Harper Lin
Golf scoring can be a little complex, especially for beginners, but it's important to learn how to count your score when you go to a golf course. The aim of the game is to get around the course with the lowest score possible. Your score is calculated by adding up the number of times you swung the club and the number of penalties incurred. For example, if you lose your ball, you'll need to play again from the previous spot and incur a two-stroke penalty. It's also important to understand what 'par' means in golf – it's the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer should require to complete a hole. A hole score of one stroke fewer than par is known as a 'birdie', while a hole score of two strokes fewer than par is known as an 'eagle'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring | The score is the sum of the number of times the club was swung (other than barehanded) and the number of penalty hits. |
| Penalties | If the ball is lost, a penalty of one stroke is added. If the ball is hit into a penalty area (e.g. a lake), there is a one-shot penalty. If the ball cannot be found after three minutes of searching, the player must add a stroke and replay from the previous spot. |
| Par | Par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer should require to complete a hole. Holes are generally assigned par values between 3 and 5, but can go up to 7. |
| Birdie | A hole score of one stroke fewer than par is known as a birdie. |
| Eagle | A hole score of two strokes fewer than par is known as an eagle. |
| Mulligan | A "mulligan" is a re-do of a shot without penalty. This is not allowed in competition but is common among casual golfers. |
| Double Hit | A double hit is when the ball is struck twice during a stroke. This used to incur a penalty, but since 2019, accidental double hits are not penalized. |
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What You'll Learn
Counting scores
Golf scoring can be a little complex, especially for beginners, but it's important to learn how to count your score. The aim of the game is to get around the course with the lowest score possible.
The first thing to know is that your score is not just the number of times you hit the ball. Your score is the sum of the number of times you swung the club (other than barehanded) and the number of penalty hits you need to add. So, if you hit the ball twice to complete a hole with a par of 1, your score for that hole is 3.
Penalties can be a little confusing, even for advanced players. If your ball lands in a penalty area, such as a lake, there is a one-shot penalty. You drop your next ball behind or to the side of the penalty area and add one stroke to your score for that hole. If you lose your ball, you have three minutes to search for it. If you can't find it, you need to play again from your previous spot, adding a stroke to your score. This is called 'stroke and distance'. If your ball ends up somewhere that you can't swing, like next to a tree, you can take an unplayable lie. You can drop the ball in a few different ways, as long as it's not closer to the hole, and then add a stroke to your score for that hole.
If you strike the ball more than once during a stroke, you must count the additional strokes in your score. However, if your club accidentally hits the ball more than once, this counts as one stroke and there is no penalty.
There are also some more informal scoring terms. A "mulligan" is a re-do of a shot, which isn't allowed in competitions but is common among casual golfers. A "birdie" is a hole score of one stroke fewer than par, and an "eagle" is a hole score of two strokes fewer than par.
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Penalty hits
Golf is a self-policing game, which means that players are responsible for knowing and adhering to the rules. It is important to include penalty strokes in addition to the other strokes made on the ball. Here are some of the most common penalty hits in golf:
Lost Ball
If a player hits a ball into trees, high grass, or other hazards and it cannot be found within a search time of three minutes, the ball is considered lost. The penalty for a lost ball is stroke and distance, meaning the player has to go back to the spot of their previous stroke and play another ball from there, incurring a one-stroke penalty.
Out of Bounds
If a player's golf ball lands out of bounds, they must take a one-stroke penalty and return to the spot of the original shot to replay. Out of bounds is defined as being beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course that is marked as such.
Unplayable Ball
A player may declare a ball unplayable if it lies anywhere except in a water hazard. This is a one-stroke penalty, and the ball must be dropped as close as possible to the spot where the unplayable ball lies and within two club lengths of where the ball lay originally.
Wrong Ball
Hitting the wrong ball, which means any ball other than the ball hit from the tee by that player, or dropped or placed as a substitute or provisional ball, results in a two-stroke penalty.
Whiff
A whiff occurs when a player tries to strike a ball but misses it completely. Under the official rules of golf, any stroke in which a player intends to hit the ball counts as a stroke, even if they do not make contact with the ball.
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Tracking stats
Tracking your golf stats is an important way to understand your performance and identify areas for improvement. Here are some key stats you should track to illuminate the aspects of your game that need attention:
Fairways Hit
Hitting the fairway is crucial as it sets up your subsequent shots. Tracking fairways hit can help you identify trends in your driving accuracy. On your scorecard, mark a fairway hit with an "x" in the bottom left corner of the hole square. If you miss the fairway, draw an arrow in the direction of the miss. This information will help you tailor your practice sessions to address specific issues.
