Trevor Ng
Golf scoring can be confusing, especially for beginners. The lower the score, the better the player has performed. The number of strokes it takes to get the ball in the hole is the score for that hole. Each hole has a 'par' score, which is the standard number of strokes set for experts. So, if a player takes one stroke fewer than par, this is called a 'birdie'. If a player takes the same number of strokes as par, this is called an 'eagle' or 'even'. This is what the 'E' means on a golf scorecard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What does E stand for? | Even |
| What does it mean in golf? | Even par, level par |
| How is it different from other scores? | It is neither positive nor negative |
| What does it indicate? | The golfer is even on par for the round so far |
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What You'll Learn
'E' means 'even' or 'level' par
Golf scoring is different from other sports. The lower the score, the better. Each time you hit the ball, it is called a stroke. 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 for that hole is 5. The total number of strokes for the entire round is your total score for that round.
Now, this is where it gets a little more complicated. When looking at a golf leaderboard, you may see positive or negative numbers next to each player's name. These numbers relate to "par", which is a standard number of strokes set for each hole on a course and also for the entire round. For example, the first hole on a course may be a par 4, which means that to get the score of par, you need to get the ball in the hole in four strokes. If you did so in three shots, you'd be "one under par", or -1. So, a negative score is a good thing.
When you see an "E" next to a golfer's name on a leaderboard, it stands for "Even" and means that the golfer is even on par for this round so far. You can consider that as equivalent to 0 compared to the other scores on the table. For example, if you see a number like 7, it means the golfer has completed seven holes in their current round and is shooting par through those seven holes.
Therefore, when you see "E" on a golf leaderboard, it means that the golfer has scored par throughout the tournament.
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Par is the standard number of strokes set for each hole
Golf scoring is quite simple: your score is the number of strokes it takes to get the ball from the tee to the hole. The fewer strokes, the better your score.
Each hole on a golf course has a predetermined number of strokes that a skilled golfer is expected to complete the hole in, called par. Par is the standard number of strokes set for each hole and the entire round on the course. A typical 18-hole golf course will have a total par of around 72.
Par can range from 3 to 5 strokes for most holes. Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five, including a regulation number of strokes to reach the green based on the average distance a proficient golfer hits the ball, and two putts. For example, the first hole on a course may be a par 4, which means that to get the score of par, you'd need to get the ball in the hole in four strokes. If you did so in three shots, you'd be "one under par," or -1. So a negative score is a good thing.
On occasion, factors other than distance are taken into account when setting the par for a hole. These include altitude, terrain, and obstacles that result in a hole playing longer or shorter than its measured distance. For example, a route that is significantly uphill or downhill, or requiring play of a stroke to finish short of a body of water before hitting over it.
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Scoring an 'eagle' is 2 under par
Golf scoring can be confusing, especially for beginners. The ultimate aim is to keep your score as low as possible. The standard number of strokes set for each hole is called 'par'. So, if a hole is a par 4, you need to get the ball in the hole in four strokes to get a par score. If you do it in three shots, you're 'one under par', or -1. A negative score is a good thing.
'E' stands for 'even' or 'level'. So, if you see 'E' on a leaderboard, it means that the golfer is even on par for that round. It's like a score of 0. Scoring an eagle is 2 under par. This means that the golfer has used two fewer strokes than is standard for a given hole. For example, a golfer who scores an eagle on a par-5 hole will have used three strokes.
Eagles are most commonly achieved by reaching a par-5 green in two strokes and then completing the hole with one putt. On the scorecard, a golfer who has scored an eagle will mark their score as -2 or put the number of strokes used inside two circles.
A ''birdie' is when a golfer scores one less stroke than par on an individual hole. So, a birdie on a par-5 hole would mean using four strokes. A 'bogey' is the opposite of a birdie – it's when a golfer scores one stroke over par. So, a bogey on a par-4 hole would mean using five strokes.
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A 'birdie' is 1 under par
Golf scoring is quite different from other sports. Each time you hit the ball, it's called a stroke. 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 for that hole is 5. The total number of strokes for the entire round is your total score for that round.
Now, "par" is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer (or a "scratch golfer") should require to complete a hole. Par is a standard number of strokes for a hole, but that standard is for experts. So, if you're a beginner, you should forget about par and maybe even forget about your total score while you're playing. Par-5 holes are the highest par most golfers will ever see.
When you look at a golf leaderboard, golf scoring may no longer seem so straightforward. You may see a positive or negative number next to each player's name. All these numbers relate to "par". A hole score of one stroke fewer than par (one under par, −1) is known as a birdie. For example, 4 strokes on a par-5 hole. So, a birdie is 1 under par.
The term "birdie" was coined in 1899 at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey. According to a story that has been passed down, one day in 1899, three golfers, George Crump, William Poultney Smith, and his brother Ab Smith, were playing together when Crump hit his second shot only inches from the cup on a par-four hole after his first shot struck a bird in flight. The Smith brothers exclaimed that Crump's shot was "a bird". Crump's short putt left him one-under-par for the hole, and from that day, the three of them referred to such a score as a "birdie".
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A 'condor' is 4 under par
In golf, a player's score is compared to the "par score" to determine whether they are \"over par\", \"under par\", or \"even/level par\". Par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer should require to complete a hole, a round, or a tournament. The lower the score, the better.
A "condor" is a golf term for a score of 4 under par. It would be a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. As of 2025, a condor has only been achieved six times in history.
The term "par" is thought to have originated from the stock exchange, where it was used to describe the expected value of stocks. In golf, it was first used by writer A. H. Doleman prior to The Open Championship at Prestwick in 1870.
There are several other golf terms relating to scores achieved over or under par. A score of one stroke more than par (+1) for a hole is known as a \"bogey\". A score of one stroke fewer than par (-1) is known as a \"birdie\". A score of two strokes fewer than par (-2) is known as an "eagle". A score of three strokes fewer than par (-3) is known as an "albatross" or a \"double eagle\".
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Frequently asked questions
E stands for 'Even' or 'level par'.
'Level par' means that a golfer has scored par throughout the tournament.
'Par' is the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course. For example, if the first hole is a par 4, the golfer needs to get the ball in the hole in four strokes to get a par score.
The lower the score, the better. A negative score is good, and a positive score is bad.
A 'birdie' is when a golfer scores one less stroke than par on an individual golf hole.
