Seeing a score of -11 next to a golfer’s name on TV signifies an absolutely phenomenal performance, meaning they are 11 strokes under par. This kind of score is the territory of world-class professionals at the top of their game. This article will break down exactly what par is, how a golfer can achieve a score like -11 in a single round or over a full tournament, and what this level of play looks like on a real scorecard.
Before we can grasp what being 11-under means, we first have to understand the cornerstone of golf scoring: par. In simple terms, par is the predetermined number of strokes a highly-skilled golfer is expected to use to get the ball from the tee into the hole. Every single hole on a golf course has its own par number.
Courses establish par based on the length of the hole. It generally works like this:
A standard 18-hole golf course usually has a total par of between 70 and 72. This is calculated by simply adding up the par for all 18 holes. For the rest of this guide, we'll assume a par-72 course, which is the most common setup for professional tournaments.
A golfer's score on any given hole is always talked about relative to par. This comparison gives us a universal way to understand performance, whether you're playing at Augusta National or your local municipal course.
Here’s a quick guide to the scoring terms:
Let's tie these concepts to the names you hear commentators say all the time.
A cumulative score like -11 isn't achieved on a single hole, it's the result of tallying up the scores across all 18 holes of a round. Golfers start each round at "Even Par" (E). Every birdie pushes them further into the red (negative numbers), while every bogey pushes them back toward or into the black (positive numbers).
Let's simulate the first few holes of a hot round:
As you can see, the score fluctuates throughout the round. To get to an incredible score like -11, a golfer must make a massive number of birdies and eagles, with very few (if any) bogeys.
So what does a scorecard for a round of -11 actually look like? On a par-72 course, a score of -11 means the player shot a 61 (72 - 11 = 61). This is a course-record-level performance.
There are many ways to get there, but here is a very realistic sequence for a tour professional:
Let's say the round had:
Let's do the math:
1 Eagle = -2
9 Birdies = -9
8 Pars = 0
Total Score: -11
This kind of scorecard demonstrates breathtaking consistency and skill. Avoiding any mistakes (bogeys) over 18 holes while simultaneously capitalizing on so many scoring opportunities is what separates the best players from everyone else.
It's important to know the context of the score. You might see a player at -11 on the leaderboard on a Saturday. Does that mean they shot 61 that day? Not necessarily. In professional tournaments, which are typically four rounds (72 holes total), the leaderboard score is cumulative.
A player's tournament score is their combined score relative to par from all the rounds they’ve played.
Here’s an example of how a player could be at -11 after three rounds of a tournament:
After Saturday's round, their total score would be: (-3) + (-2) + (-4) = -9.
To get to a final of -11, they needed to shoot two-under in the final round. Their final score would be: (-3) + (-2) + (-4) + (-2) = -11.
So, when you see a player at -11 on Sunday afternoon, it represents their total performance across all four days. A tournament-winning score is often in this range, from -10 to -20 or even lower, depending on the course and conditions.
For the average amateur golfer, posting a score of -11 might seem like a daydream. Most of us are working hard just to break 100 (+28), 90 (+18), or the elusive 80 (+8). But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from it.
Understanding scoring relative to par is the best way to track your own improvement. Don't worry about shooting a 61. Instead, celebrate your own milestones:
Focusing on your score relative to par helps you identify what a "good" hole is for you and what a "bad" hole is. Maybe a bogey on a very difficult Par-4 feels like a win. That’s course management! It's all about playing smarter and celebrating progress one shot at a time.
In short, a score of "-11" in golf means a player is 11 strokes under the course's par, an extraordinary feat of skill and precision. Whether accumulated in one brilliant round or over four days of a tournament, it represents a performance at the highest level of the sport, built hole by hole with multiple birdies and eagles while avoiding costly mistakes.
Understanding these scores is one thing, but making the smart on-course decisions that lead to your own personal bests is another challenge altogether. That's where I find an innovative tool like Caddie AI can become a game-changer. It helps by offering you on-demand strategic advice for any hole you face, guides you through tricky shots, and ultimately helps you make the wiser plays that build a better score.
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