How to Count the Score in Golf

Walking off the green having just sunk a putt is a great feeling, but what comes next can be confusing for new golfers: What do I write on the scorecard? This article will teach you exactly how to count your score in golf. We’ll cover the basics of stroke play, explain the common scoring terms you’ll hear, and give you a simple step-by-step process for marking your card correctly.

Understanding Par: The Benchmark of Golf

Before you can understand your score, you need to understand "Par." Think of Par as the target score for a hole, the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to get the ball in the cup. Every hole on a golf course has a Par assigned to it.

This number is primarily based on the hole's length:

• Par 3: These are the shortest holes, typically under 250 yards. The "Par" calculation assumes you'll hit your first shot onto the green and then take two putts. (1 shot + 2 putts = 3 strokes).
• Par 4: These are medium-length holes, usually between 251 and 470 yards. The expectation is two shots to reach the green, followed by two putts. (2 shots + 2 putts = 4 strokes).
• Par 5: These are the longest holes, over 471 yards. The standard is three shots to reach the green and two putts to finish. (3 shots + 2 putts = 5 strokes).

Most standard 18-hole golf courses combine these, usually having four Par 3s, ten Par 4s, and four Par 5s, for a total course Par of 72. Your final score is measured against this total Par. If you shoot an 85 on a Par 72 course, you are "13 over Par." If you shoot a 70, you are "2 under Par."

The Basics: Stroke Play Explained

The most common way to keep score in golf is called Stroke Play, also known as Medal Play. The concept is refreshingly simple: your goal is to complete the entire course in the fewest number of strokes possible. Every time you swing at your ball with the intention of hitting it, that counts as one stroke.

It doesn't matter if the ball rockets 300 yards down the fairway or if you whiff completely and miss the ball - both count. A topped shot that dribbles 10 feet counts the same as a perfect putt that finds the bottom of the cup: one stroke. You count every single swing, add in any penalties (we'll get to those), and that is your score for the hole. At the end of the round, the person with the lowest total score wins.

This method is the heart of professional tournaments and the standard for most recreational rounds. It is the purest test, as every single shot matters from your first tee shot to your final putt.

How to Mark Your Scorecard (Step-by-Step)

The scorecard can look intimidating, with its grid of boxes, numbers, and different colors. But once you know what you’re looking at, it’s quite straightforward. Let’s break it down.

When you finish a hole, grab the scorecard and a pencil. Here’s what to do:

1. Find your column. Scorecards have rows for each of the 18 holes and columns for the different players in your group. Find the column with your name at the top.
2. Count your strokes for the hole. This is the most important part. Tally up every swing you took on that hole, from the tee shot until the ball was in the cup. Be honest! Golf is a game of integrity. If you took 3 shots to get on the green and 2 putts, your score is 5.
3. Include any penalty strokes. Did your ball go out of bounds or find a water hazard? You need to add penalty strokes to your total for that hole. A ball hit out of bounds is one penalty stroke, for example. So if you hit your tee shot out, then took 5 more shots to finish the hole, your score isn't 5, it's 6 (5 strokes + 1 penalty).
4. Write the number in the box. In your column, find the row for the hole you just played (e.g., Hole #1). Write your total score for that hole in the box. A "5" is just written as "5". There’s no need for "+1" or any other notation yet.

That's it for a single hole! You just repeat this process for all 18 holes.

A Practical Example:

Let's say you just finished the first hole, a Par 4. Here's how you'd count your score:

• Your drive off the tee (1).
• Your second shot into a greenside bunker (2).
• Your shot out of the bunker onto the green (3).
• Your first putt that went past the hole (4).
• Your final tap-in putt (5).

You took a total of 5 strokes on a Par 4 hole. On your scorecard, you would simply find the box for Hole 1 under your name and write down the number 5.

Decoding the Golf Scoring Lingo

While you write down your raw stroke count on the card, you’ll hear other golfers describe their score in relation to Par. Learning this terminology will help you sound like you know the game and understand the conversations happening in your group.

