Harper Lin
Golf scoring is a unique system that can be confusing for beginners. Unlike most sports, golfers aim for the lowest score possible, with the goal being to complete a round in as few strokes as possible. Each hole on a golf course has a predetermined number of strokes that a skilled golfer is expected to complete, called 'par'. Par sets the baseline for each hole's difficulty, with scoring below par considered excellent, and above-par indicating room for improvement. Each hole is ranked 1-18 by difficulty, with the hardest hole ranked number 1, and the easiest hole ranked 18. Golf scoring also introduces colourful terminology to describe performance relative to par, such as 'birdie' for a score of one stroke under par, and 'bogey' for a score of one stroke over par.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Goal | Complete a round in as few strokes as possible |
| Scorecards | Provide a snapshot of performance on each hole |
| Par | Predetermined number of strokes a proficient golfer should take to complete a hole |
| Scoring below par | Excellent |
| Scoring above par | Indicates room for improvement |
| Birdie | One stroke under par |
| Eagle | Two strokes under par |
| Albatross | Three strokes under par |
| Bogey | One stroke over par |
| Double Bogey | Two strokes over par |
| Triple Bogey | Three strokes over par |
| Handicap | A numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability |
| Match play | Scoring based on holes won or lost |
| Stableford scoring system | A points-based system used to record scores |
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Par
The term "par" in golf originated from the Latin word meaning "equal" or "equality". While it has been used in various contexts since the 16th century, it was only adopted into golfing terminology in the late 19th century. At that time, the term “bogey” referred to the target score for a hole, and over time, par became established as the ideal score for the best players, while bogey was the target for recreational or average golfers.
Each hole on a golf course is assigned a par value, which can vary. The most common types of par holes are par 3, par 4, and par 5, with par 3 being the shortest and par 5 being the longest. On a par 3 hole, golfers are expected to reach the green in one stroke and then make two putts to complete the hole. Par 4 holes are longer, and golfers are expected to reach the green in two strokes, followed by two putts. Par 5 holes, the longest, are designed for golfers to reach the green in three strokes, with two additional putts expected. It's important to note that these distances are not absolute but rather refer to the "effective playing length," taking into account factors like downhill or uphill play.
Understanding par is crucial for golfers as it provides a benchmark to assess their performance. Scoring below par indicates excellent play, while scores above par may suggest areas for improvement. Achieving par on every hole is a challenging feat, and consistently scoring par or better across an entire course is a remarkable accomplishment.
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Birdie, Eagle, Albatross, Bogey, Double Bogey
Traditional golf scoring uses a number of terms to describe performance relative to par. Par is the number of strokes a scratch (expert) golfer is expected to make on a hole. Scoring below par is considered excellent, while scoring above par may indicate room for improvement.
A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a hole. The term is said to originate from the 1903 game of AB Smith and his brother William, who were playing with George Crump. Smith hit a shot close to the hole, and someone remarked, "That is a bird of a shot". Smith then claimed that he should get double the money if he won with one under par, which he did. The three of them referred to such a score as a "birdie", and the term caught on.
An eagle is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. The term was introduced as an American term, as referenced by Cecil (Cecilia) Leitch in 1922, who described a putt for a 3 on a par-5 hole as "securing what is known in American golfing parlance as an eagle". It is a natural follow-on from "birdie", with the eagle being the US national symbol.
An albatross, or double eagle, is a score of three strokes under par on a hole. This term is a continuation of the birdie and eagle theme but is actually a British term. AB Smith said his group used the phrase "double eagle" for three under par, and this is still the term used by most Americans and the name of their Double Eagle Club.
A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. In the early days of golf, "bogey" was the target score for a hole. The term was first used in 1890 by Hugh Rotherham, secretary of the Coventry Golf Club, who conceived the idea of standardising the number of shots at each hole that a good golfer should take, which he called the "ground score".
A double bogey is a score of two strokes over par on a hole. While not ideal, these scores are part of the learning process and motivate improvement.
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Stroke play
In stroke play, players must adhere to the Rules of Golf, and any violations lead to penalties. These penalties differ from those applied in match play and often result in a two-stroke penalty or no penalty at all. For example, playing out of turn in stroke play is considered a matter of etiquette rather than a rule violation. However, in match play, an opponent may require the player to replay the shot due to the transgression.
There are other forms of stroke play, including Stableford, which is a points-based system, and maximum score, where the maximum score for each hole is set by a committee. In the latter, players can pick up before or after they reach the maximum score, and this becomes their score for the hole.
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Match play
In match play, golfers can employ a different strategy as the scoring is different. The situation in the match and the outcome of each shot already played on a hole are both considered. This type of scoring encourages more aggressive play, especially at the professional level, where a par is not usually good enough to win a hole.
A match is won when a player is winning by more holes than remain to be played. For example, if a player is four holes ahead with only three holes left to play, they would win the match by 4&3. In an 18-hole match, if Player A is 7-up with six holes left to play, Player A wins the match "7 and 6". A team leading by the same number of holes as those remaining is said to be "dormie".
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Handicap
Golf handicapping is a system that enables golfers of varying abilities to play together competitively and enjoyably. 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.
In the United States, the United States Golf Association (USGA) oversees the calculation and evaluation of golf handicaps. The USGA Handicap Index is calculated with a specific arithmetic formula that approximates how many strokes above or below the course rating a player might be able to play, based on the course's slope rating. The formula for calculating a golfer's handicap differential for each round is: (Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating. To calculate the overall handicap, choose the lowest handicap differential from a minimum of 20 scores.
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Frequently asked questions
Traditional golf scoring involves tallying the total number of strokes taken across all holes. The player with the fewest strokes wins.
A "good" score in golf is relative and depends on factors like the difficulty of the course, the player's skill level, and the scoring format. Completing a round at par or better is considered a great score.
Par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer with a zero handicap should play a hole in. Par for a hole can range from 3 to 6, with par 3 being the shortest and par 5 being the longest.
These terms are used to describe performance relative to par. A “birdie” is a score of one stroke under par, while a “bogey” is one stroke over par. An “eagle” is two strokes under par, and a “double bogey” is two strokes over par.
