Jackson Reid
Golf scoring can be confusing, especially for beginners, but it's important to learn how to count your score as well as good manners. Golf is a sport in which players compete to get around the course with the lowest score possible. There are three main formats used for keeping score: stroke play, match play, and the Stableford system. In stroke play, the predominant format, you count each stroke, write down the number of strokes used on each hole, tally it up, and the player with the lowest score wins. In match play, you count the number of strokes on each hole and compare that to your opponent's result, keeping track of which of you wins each hole. The winner of the overall match is the one who wins the most holes. In the Stableford system, your score in relation to par is converted into points, and it's the number of total points that determines the winner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring calculation | The score is the sum of the number of times a player swung the club (other than bare-handed) and the number of penalty strokes. |
| Penalty strokes | A 2-stroke penalty is given for hitting the ball out of bounds, and a 1-stroke penalty is given for hitting the ball into the water. |
| Scoring terminology | A score of 1-under on a hole is called a "birdie", and 1-over is called a "bogey". |
| Scoring formats | Stroke play, match play, and Stableford system. |
| Scorecards | Used to track scores during a round, listing each hole, its assigned par value, and the golfer's score. |
| Handicap | A numerical measure of a golfer's ability, calculated based on recent scores and adjusted for course difficulty. |
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Counting your score
Golf scoring is based on the number of strokes taken, with the aim of completing the course in the fewest strokes possible.
Stroke Play
Stroke play is the predominant format for golf scoring. In this format, you simply count each stroke, writing down the number of strokes used on each hole, and then tallying them up. The player with the lowest number of strokes at the end of the game wins.
Match Play
Match play is another format, where scoring is based on holes won or lost rather than total strokes. In this format, each hole is a separate contest, with the winner being the player who completes the hole in the fewest strokes. If strokes are tied, the winner is determined according to specific rules.
Stableford System
In the Stableford system, your score in relation to par is converted into points, and it's the number of total points, rather than total strokes, that determines the winner.
Penalties
It's important to keep track of penalties when counting your score. For example, hitting the ball out of bounds incurs a 2-stroke penalty, while hitting the ball into water adds a 1-stroke penalty. If you lose your ball, a penalty of one stroke is added.
Par
Par refers to the assigned number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take on each hole. Most 18-hole golf courses have a par of 70-72, although there are variations with lower par numbers. Scoring in relation to par is common, with terms like "birdie" (one stroke under par) and "eagle" (two strokes under par) used to describe performance relative to par.
Handicap
Golf also utilizes a handicap system to ensure fair competition among players of varying skill levels. A handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability, calculated based on recent scores and adjusted according to the difficulty of the course being played.
Scorecards
Scorecards are a fundamental tool for tracking scores during a round. It's important to familiarize yourself with the layout and terminology of a scorecard to ensure accurate scoring. Typically, each player is responsible for keeping the score of their opponent, and vice versa. After every round, players must verify their opponent's score and sign or initial it.
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Counting penalties
Golf scoring can be confusing, especially for beginners, and it's important to learn how to count your score as well as good manners.
Firstly, it's worth noting that golf scoring introduces colourful terminology to describe performance relative to par. A score of one stroke under par on a hole is called a "birdie", while a score of one stroke over par is a "bogey".
In terms of counting penalties, the number of clubs swung plus the number of penalties combined is the score. This means that the score is the sum of the number of times you swung the club (other than bare-handed) and the number of hits that must be added as a penalty. For example, if you swing your club at the ball, it counts as a stroke, even if you do not make contact with the ball. If you lose your ball, a penalty of one stroke is added.
Additionally, there are other penalty strokes to be aware of. For instance, if you hit the ball out of bounds, there is a 2-stroke penalty. If you hit the ball into water, there is a 1-stroke penalty.
There are also other circumstances to be aware of. For example, if your ball hits a tree and bounces back towards you, there is no penalty, but it counts as one stroke.
