Hearing a commentator announce that a golfer is five-under par is one of the most exciting moments in a golf broadcast, but it often leaves newcomers and even some casual players with questions. Understanding what it means to be under par is essential to grasping the language of golf and, more importantly, to improving your own scores. This guide will break down the concept of par, explain all the key scoring terms, and offer a professional coach's perspective on how you should mentally approach scoring on the course.
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What is 'Par'? The Foundation of Golf Scoring
Before you can go under par, you have to understand what par actually is. At its core, par is the predetermined number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. It represents an ideal, error-free level of play. This target score is set for each individual hole and is also totaled up for the entire round.
Par on an Individual Hole
You’ll notice that holes on a golf course have different par ratings - most commonly Par 3, Par 4, and Par 5. This number is not arbitrary, it's almost always based on the distance from the tee box to the green.
Par 3: These are the shortest holes. The expectation for a skilled golfer is to hit the green with their first shot (the tee shot) and then take two putts to get the ball into the cup. (1 shot to the green + 2 putts = 3 strokes).
Par 4: These are mid-length holes. The standard is to hit a tee shot, then an approach shot onto the green, followed by two putts. (1 tee shot + 1 approach shot + 2 putts = 4 strokes).
Par 5: These are the longest holes on the course. They are designed to be reached in three shots by a top player, followed by two putts. (1 tee shot + 1 fairway shot + 1 approach shot + 2 putts = 5 strokes).
While these are the general rules, par is fundamentally about the number of shots it takes to reach the green in regulation (GIR), plus two putts. "Regulation" simply means the expected number of shots to get on the putting surface.
Par for the Entire Course
The par for an entire 18-hole round is simply the sum of the pars of every hole. Most standard golf courses are Par 72. This is typically made up of four Par 3s, ten Par 4s, and four Par 5s.
4x3 (12) + 10x4 (40) + 4x5 (20) = 72
Some courses might be a Par 70 or 71, but the principle remains the same. When a professional golfer shoots a round of 68 on a Par 72 course, they finished four strokes under the expected score. We refer to this as shooting “four-under par.”
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The Language of Scoring: Moving Beyond the Numbers
In golf, we rarely just say "one under par" or "two over par" for a specific hole. The game has a unique, bird-themed vocabulary to describe these scores, which makes it much more colorful. Let’s look at the terms you need to know, starting with those glorious under-par scores.
Scores That Are Under Par (-)
These are the scores that every golfer chases. Achieving any of these is a reason to celebrate.
Birdie (-1): A score of one stroke under par on a single hole. For example, making a 3 on a Par 4 or a 4 on a Par 5. A birdie usually comes from a good tee shot, a solid approach that lands on the green, and a single putt. It’s the most common under-par score.
Eagle (-2): A score of two strokes under par. This is a much rarer and more exciting achievement. An eagle typically occurs on a Par 5 by reaching the green in only two shots and then sinking the putt for a score of 3. It can also happen on a short Par 4 if you drive the green and make the putt, or if you hole-out an approach shot from the fairway.
Albatross (-3): Sometimes called a "double eagle," this is one of the rarest feats in golf. An albatross is a score of three strokes under par. It only happens in two ways: making a hole-in-one on a Par 4, or scoring a 2 on a Par 5. Most golfers will play their entire lives without ever seeing an albatross. It's the pinnacle of scoring.
Scoring Exactly at Par (E)
Par (Even): Making a score that matches the par of the hole (e.g., a 4 on a Par 4). Don’t ever be disappointed with a par! For amateur golfers, making a par is an excellent result. A string of pars is the backbone of any great round of golf. It means you played the hole cleanly and avoided mistakes.
Scores That Are Over Par (+)
These are a big part of the game for every golfer, from weekend players to the best professionals. The goal is always to minimize them.
Bogey (+1): A score of one stroke over par (a 5 on a Par 4). Bogeys are incredibly common for all levels of golfers. They often happen when you miss the green on your approach shot and fail to get "up and down" (chipping on and making the putt in one stroke).
Double Bogey (+2): A score of two strokes over par (a 6 on a Par 4). Double bogeys are where scores really start to get inflated. They’re often the result of a significant mistake, like hitting your tee shot out of bounds (which costs a penalty stroke), finding a water hazard, or three-putting on the green.
Triple Bogey (+3) and Beyond: A score of three or more strokes over par. These are the "blow-up holes" that can ruin a scorecard. They typically involve multiple mistakes: a penalty stroke, a couple of terrible shots from the woods, and then several putts. Learning to avoid an "other" on the scorecard is a huge step in improving your game.
Tying It All Together: Being 'Under Par' for the Round
A golfer’s score for the entire round is a running total measured against the course’s total par. It’s what you see next to players' names on a leaderboard.
Let's walk through a simple, three-hole example on a Par 72 course:
Hole 1 is a Par 4. You play it beautifully. You sink a 10-foot putt for a score of 3. This is a birdie. Score on hole: -1. Total score for the round: -1 (one-under par).
Hole 2 is a Par 3. Your tee shot lands on the green, and you two-putt for a score of 3. This is a par. Score on hole: E. Total score for the round: still -1.
Hole 3 is a Par 4. Your drive goes into the trees. You have to chip out, hit your third shot onto the green, and two-putt for a score of 5. This is a bogey. Score on hole: +1. Total score for the round: E (even par).
As you can see, the bogey on the third hole "canceled out" the birdie from the first hole. The player continues this cumulative tally for all 18 holes. If they finish with a total of 70 strokes on a Par 72 course, their final score is 2-under par (displayed as -2). If they shoot 90, their final score is 18-over par (+18).
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As a coach, I see so many amateurs who get frustrated when they aren't making birdies. But striving only for under-par scores is a recipe for high-risk shots and even higher scores. The true secret to lowering your handicap isn't about making more birdies, it's about making fewer double bogeys.
Instead of thinking of par as a baseline, I encourage you to think of par as a fantastic accomplishment. Here's a healthier way to approach scoring:
Make Par Your Best Friend: Focus on smart, consistent golf that gives you a chance to make a par on every hole. This means aiming for the center of the green instead of at the flag, laying up instead of trying a heroic shot over water, and concentrating on making your two-putts. A scorecard full of pars and a few bogeys is a thing of beauty.
"Bogey Golf" is a Milestone: For a new golfer, consistently making a bogey on every hole is a huge achievement. On a Par 72 course, that’s a score of 90 (18-over par). That is excellent golf and a benchmark you should celebrate reaching. Forget about birdies for now, turning doubles into bogeys is how you truly improve.
Focus on Course Management: The difference between a bogey and a double bogey often comes down to one bad decision. Did you try a difficult shot out of the trees when a simple punch-out back to the fairway was the smart play? Recognizing the right shot to play - and not just the shot you wish you could hit - is what separates a score of 85 from 95.
Understanding par frees you to think about golf more strategically. It shifts your focus from chasing impossible shots to playing smart, consistent golf that avoids trouble and lets the good scores happen naturally.
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Going "under par" in golf means scoring better than the expert-level expectation, whether on a single hole with a birdie or for an entire round. Knowing what these terms mean helps you follow the sport and track your own progress, but the real key is using that knowledge to build a smarter, more consistent game centered on making pars and avoiding "blow-up" holes.
Mastering course strategy is what separates good scores from bad ones, and smart decisions are what prevent a bogey from turning into a devastating double. That's why I designed Caddie AI. It gives you instant, on-demand strategic advice right on the course. Instead of guessing the right club or the smartest play from a tough spot, you can snap a photo or describe your situation and get an expert-level recommendation in seconds, helping you avoid those big mistakes and play with far more confidence.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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