How Golf Scoring Works: Par, Birdie, Bogey, and What the Numbers Mean

Golf scoring confuses people because it works backwards from most sports. In golf, the lowest score wins. Every swing counts as one stroke, and the goal is to finish each hole in as few strokes as possible.

Once you understand the handful of terms and the basic math, everything on a scorecard clicks.

Every Hole Has a Par

Par is the expected number of strokes a skilled golfer needs to complete a hole. It's set by the course based on hole length.

A par-3 hole is short. You're expected to reach the green in one shot and take two putts. A par-4 hole is longer: two shots to reach the green, two putts. A par-5 is the longest: three shots to the green, two putts.

Most 18-hole courses have a total par of 72 (usually four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s), though this varies.

The Scoring Names

Every scoring term is just a shorthand for how many strokes above or below par you finished a hole.

Here's what each one means:

Birdie (-1). One stroke under par. On a par-4 hole, that means finishing in 3 strokes.

Eagle (-2). Two under par. On a par-5, finishing in 3. On a par-4, finishing in 2 (rare and impressive).

Albatross (-3). Three under par. Almost never happens. On a par-5, that means holing out in 2 shots.

Bogey (+1). One over par. On a par-4, finishing in 5. For most recreational golfers, bogey is a solid result.

Double bogey (+2). Two over par. Common for beginners and mid-handicappers.

Triple bogey (+3) and worse. It happens. Mark the score and move on.

How to Count Your Strokes

Every time you swing at the ball with the intention of hitting it, that's a stroke. This includes:

• Tee shots
• Fairway shots
• Chips and pitches
• Putts
• Whiffs (a swing and miss still counts if you intended to hit the ball)

Penalty strokes also add to your count. If your ball goes into a water hazard or out of bounds, you add one or two penalty strokes depending on the situation and take relief. Your caddie can help you sort this out during a round.

Reading the Scorecard

A golf scorecard is a grid. Holes run across the top. Each row tracks something different.

Hole. The hole number, 1 through 18.

Yards (or meters). The length of each hole from the tee box you're playing.

Par. The expected number of strokes for that hole.

Score. Your actual strokes. This is what you fill in.

Out/In/Total. "Out" is your front 9 total. "In" is your back 9 total. Add them for your round total.

The card might also show handicap stroke allocation (which holes give you strokes in a net competition), but you can ignore that for now.

Stroke Play vs. Match Play

These are the two main ways to determine a winner.

Stroke play. You count every stroke across all 18 holes. Lowest total wins. This is the default format for most casual rounds and professional tournaments.

Match play. You compete hole by hole. Whoever finishes each hole in fewer strokes wins that hole. The player who wins more holes wins the match. A terrible hole only costs you one point, not your entire score.

Most casual rounds in the Philippines are stroke play. Match play is more common in club championships and team events.

What's a Good Score

There's no universal "good score." It depends on your experience level.

Don't compare yourself to par when you're starting out. If you're breaking 100 within your first year of playing regularly, you're ahead of most people.

What Comes After Scoring

Once you're comfortable keeping an honest scorecard, the next step is understanding how your scores translate to a handicap. A handicap lets you compete fairly against golfers of different skill levels, and it's based on your posted scores.

We have a full guide on how handicaps work, including System 36, if you want to dig deeper.

For now, just keep count. Write down every stroke. The scorecard is your honest record of how you played.

You can find courses to play your next round, with current green fees and course details, on our course directory.