Nina Caldwell
Golf scoring can be complicated, but it's important to understand the process to track your progress and compete with others. The aim is to keep your score as low as possible, with the ideal score being at or under par. To calculate your score, you count the number of strokes or attempts to strike the ball, including penalties, for each hole. After each hole, you record your score on a scorecard, and at the end of the round, you add up your scores for all 18 holes to get your gross score. You can then calculate your net score by subtracting your handicap from your gross score. Golf scoring has various formats, including stroke play, match play, and the Stableford System, each with its own rules and calculations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Goal | To come at or below par |
| Scoring | Count the number of strokes taken for each hole |
| Scorecard | Record scores on a scorecard after each hole |
| Opponent's Score | Keep track of your opponent's score and vice versa |
| Penalties | Hitting the ball into water, out of bounds, or losing the ball incur penalties |
| Handicap | Adjusts players' scores based on their ability |
| Formats | Stroke play, match play, and Stableford System |
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What You'll Learn
- Understand the basic scoring rules: count each stroke and aim for the lowest score
- Know the terminology: what is a birdie, eagle, bogey, par, etc.
- Learn about handicaps: these are adjusted scores based on ability
- Understand penalties: hitting a ball into water, for example, incurs a penalty
- Use a scorecard: record scores after each hole and add up totals at the end
Understand the basic scoring rules: count each stroke and aim for the lowest score
Golf scoring can be complicated, but the basic rules are straightforward. The ultimate goal is to come at or under par. Each time you hit the ball, it's called a stroke, and the total number of strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole is your score for that hole. For example, if it takes five strokes to get the ball in the hole, the score on that hole is 5. The total number of strokes for the entire round is your total score for that round. If you take 100 strokes over 18 holes, your score is 100. The lower the score, the better.
Each hole will have a number of strokes listed under "Par". This is the average number of strokes it should take to get the ball in the hole, and it's considered the standard number of strokes for a hole, but this standard is for experts. If a hole is a par 4, you need to get the ball in the hole in four strokes to get a score of par. If you do it in three shots, you're "one under par," or -1. A negative score is a good thing.
There are a few different scoring formats, but they all involve counting each stroke and aiming for the lowest score. In stroke play, you count each stroke for every hole played. With match play, you count the number of strokes it takes to complete a hole, then compare your score for that hole with your opponent to determine the winner of that hole. The person who wins the most holes becomes the overall winner. With the Stableford Scoring System, you convert your number of strokes into points.
It's important to know your penalties, as these will drive your score up. For example, if you hit a ball into the water, you must drop a new ball in the designated location and take a 1-stroke penalty. If you hit the ball out of bounds, re-hit from the original location and take a 2-stroke penalty. If you lose a ball, re-hit from the original location and take a 2-stroke penalty.
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Know the terminology: what is a birdie, eagle, bogey, par, etc.?
Golf scoring has some specific terminology that you need to know to communicate effectively with other players. Here are some key terms:
- Par: "Par" is 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. Par always includes two putts for each hole. On a par-4 hole, a scratch golfer is supposed to reach the green in two strokes, then complete the hole with two putts. 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. The term "under par" describes a player's score when they've taken fewer strokes than par up to a given point of the golf course.
- Birdie: A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a hole. For example, scoring 4 on a par-5. The term "birdie" comes from the early 20th-century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent.
- Eagle: An eagle is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. For example, 3 strokes on a par-5 hole. The term "eagle" is a continuation of the bird theme for good scores.
- Albatross/Double Eagle: An albatross or double eagle is when a golfer scores three strokes fewer than par on an individual golf hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-5 hole. Albatross is the preferred term in most of the golfing world, while double eagle is the preferred term in the United States.
- Condor: A condor is when a golfer scores four strokes less than par on an individual golf hole. A hole in one on a par-5 is a condor. Only four condors have been recorded in PGA history.
- Bogey: A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. For example, 5 strokes on a par-4 hole. 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.
- Double Bogey: A double bogey is when a golfer scores two strokes over par. For example, 6 strokes on a par-4 hole.
