Golf Scoring Terms: Birdie, Eagle, Albatross and More
Golf scoring uses a unique vocabulary. Here is what every term means, where some of the names come from, and how the main formats of the game work.
Par
Par is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need on a hole, based on its length. Most holes are par 3, 4 or 5. A course's par is the total for all 18 holes, commonly 70, 71 or 72.
Scores under par
| Term | Score | Example on a par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Birdie | 1 under par | 3 strokes |
| Eagle | 2 under par | 2 strokes |
| Albatross (double eagle) | 3 under par | Very rare on a par 4 |
| Hole-in-one (ace) | 1 stroke | Almost always on a par 3 |
A hole-in-one on a par 3 is also an eagle (2 under), and on a par 4 or par 5 it would be an albatross or better. Albatrosses are extremely rare, even among professionals, and a hole-in-one is rare enough that most recreational golfers never make one.
Scores over par
- Bogey: 1 over par.
- Double bogey: 2 over par.
- Triple bogey: 3 over par.
Where does "birdie" come from?
The word comes from early twentieth-century American slang, where calling something a "bird" meant it was excellent. A widely told story places the first birdie at the Atlantic City Country Club around 1899, where a player's approach shot finished close to the hole and he called it "a bird of a shot". The name stuck, and later terms like eagle and albatross continued the bird theme, each larger than the last.
Formats of play
- Stroke play: every stroke counts, and the lowest total over the round or tournament wins. This is the format of the majors.
- Match play: you win or lose each hole against an opponent, and the winner is the player who wins the most holes. It is used in events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
- Stableford: you earn points per hole based on your score relative to par, which rewards good holes and forgives bad ones.
- Scramble: a team format where everyone plays from the best shot, popular at charity days.
How Dailygolf uses golf scoring
In our games you have five guesses. If you find the mystery golfer on your first try, you score a Hole in One. Two guesses is an Albatross, three an Eagle, four a Birdie and five a Par. Miss all five and you are Out of Bounds. It is the same idea as the real game: the fewer shots, the better.
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