It's also important to note that golf has a handicap system. A handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability, calculated based on recent scores and adjusted according to the difficulty of the course being played. This allows players of varying skill levels to compete on an equal footing.
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Terminology
Golf scoring has a whole lexicon of colourful and somewhat mysterious terminology to describe performance relative to par.
Par
Par is the assigned number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to take on each hole. The sum of the par of every hole is the par for the course. Most 18-hole golf courses play to a par of 70-72. Scoring par for a hole is also known as "even par". Scoring higher than par is known as "over par", and scoring below par is known as "under par". For example, on a par 72 golf course, a score of 72 would be even par, a score of 75 would be 3-over, and a score of 69 would be 3-under.
Birdie, Eagle, Bogey, Double Bogey
Achieving a score of one stroke under par on a hole is called a "birdie", while two strokes under par is an "eagle". Conversely, a score of one stroke over par is a "bogey", and two strokes over par is a "double bogey".
Handicap
For fair competition among players of varying skill levels, golf utilizes a handicap system. A handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability, calculated based on recent scores and adjusted according to the difficulty of the course being played. The handicap allows players to compete on an equal footing, with the lower-handicap player expected to have a higher likelihood of scoring closer to par than a higher-handicap player.
Stableford
In Stableford scoring, your score in relation to par is converted into points, and it's the number of total points (rather than total strokes) that determines the winner.
Penalty
Penalties are also added to the score. For example, a 2-stroke penalty is given for hitting the ball out of bounds, and a 1-stroke penalty is given for hitting the ball into the water.
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Scorecards
Before teeing off, golfers should check the par of the course. Most 18-hole golf courses have a par of 70-72, although executive or short courses have a lower par. Each hole on the course has a par rating, and the sum of the par of every hole is the par for the course. For example, on a par-4 hole, scoring 4 is "level par" or "even par", scoring 6 is "2-over par", and scoring 2 is "2-under par".
In addition to recording scores, scorecards may also be used to track penalties. For instance, a 2-stroke penalty is incurred when the ball is hit out of bounds, and a 1-stroke penalty is incurred when the ball is hit into water. If the ball is lost, a penalty of one stroke is added.
Golf scorecards also typically include a hole's handicap index, which ranks each hole by difficulty. The hardest hole is ranked number 1, while the easiest hole is ranked 18th. The handicap index determines how many strokes a player receives on the hole, depending on their handicap.
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Golf scoring formats
Golf scoring can be done in several formats, with stroke play being the most common. In stroke play, the player's score is the sum of their strokes and penalties across all holes. The player with the lowest score wins. Gross stroke play, commonly seen in professional tournaments, does not factor in a player's handicap. In net stroke play, players subtract their playing handicap from their gross score, allowing golfers of all skill levels to compete on a more level playing field.
Match play is another popular scoring format. In this format, each hole is a separate contest, and the player who completes it in the fewest strokes wins that hole. The player who wins the most holes is the overall winner. Match play adds a strategic dimension, as players focus on winning individual holes rather than their total score.
There are also team-based scoring formats. In Better Ball, or Alternate Shot, teams of 2 to 4 players compete, with each member playing their own ball. In match play, the lowest score from each team member becomes the team's score for that hole. In stroke play, the team with the lowest overall score wins. Scramble is another team format where each team member tees off on every hole, and the team chooses the best shot. Each team member then plays their next shot from that spot.
Stableford is a variation of stroke play that uses a points-based system, where the goal is to accumulate the highest score. Points are awarded based on performance relative to a fixed score, typically par. Bingo Bango Bongo is another points-based format that can be played individually or in teams. Players receive points for being the first in their group to get onto the green, hitting the closest to the hole once everyone is on the green, and holing out first.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of clubs swung plus the number of penalties combined is the score.
If the ball is lost, a penalty of one stroke is added.
Par is the assigned number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to take on each hole.
In Stableford scoring, your score in relation to par is converted into points, and it's the number of total points (rather than total strokes) that determines the winner.
A handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability, calculated based on recent scores and adjusted according to the difficulty of the course being played.
