Hearing golfers talk about birdies, eagles, and bogeys can feel like listening to a foreign language if you’re new to the game. These terms are the foundation of scoring in golf, and understanding them is your first step toward tracking your progress and playing with more confidence. This guide will clearly explain these core scoring terms, using relatable examples and simple tips to help you grasp not just what they mean, but how they happen on the course.
Before we can talk about a birdie or a bogey, we have to understand the magic number they are all based on: par. Think of par as the expected number of strokes an expert golfer should take to complete a hole. It’s the benchmark for performance.
Every hole on a golf course has a par number assigned to it. This number is based almost entirely on the hole's length.
Most 18-hole golf courses combine these to have a total "course par," which is usually between 70 and 72. This total par is the target for the whole round. For example, on a par 72 course, shooting a score of 72 is known as shooting "even par."
Now for the fun stuff! Making a score under the par for a hole is what every golfer strives for. It’s a great feeling and a clear sign that you’ve played a hole exceptionally well. These are the scores you’ll be beaming about in the clubhouse later.
A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on an individual hole. It’s the most common under-par score, and while it's an excellent result, it's something both pros and good amateurs achieve regularly.
Coaching Tip: The biggest mistake I see golfers make is trying to force a birdie. They get aggressive, take on too much risk, and it often backfires. The best way to make birdies is to focus on a smart, repeatable process: get your tee shot in a good position, hit the center of the green with your approach, and give yourself a chance with the putter. When you take the pressure off, the birdies will start to fall.
An eagle is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. This is a much rarer and more exciting accomplishment than a birdie. When you hear a big roar from the crowd at a professional tournament, there's a good chance someone just sank a putt for an eagle.
Coaching Tip: The par 5s are your "eagle opportunities." The key is weighing the risk versus the reward. Before trying to hit the green in two, ask yourself: Is there water? Are there bunkers guarding the green? Sometimes, the smart play is to lay up and give yourself a simple wedge shot for an easy birdie chance. Don't let the dream of an eagle lead to a double bogey.
An albatross, also called a double eagle in the United States, is an extremely rare score of three strokes under par on a single hole.Statistically, it is more unlikely than a hole-in-one.
Over-par scores are a fundamental part of the game for every golfer who isn’t a touring professional. Even the pros make them! The real skill is not in avoiding them entirely, but in managing them so they don’t ruin your round. A healthy mindset about these scores is hugely important.
A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. If you’re a beginner or mid-handicap player, you’re going to make plenty of bogeys, and that's okay. They are not round-killers.
Coaching Tip: Learning to accept bogeys and move on is a game-changer. The goal is "bogey avoidance," and the first rule is to not follow one mistake with another. If you hit a bad shot into the trees, don’t try the one-in-a-million miracle shot through a tiny gap. Just take your medicine, punch the ball out sideways back to the fairway, and try to save your bogey. A simple chip and two putts for a 5 on a par 4 is always better than trying for a hero shot that leads to a 7 or 8.
A "double bogey," or a "double" for short, is a score of two strokes over par on a hole (a 5 on a par 3, a 6 on a par 4, etc.). Doubles are the real momentum-killers. They often come from a penalty stroke (like hitting your ball out of bounds or in the water) or from compounding errors - like a bad shot followed by a bad decision.
A "triple bogey" is three strokes over par, and anything higher than that is usually just called a "blow-up hole." These high numbers are what turn a promising round into a frustrating one. They almost always include a penalty stroke, a really poor decision, or multiple chunked or thinned shots around the green. The most important skill after a hole like this? Forgetting it immediately and focusing on the next tee shot.
Your final score for the round is simply the sum of all your strokes on all 18 holes. This total number is then compared to the course's par.
Let’s use a par 72 course as an example:
Talking about your score in relation to par ("I was 10-over today") is the common language of golf. Now that you know what a birdie, eagle, and bogey are, you can finally speak it fluently!
Knowing the terms Par, Birdie, Bogey, and Eagle is the first step to truly understanding the game of golf. It allows you to track your performance, set goals, and speak the language of the sport. The real secret, however, isn't just knowing the definitions, but learning how to make more of the good ones and fewer of the bad ones.
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