Golf Scoring Terms: What is a Birdie, Bogey, Eagle & Par?
If you’re just starting out in golf, you might find yourself puzzled by golf scoring terms like birdies, bogeys, eagles, and pars. Wondering what they mean? What is a birdie? How is it different from the others? Let’s see in the following article.
Recently, 22-year-old Swede Linn Grant made history by becoming the first female player to win a mixed-gender event on the European tour. Competing against both men and women, she clinched her victory with an impressive 8-under par 64 in the final round at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden. Grant completed her final round without a single bogey and achieved birdies on five of her first six holes, finishing the tournament at an astounding -24, a full 9 strokes ahead of the runner-up.
That’s an amazing score in golf! But with all the different golf formats out there, it can be tough to know why exactly it’s so impressive. Let’s break down what these scoring terms mean so we can truly appreciate this golfer’s incredible achievement!
Must-Know Golf Scoring Terms
Before diving into golf terms for scoring, it’s crucial to understand what a stroke is. In golf, a stroke represents each time a golfer swings their club to hit the ball, including any swing intended to hit the ball, even if it misses. This fundamental concept is the backbone of golf scoring. Every scoring term you’ll learn about relates to the number of strokes a golfer takes compared to par, a term we’ll explore shortly.
Below are 8 must-know golf scoring terms:
Golf scoring terms
How is Par Defined in Golf?
Outside of golf, “par” usually means average or “about right.” On a golf course, par is actually a pretty high bar. It’s the score an expert player (a “scratch golfer”) is expected to get on a hole.
Most 18-hole courses are a par 72. The math is pretty consistent: the designers assume you’ll take two putts to finish any given hole. So, on a par 3, you have one shot to get onto the green. On a par 4, you have two. On a par 5, you have three. It sounds manageable until you find a sand trap or a water hazard.
For the vast majority of people picking up a club, shooting par isn’t the goal, just finishing the hole without losing a ball is. This is why we have the handicap system. It’s a way to level the field so a beginner can play against a veteran without it being a total blowout.
To find your handicap, you track your scores over at least six rounds. If you’re averaging a 94 on a par 72 course, your handicap is 22. In the world of amateur golf, that’s actually a very respectable score. It means you’re keeping the ball in play and moving the game along.
Golf is a strange sport because it’s one of the few where you can be objectively “bad” at the actual task but still have a great time. Most people are there for the four hours of fresh air and the chance to catch up with friends. If you stop worrying about the scorecard and just enjoy the walk, the game gets a lot better.
What Does it Mean to be Under Par?
Achieving a score under par signifies a remarkable level of golfing prowess. For instance, if the course is a par 71 and you score a 68, you’re three strokes under par – truly an impressive feat. Congratulations are in order! This accomplishment generally indicates you’re an experienced golfer, likely achieving scores under par on several individual holes throughout the round.
There are various golf scoring terms for being under par, each one indicating an even greater level of skill than the previous.
Golf Scoring Terms
What Exactly is a Birdie in Golf?
It’s interesting to note that scoring one under par in golf is called a “birdie.” No, you won’t actually receive a bird, but that’s the lingo. Sounds odd, right?
The term dates back to 1903, as noted on a plaque at the Atlantic City Country Club. The story goes that a golfer named Ab Smith hit a remarkable shot that landed just six inches from the cup and exclaimed, “That was a bird of a shot!” Impressed by the beauty of the shot, he suggested that shooting one under par on a hole should earn “double compensation.” The next time someone in the group achieved this, they referred to it as a “birdie.”
The term quickly caught on at the country club and spread worldwide. Typically, birdies are seen when an excellent approach shot to the green sets up a short putt. However, impressive long-distance birdie putts happen too, like Louis Oosthuizen’s stunning 65-foot putt at the Honda Classic in February 2022. Incredible, isn’t it?
What is an Eagle in golf?
AB Smith is also credited with coining the term “eagle,” which signifies scoring two under par on a single hole. Eagles typically occur on par 4 holes when a golfer successfully chips in from close to the green.
To put it in perspective, just as an eagle is larger than a birdie in the natural world, in golf, scoring an eagle is a greater achievement than scoring a birdie.
What is an Albatross in golf?
Let’s delve even deeper into under-par achievements. In golf, an “albatross” describes a score of three under par on a single hole.
In the history of golf majors (Masters, US Open, British Open, PGA Championship), only 18 players have recorded an albatross. Among them is Louis Oosthuizen, who achieved this rare feat most recently at the 2012 Masters. Before him, the last player to score an albatross at the Masters was Jeff Maggert in 1994. Notably, Jeff Maggert is also the only player to have recorded two albatrosses, achieving his second during the 2001 British Open.