- Triple Bogey: A triple bogey is when a golfer scores three strokes over par. For example, 7 strokes on a par-4 hole.
- Quadruple Bogey: A quadruple bogey is when a golfer scores four strokes over par. Scores over par can keep going up, and you just keep adding to the prefix, as in quintuple bogey, and so on.
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Learn about handicaps: these are adjusted scores based on ability
Golf handicaps are adjusted scores based on a golfer's ability. They allow players of different skill levels to compete against each other on an equal basis.
Handicaps are determined by a complex formula that takes into account your previous scores on the same course. Once you've played at least ten rounds of golf on the same course, you'll be able to determine your handicap. Your handicap takes into account your running average of scores from rounds of golf compared to how much you score above par on those rounds. Each course has a difficulty rating, so playing a more difficult course will not make your handicap higher, unlike playing on an easier course.
To calculate your net score, subtract your course handicap from your gross score. In the Stableford Scoring System, you can play using your handicap by converting your number of strokes into points. Your golf score is made up of the number of net points you get per hole, rather than the number of strokes. If your net score is equal to the par, you get 2 points; if you hit one over par (a bogey), you get 1 point.
You can sign up for a handicap at your home course or register for a GHIN (Golf Handicapping & Information Network) handicap with your local golf association. You will have to pay a yearly fee for this service. You can then enter your scores into the GHIN system, either through their app or on a computer.
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Understand penalties: hitting a ball into water, for example, incurs a penalty
Golf scoring can be complicated, but it's part of the fun of the game. It's important to understand penalties, as they can significantly impact your score. Hitting a ball into water, for example, incurs a penalty.
Water hazards are an inevitable part of golf, and they can be intimidating, especially for beginners. When your ball lands in water, the first thing to do is identify the type of hazard. Water hazards are typically marked with yellow stakes or lines, indicating a standard water hazard. If you see red stakes or lines, it's a lateral water hazard, which offers more options but requires careful consideration.
For both types of water hazards, you have the option to play the ball as it lies within the hazard, without incurring a penalty. This can be challenging, as you cannot rest your club on the ground when addressing the ball. If you choose this option, be sure to review the rules regarding club contact with the water or hazard area.
If playing the ball as it lies is not feasible, you will need to understand the penalty options. Both yellow and red water hazards come with a one-stroke penalty. For a yellow hazard, you have two choices: you can hit another ball from the same spot where your previous shot landed in the water, or you can go back to the point where you played your last shot and play from there.
Lateral hazards, marked in red, offer two additional options. Firstly, you can drop your ball within two club lengths of the point where your ball crossed into the hazard, ensuring you don't get any closer to the hole. Secondly, you can choose a point on the opposite side of the hazard, equidistant from the hole, and drop your ball within two club lengths from there.
Remember, penalties can significantly impact your golf score, so it's important to understand the rules and make strategic decisions. By familiarizing yourself with penalty situations and their corresponding actions, you can minimize their impact on your game and continue to improve your golf score.
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Use a scorecard: record scores after each hole and add up totals at the end
Using a scorecard is a great way to remember your golf score. Scorecards allow golfers to track their scores and provide vital information about the course. They are usually provided by the golf course.
Scorecards will have spaces for the names or initials of the players. They will also have a "hole" column, listing the holes in order from 1 to 18. Some scorecards will have a map of the course, with each hole on the map having its number next to it. The "In" and "Out" column headers are used to tally the total number of strokes for the first 9 holes and the last 9 holes, respectively.
After each hole, record the number of shots it took for you to get the ball in the hole. Be sure to count every purposeful attempt to strike the ball as a stroke, even if you miss. Hitting balls into the water, out of bounds, or losing your ball are considered penalties, which will add to your total number of strokes for that hole.
At the end of the round, add together the scores for all 18 holes to get your gross golf score. You can add up your points every 9 holes to make this easier and to settle any disputes over the score. You can then calculate your net score by subtracting your course handicap from your gross score.
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