How to Understand Golf Scores

Learning to play golf involves not only learning the basic skill needed to strike and propel a golf ball down the fairway of a golf course, but also requires some understanding of scoring. Scoring essentially involves counting the number of times the ball is struck while in play.

Players use the score to not only measure themselves against the rating of the hole, known as par, but also against other players. Learning the basics of golf scoring is relatively simple and can be accomplished by most individuals.

1. Score a round of golf by counting the number of times the golf ball is struck in order to reach and place the ball in the cup on the green. Each contact with the ball by the player with the ball is referred to as a stroke. When tallying the score for a hole, for instance, the number of total strokes taken to sink the ball in the cup should be added to achieve the score for the hole.

1. Refer to the par rating for the hole to help in determining how many strokes, on average, it should take the player to reach the green and sink the ball in the cup. The par rating is also used in scoring as a reference point to determine strokes over and under par.

1. Use the term bogey to refer to a score of one over par. For example, if playing a hole which is rated a par five, then a bogey would be a six, or one over par.

1. Refer to a score of one under par as a birdie. When playing a par four hole on which a score of 3 was achieved, then this would be termed a birdie.

1. Use the term eagle when a score of two under par is shot on a hole. If the hole is rated a par five, then an eagle would be a score of 3.