The score-to-par ladder
Takeaway: Learn the terms as a ladder: each step up or down is one stroke against par.
On a scorecard you write the number of strokes you took. Golfers then describe that number in relation to par. The table below covers every name you are likely to hear, plus how often you will see each one as a new golfer.
| Term | Score vs par | On a par 4 that means | Beginner reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condor | −4 | Not possible (would be a score of 0) | Only on a par 5 hole-in-one; extremely rare even on tour |
| Albatross (double eagle) | −3 | Hole-in-one | Rare for any golfer |
| Eagle | −2 | 2 strokes | Rare; usually a long putt or holed approach |
| Birdie | −1 | 3 strokes | A highlight; celebrate it |
| Par | 0 | 4 strokes | A great hole for a beginner |
| Bogey | +1 | 5 strokes | A solid early goal |
| Double bogey | +2 | 6 strokes | Common in your first season |
| Triple bogey | +3 | 7 strokes | Normal while learning |
| Quadruple bogey ("quad") | +4 | 8 strokes | Pick up and move on in casual play |
A hole-in-one (an "ace") is any hole finished in one stroke. On a par 3 it is also an eagle; on a par 4 it is an albatross.
How par is decided
Takeaway: Par is mostly a length decision, adjusted for how hard the hole plays.
Par is the score a scratch golfer is expected to make. These are the typical hole lengths used for setting par, assuming the course is under 2,000 feet of altitude:
| Par | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Up to 260 yards | Up to 220 yards |
| 4 | 240–490 yards | 200–420 yards |
| 5 | 450–710 yards | 370–600 yards |
| 6 | 670 yards and up | 570 yards and up |
The ranges overlap on purpose. A 470-yard hole for men can be a par 4 or a par 5 depending on elevation, prevailing wind, forced lay-ups and how the hole is designed to be played. That is why two holes of the same length on different courses can carry different pars.
Add up the 18 hole pars and you get the course par, usually somewhere around 70 to 72 on a full-length course. Executive and par-3 courses have much lower totals, which is one reason they suit beginners (see our guide to the parts of a golf course).
Gross, net, over and under
Takeaway: "Gross" is what you actually shot; "net" is after handicap strokes.
- Gross score: total strokes, including penalty strokes.
- Net score: gross score minus the handicap strokes you receive. Net scores let golfers of different abilities compete.
- "Plus 18" or "18 over": a round 18 strokes above course par. On a par-72 course that is a 90.
- Bogey golfer: a term from course rating for a player who averages roughly one over par per hole.
- Scratch golfer: a player with a Handicap Index of 0.0.
Handicaps are covered in full on our golf handicap explainer. For scoring, the key point is that the World Handicap System caps each hole at net double bogey when your score is used for handicap purposes.
Our beginner target ladder
Takeaway: Measure progress per hole, not per round.
Total score swings a lot in your first year. A steadier yardstick is how many holes you finish at or under each target. This is our own framework, not an official standard:
| Stage | Per-hole target | Rough 18-hole score on a par 72 | Next focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| First rounds | Triple bogey or better | Around 126 or better | Contact and keeping the ball in play |
| Getting comfortable | Double bogey or better | Around 108 or better | Fewer penalty strokes, two-putting |
| Breaking 100 | Mostly bogeys, some doubles | Under 100 | Short game inside 50 yards |
| Bogey golf | Bogey average | Around 90 | Fewer three-putts, smarter tee shots |
The 18-hole figures are simple arithmetic (par 72 plus the per-hole target times 18), so treat them as markers, not predictions. Gear matters less than you might think at these stages: a soft, low-cost ball from our best golf balls for beginners list and enough driver loft (see the driver loft guide) will save more strokes than copying a tour bag.
Where the bird names came from
"Birdie" is usually traced to American slang from around 1900, where "bird" meant something excellent; eagle and albatross extended the bird theme for rarer, bigger scores. "Bogey" grew out of the British "Bogey Man" idea of a phantom opponent who scored a fixed number on each hole. These origin stories are widely repeated but loosely documented, so treat them as golf folklore rather than settled history.
Common beginner mistakes
- Forgetting penalty strokes. A ball hit out of bounds costs a stroke plus the replay. Your score counts every swing and every penalty.
- Counting par as "normal". Par is set for expert players. Bogeys and doubles are normal while you learn.
- Mixing up gross and net. In a handicap event, your card shows gross scores; the committee or app applies strokes.
- Writing the score-to-par instead of strokes. Write "5", not "+1", unless your group agrees otherwise.
- Ignoring the per-hole cap. For handicap posting, a blow-up hole is capped at net double bogey, so do not quit posting rounds because of one disaster.
Frequently asked questions
What is a birdie in golf?
A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a hole, for example 3 on a par 4.
What is a bogey in golf?
A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole, for example 5 on a par 4. A double bogey is two over.
What is better, an eagle or an albatross?
An albatross. An eagle is two under par; an albatross (also called a double eagle) is three under par.
How is par decided for a hole?
Mainly by length. Typical guidelines put men's par 3s at up to 260 yards, par 4s at 240–490 yards and par 5s at 450–710 yards, adjusted for how difficult the hole plays.
What is a good score for a beginner golfer?
Breaking 100 on a full-length course is a common first milestone. Before that, aim to finish most holes at double bogey or better.