What is a Condor?
An albatross is rare enough, but a “condor”, finishing four under par on a single hole is almost mythical. It usually requires a hole-in-one on a par 5 or a two on a par 6. Since 1962, when Larry Bruce recorded the first one, only a handful of people have ever done it, including names like Dick Hogan, Shaun Lynch, and Mike Crean.
One of the more recent ones happened in 2020 at Lake Chabot in Oakland. Kevin Pon managed a condor on their 667-yard 18th hole. Since that’s a rare par 6, he did it in just two shots. To put that in perspective, most people are happy just to reach a green that far away in four or five strokes.
Even for the pros, staying under par consistently is a grind. You can play nearly perfect golf and still come up short. Take Cameron Smith at the 2020 Masters: he became the first person to ever shoot all four rounds in the 60s, a massive feat by any standard. He still only tied for second. It just goes to show that in golf, the “perfect” round is always just out of reach, no matter how good you are.
What Does It Mean to Score Above Par?
In the grand scheme of golf, shooting above par is quite common and places you in the majority of golfers. For example, if the course is rated at 70 and you score 71 or higher, you’re considered to be playing above par.
Golf Scoring Terms
What is a Bogey?
A “bogey” is scoring one over par on a single hole, like recording a 5 on a par-4 hole. Playing “bogey golf” means you average one over par across all holes. For a par 72 course, this would typically result in a score of around 90.
What are Double Bogey & Triple Bogey?
A “double-bogey” is scoring two over par, such as a 5 on a par-3 hole, while a “triple bogey,” often humorously referred to as a “snowman,” is three over par, like scoring an 8 on a par 5.
Even the best golfers have their off moments. For instance, in 2013, Jason Dufner, after winning the PGA Championship, unexpectedly tapped his birdie putt sideways on a par 4. Such blunders are part of the game.
And just for clarity, the term “duffer,” which denotes a less skilled golfer, isn’t derived from Jason Dufner’s nickname “Duff,” though his unfortunate putt might remind some players of the times they’ve had a potential eagle that ended up as just a birdie.
Conclusion
If you’ve just started following golf (or finally decided to learn what your playing partners are actually talking about), understanding what a birdie is will unlock most of what gets said on a course. Golf has its own scoring vocabulary, and it’s honestly one of the more confusing parts of picking up the game. A birdie, an eagle, a bogey, a par, even an albatross, these terms all refer to how many strokes you took on a hole relative to its expected score.
This guide walks through each term clearly, explains how they’re used in real rounds, and helps you start reading a scorecard without guessing.
Read more:
- The Most Popular Golf Formats: Comprehensive Explained
- Top 8 Best Golf Shot Tracking Apps (Updating)
- 20 Funny Golf Quotes: A Laugh for Every Hole
FAQs
How many strokes is a birdie?
A birdie is one stroke fewer than par for that hole. On a par 3, that’s 2 strokes. On a par, it’s 3 strokes. On a par 5, it’s 4 strokes.
What is harder to get, a birdie or an eagle?
An eagle is much harder. An eagle requires finishing two strokes under par, which typically means either reaching 4 par 5 green in two shots and making the putt, or holing a approach shot on a par 4. Birdies happen in normal play for skilled amateurs, eagle are rare even for low-handicappers.
Why are golf scores named after birds?
The traditional started in the United States in the late 1800s. Birdie came from slang meaning an excellent shot (a “bird of a shot”). Eagle followed as a naturally larger bird for a better score, and albatross extended the pattern for the rarest achievement. The naming stuck and became universal.
What is a good score for a recreational golfer?
A golfer who shoots around 90 on a par 72 course, roughly 18 over par, is playing to a bogey golf level, which is considered solid for a regular amateur. Breaking 80 (8 over par) requires consistent pars and at least a few birdies per round. Breaking 70 means shooting under par, which is a genuinely skilled level.
I am just starting out and find these terms a bit confusing. Could you show me how many strokes each means on a par-4 hole? For instance, if the hole’s par is 4, what does it take to score a birdie or an eagle excatly?
Dear Sir,
Thank you for reaching out to us! On a par-4 hole, par means taking 4 strokes to complete it, which is the expected number. If you finish in 3 strokes, that’s called a birdie, meaning one under par. If you manage it in just 2 strokes, that’s an eagle, two under par. On the other hand, taking 5 strokes would be a bogey, or one over par. In short, anything fewer than 4 strokes is under par and anything more is over par.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
GolfLux Team.