Green in Regulation (GIR)
GIR means reaching the green in two strokes less than the par for that hole. For example, hitting the green in two shots on a par-4 or three shots on a par-5. GIR is critical because it correlates strongly with scoring potential. On your scorecard, indicate a GIR with a circle in the top right corner of the hole square. Tracking GIR helps you understand your approach shot accuracy and distance control. If you're missing greens, note whether you're short, long, left, or right, and make adjustments accordingly.
Putts per Green in Regulation (Putts/GIR)
While total putts give an overall picture of your putting performance, Putts/GIR provides a more nuanced view. This stat measures your putting efficiency specifically when you've hit the green in regulation. Ideally, you want to average less than two putts per GIR. Tracking this stat will help you identify if your putting is holding you back from capitalizing on good approach shots. Write the number of putts in the top right corner of the hole square. If you find yourself consistently three-putting greens in regulation, it's time to focus on improving your lag putting and distance control.
Penalties
Penalty strokes can significantly impact your score. Understand the rules and penalties for different situations, such as hitting the ball into a penalty area (hazard), losing a ball, or an unplayable lie. Keep track of the number of penalties you incur during a round and analyze if there are specific types of penalties that occur more frequently. This awareness will help you strategize and reduce penalties in the future.
Overall Score
Finally, tracking your overall score is essential. Compare your score with the par score to determine if you are "over par," "under par," or "even/level par." Analyze your score across different rounds and courses to identify trends and measure your progress. Additionally, consider using a handicap system, which represents your scoring potential and helps you understand the range of scores you should aim for.
By consistently tracking these stats and analyzing your performance, you'll be able to identify patterns, set targeted goals, and focus your practice sessions to improve your golf game effectively.
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Double hits
A "double hit" in golf is when you strike the golf ball twice with your golf club in a single swing. This usually occurs when the ball pops up in front of the golfer, and they accidentally make a second contact with it on their follow-through. Although it is an embarrassing mistake that rarely happens at the top levels of the game, every golfer has experienced a double-hit at some point in their career.
Before 2019, there was a penalty for double hits, and the player would be penalised twice: once for the initial stroke, and then a one-stroke penalty for hitting a ball that was still in motion. However, since the rule change, players are no longer penalised for double hits. Rule 10.1a states, "If your club accidentally hits the ball more than once, there has been only one stroke and there is no penalty." This rule applies to all accidental deflections, whether caused by the player's club or body.
Despite the rule change, double hits can still be embarrassing for golfers, and they can result in a poor outcome that affects the player's score. It is important for golfers to know how to count their scores, as well as good manners, when playing on a golf course. The score is calculated by adding the number of times the player swung the club (excluding bare-handed swings) and the number of penalty strokes.
Although double hits are now treated as accidental deflections with no penalty, intentional double hits are treated differently. An intentional double hit occurs when a player knowingly and willingly hits the ball more than once to gain an advantage and get out of a tricky situation. Intentional double hits are penalised under the rules of golf, but it can be difficult to determine whether a double hit was intentional or not.
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Golf handicaps
A golf handicap represents the number of strokes a player is expected to take above or below the course's par score. The higher the handicap, the more strokes a player is allowed to subtract from their actual score to determine their net score. For example, if a golfer has a handicap of 16, they will get 16 shots off their score for the round, with those shots coming on the harder holes on the course.
Handicaps are calculated differently depending on the specific golf association's rules, but the general idea is similar across different systems. The USGA Handicap System, for instance, involves calculating the Handicap Differential for each round by subtracting the Course Rating from the player's score, multiplying the result by 113 (the standard slope rating), and then dividing by the Slope Rating of the course.
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Frequently asked questions
Your score is the sum of the number of times you swung the club and the number of penalty hits. For example, if you swung the club 4 times and incurred 2 penalty hits, your score for that hole is 6.
Penalty hits are incurred when your ball enters a penalty area, such as a lake, or is lost. If your ball enters a penalty area, you will need to drop another ball behind or to the side of the penalty area and add one stroke to your total score for that hole. If your ball is lost, you will need to play again from your previous spot and add one stroke to your total score for that hole.
A double hit occurs when you strike the ball more than once during a stroke. Since 2019, double hits are only penalised if they are intentional.
