under par" mean in golf?
If you took 4 strokes to complete a par-5 hole, you could say you were “one under par” or “one under.” However, other terms are more commonly used to describe a golfers score for a hole in relation to par (see the “Scoring Terms for Individual Golf Holes” section below).
What is “Par” in Golf?
The term “par” in golf refers to the number of strokes that an expert golfer should need to complete an individual hole or a “round” of golf holes (usually 18 or 9 holes).
What is a condor in golf?
Condor – A “Condor” is a score of 4 strokes under par on an individual hole. On most golf courses, this could only be accomplished by getting a hole-in-one on a par-5 hole. You’ve probably never heard of this golf term because only a handful of “condors” have ever taken place. It should generally be physically impossible to hit the ball far enough for a condor on a par 5.
What is the par of a golf course?
The par of a golf course or group of holes (like the back 9 or front 9 holes) is the sum of par for every hole in the group.
What is an eagle on a par 3?
Eagle – An “Eagle” is a score of two strokes under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-4 hole or 3 strokes on a par-5 hole. While a hole-in-one (one stroke) on a par-3 could be described as an eagle, it’d more commonly be referred to as a “hole-in-one” or “ace.”
What is double eagle?
Albatross (Double-Eagle) – An “Albatross” or “Double-Eagle” is a score of 3 strokes under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-5 or a “hole-in-one” on a par-4. Again, 1 stroke on a par-4 is usually referred to as a “hole-in-one” or “ace,” rather than an albatross. This feat is so incredibly rare that I doubt it’ll ever come up in your golf round!
What is a birdie score?
Birdie – A “Birdie” is a score of one stroke under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-3 hole, 3 strokes on a par-4 hole, or 4 strokes on a par-5 hole.
What does it mean to be over par in golf?
If you are a beginner though, you will have to make an extra stroke or putt to get the ball in the hole. This means you will be over par (+1).
Why is par important in golf?
Golf is unique compared to many other sports because the person with the lowest score is the winner. Par is an essential term that you need to know if you want to become a great player in the game and how you can win it. While par wasn’t always a part of golf, these days, the term is essential for understanding how to play the game.
What is Par?
Par is the most fundamental piece of the sport; it underlines everything in the game.
How many pars do you need to play 18 holes?
The expert will normally have a par of 72 after playing a standard 18-hole round of golf. A beginner will have a par of 100 after playing the same 18 holes. This is because the expert takes the accurate strokes and putts to get the ball in the hole.
What is the birdie in golf?
Under Par: you get the ball in the hole with fewer strokes or putts, you have become an expert, this is also called a Birdie (-1).
How many strokes to get a par 3?
Par 3 – means that you will need one stroke. Then, two putts to get the ball into the hole.
What is the swing that gets the ball the closest to the hole?
Fairway: this is where you use a big swing to get the ball the closest to the hole.
What is the most common par for an 18 hole course?
For an 18-hole course, the most common par is 72, though 70 and 71 round out the most common golf course par. If you shoot even par, you have, by USGA standards, played a tremendous round of golf.
When did the term "par" come into play?
It is from that meaning that the USGA applied the term par to golf in 1911. Par and bogey were once interchangeable terms, but with this delineation, the golf world decided par was better than bogey. The phrase "par for the course" is typically used colloquially to mean something that is commonplace and expected.
What is par?
According to the USGA, par is a measure of what an expert player would be expected to score on any one particular hole based on the length and difficulty of that hole. Par assumes a player reaches a green in regulation and then takes two putts from the putting surface to hole the ball.
What do golfers talk about?
They talk about whether the round was over par, under par or even par, in addition to talking about the total score for their round or tournament.
Is it rare to shoot a par round?
Shooting a round of even par or better in a round is quite rare and unexpected. Considering that less than 1.6 percent of all golfers are capable of routinely breaking the course rating on any golf course -- a term known as being a scratch player -- "par for the course" is anything but ordinary.
Why is it called a bite in golf?
Bite: If a ball has lots of backspin it is said to “bite” because it stays close to where it landed or may spin back toward the player. If a ball appears to be going past the hole a player may shout “pray” or a more humorous way can be to shout, “grow teeth!”. Bogey: A score of one over par. Bracket:
Where is the centre of a golf hole?
The centre, short-mown portion of a golf hole in between the teeing ground and the green.
What is the best game of golf?
A golfer’s best game which is executed on a regular basis. Hitting the ball into the hole in one swing of the club. When the putted ball refuses to fall into the hole. A golf shot which travels a considerably longer distance than planned.
How many strokes does it take to get a golf ball into the hole?
Only taking two strokes to get the golf ball into the hole when your ball is resting around the green.
What is a lumberjack in golf?
Lumberjack: When a golfer hits a ball into a wooded area numerous times during a round and continues to hit the trees trying to get out of the woods. Lie: While in play the Lie is the position/location of the golf ball.
What is the right to tee off first?
The right to tee off first based on having the best score on the last hole or being furthest away from the hole.
What is a cabbage in golf?
Cabbage (aka Spinach): If you hit the ball into inescapable thick rough. Can: Refers to the “Cup” on the Green. Carpet: Term which refers to the “Green”. Casual water: A build-up of water on the golf course after heavy rain that is not part of a water hazard. The player can move the ball without penalty.