• Par: Completing the hole in the designated number of strokes (e.g., a 4 on a Par 4). On the scoreboard, this is often shown as "E" for Even.
• Birdie: Completing the hole in one stroke less than Par (e.g., a 3 on a Par 4). This is a fantastic score!
• Eagle: Completing the hole in two strokes less than Par (e.g., a 3 on a Par 5). Eagles are rare and very exciting.
• Albatross (or Double Eagle): The rarest of all, this means you completed the hole in three strokes less than Par (e.g., a 2 on a Par 5). Most golfers will never get one.
• Bogey: Completing the hole in one stroke more than Par (e.g., a 5 on a Par 4). This is a very common score for recreational golfers.
• Double Bogey: Completing the hole in two strokes more than Par (e.g., a 6 on a Par 4).
• Triple Bogey: Completing the hole in three strokes more than Par (e.g., a 7 on a Par 4).

Don't be discouraged by bogeys or double bogeys - they are part of the learning process for every golfer. The goal is to celebrate the birdies and learn from the blow-up holes.

Don't Forget the Penalties!

Penalty strokes are where many new golfers get their scores wrong. They are non-negotiable and must be added to your score. While the official rulebook is dense, here are the most common situations you’ll encounter and how to score them simply.

• Out of Bounds (Marked by white stakes): If you hit your ball out of bounds, you incur a one-stroke penalty. You must then re-hit your shot from the *original spot*. This is called "stroke and distance." So, your tee shot goes OB. That's one stroke for the original shot, a one-stroke penalty, and you are now hitting your *third* shot from the tee again.
• Lost Ball: Can't find your ball within a three-minute search? The penalty is the same as out of bounds: stroke and distance. You add one penalty stroke and go back to the spot you last hit from.
• Penalty Area (Marked by red or yellow stakes): This used to be called a "water hazard." If your ball goes in, you have a few options, but the most common is to take a one-stroke penalty and drop a ball outside the penalty area, no nearer the hole. Your next shot will be your third (first shot went in, plus one penalty, now hitting No. 3).

For example, you're on a Par 3. Your tee shot splashes into a red penalty area in front of the green. That's one stroke for the bad shot, plus a one-stroke penalty. You drop a new ball near the hazard and hit it onto the green. That’s your third shot. You then two-putt. Your total score for the hole is: 1 (tee shot) + 1 (penalty) + 1 (chip) + 2 (putts) = 5.

Tallying It All Up

You've played all 18 holes and filled in a number for each one. Now it's time to get your final score.

1. Add the "Front 9" Score: The first nine holes are called the "Front 9" or "Out." Find the box labeled "Out" or "Front" on your scorecard and add up your scores for holes 1 through 9. Write that total in the box.
2. Add the "Back 9" Score: The second nine holes (10-18) are the "Back 9" or "In." Add up your scores for these holes and write that sub-total in the "In" or "Back" box.
3. Calculate Your Total Score: Add your "Front 9" total and your "Back 9" total together. This is your final or "Gross" score for the round. Write this in the "Total" or "Gross" box.

You may also see a space for "Net" score. This is your Gross score minus your handicap (a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability). As a beginner, just focus on your Gross score - it's the real number of strokes you took, and it’s the most important number for tracking your progress.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to count your score is a fundamental part of the game. It boils down to tracking every swing you make, being honest about penalties, and using simple addition at the end. Once you master this, you can turn your attention from simply counting strokes to figuring out how to reduce them.

As you progress, the questions often change from "What's the score?" to "How could I have played that hole smarter?" That’s where having an expert opinion can really help. Our app, Caddie AI, is designed for those moments. Whether you’re stuck on a tricky rule about a penalty drop or need a smart strategy for a tough Par 4, we provide instant, personalized advice to help you avoid the big numbers and play with more confidence. You can even snap a photo of a difficult lie and get a recommendation on how to play it, removing the guesswork so you can focus on the shot.