What Is It Called in Golf When Someone Is One Stroke Under Par?

Scoring one stroke under the designated par for a hole is called a birdie. It’s one of the best feelings in golf, and this article will walk you through exactly what it means, cover the other common scoring terms, and - most importantly - give you a practical game plan to start making more birdies yourself.

What Exactly is a Birdie in Golf?

In golf, every hole is assigned a "par," which is the expected number of strokes an expert golfer should take to complete the hole. Making a birdie means you were better than that expectation - you did it in one less stroke. It’s a huge accomplishment and a clear sign that you’ve played a hole exceptionally well.

To really get it, you first need to understand par:

• Par 3: These are the shortest holes. The goal is to get your ball on the green with your first shot (the tee shot) and then take two putts. A score of 3 is par.
• Par 4: These are medium-length holes. The standard approach is a tee shot, an approach shot onto the green, and then two putts. A score of 4 is par.
• Par 5: These are the longest holes. The design expects a tee shot, a second shot (a "layup"), an approach shot onto the green, and two putts. A score of 5 is par.

So, a birdie is simply your score on a hole, minus one from its par value. Here’s how that looks in practice:

• On a Par 3, making a 2 is a birdie.
• On a Par 4, making a 3 is a birdie.
• On a Par 5, making a 4 is a birdie.

Any time you see a professional on TV pump their fist after sinking a putt, odds are they just made a birdie. It’s a direct reward for smart strategy and great shot-making, and it's the most common score under par for amateur and professional players alike.

A Little History: Why Is It Called a "Birdie"?

The term "birdie" has a fun origin story that dates back to the early days of American golf. While some details are debated, the most widely accepted story takes us to the Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey, around 1903.

During a round, a golfer named Abner "Ab" Smith hit a fantastic second shot that landed just inches from the hole on a par-4. He supposedly exclaimed, "That was a bird of a shot!" At the time, "bird" was common American slang for anything excellent or cool.

His playing partners, George Crump (who went on to build the famous Pine Valley Golf Club) and his brother, William Smith, suggested that if he could convert the easy putt for a score of 3 (one-under-par), they should call it a "birdie." Ab tapped it in, and the term was born. From that day forward, the group decided that a score of one-under would be called a birdie, and the name caught on, spreading through the club and eventually across the golfing world.

Meet the Rest of the Family: Other Golf Scoring Terms

Once "birdie" was established for one-under-par, it created a theme. Golfers started using other avian or creature-themed names for even better scores, and standard terms for scores over par solidified as well. Here’s a quick rundown of the vocabulary you'll hear on the course.

Scores Under Par

• Eagle: This is a score of two strokes under par on a single hole. It’s much rarer than a birdie and even more exciting. You could score an eagle by making a 3 on a Par 5 or a 2 on a Par 4. A hole-in-one on a Par 3 hole is also technically an eagle!
• Albatross (or Double Eagle): The rarest score in golf. An albatross is an incredible three strokes under par on a hole. This means scoring a 2 on a Par 5 (holing out your second shot) or making a hole-in-one on a Par 4. Most golfers play their entire lives without seeing one.

Par and Scores Over Par

• Par: As we covered, this is the expected score. Making a par is always a solid and satisfying result. Stringing them together is the foundation of a good round.
• Bogey: A score of one stroke over par (a 4 on a Par 3, a 5 on a Par 4, etc.). Bogeys are very common for amateurs and happen when a small mistake is made. The goal is to minimize them.
• Double Bogey: This is two strokes over par. It usually comes from a significant mistake, like hitting your ball out of bounds, into a water hazard, or taking three putts on the green.
• Triple Bogey (and worse): As the name suggests, this is three strokes over par. These "blow-up holes" are what can ruin a scorecard, and learning to avoid them is one of the most important steps to improving your game.

A Coach's Game Plan: How to Make More Birdies

Making a birdie is less about trying to hit one superstar shot and more about stringing together several good, smart shots in a row. It’s the result of solid fundamentals and sound strategy. As a coach, this is the plan I give students who want to break through and start circling more numbers on their scorecard.

1. Get Your Ball on the Green Consistently

You can't make a birdie if you aren't on the putting surface with a chance. The statistic "Greens in Regulation" (GIR) is the #1 indicator of a player's scoring potential. Hitting a GIR means your ball is on the green in the "expected" number of shots (1 on a Par 3, 2 on a Par 4, 3 on a Par 5), leaving you with two putts for par.

Actionable Advice: Spend more of your practice time on your approach shots - from 75 to 150 yards. Get comfortable with your irons and wedges. Instead of just banging drivers at the range, play a game where you try to land your ball on a specific target a certain distance away. Hitting more greens is the first and most important step to giving yourself more birdie putts.

2. Become a Master of Two Distances with Your Putter

Once you’re on the green, putting becomes the difference-maker. I tell my players to focus on two things:

• Lag Putting (30+ feet): When you have a long putt, your goal isn’t to make it. Your primary goal is to get it close - within a three-foot circle of the ahole. This all but guarantees a two-putt, avoids the dreaded three-putt bogey, and occasionally, you might just get lucky and roll one in for an unexpected birdie.
• Converting inside 10 feet: This is your birdie zone. When your approach shot sets you up with a putt inside 10 feet, you need to feel confident you can make it. Practice these putts over and over until the stroke becomes automatic. Making a high percentage of these is what separates a decent scorer from a good one.

3. Use Smarter Course Management

Great golfers think their way around the course. You don't get birdie opportunities by taking huge, unnecessary risks. You get them by playing the odds and keeping the ball out of trouble.

Actionable Advice: Before every shot, ask yourself, "Where is the absolute *worst* place I could miss?" and then aim away from it. Often, this means aiming for the center of the green instead of at a dangerous "sucker pin" right next to a bunker or water hazard. A 25-foot putt from the middle of the green for birdie is infinitely better than being in a bunker scrambling to save a bogey.

On Par 5s, resist the temptation to "go for it in two" unless the odds are strongly in your favor. A smarter play is often to hit your second shot (your layup) to a perfect wedge distance, like 100 yards. A full, controlled wedge shot from a good lie gives you a much better chance of hitting the green close than a risky 230-yard 3-wood from the rough.

Final Thoughts

So, when you score one stroke under par, you've made a birdie. It's a fantastic achievement that signals a hole played with skill, strategy, and precision. By focusing on hitting more greens, improving your putting, and thinking your way around the course, you can turn those frustrating bogeys into steady pars and create more opportunities to feel that rush of making a birdie.

Developing that on-course strategy and knowing the smart play is often the biggest hurdle for golfers looking to lower their scores. To help with that, we developed Caddie AI to act as your personal course strategist. When you’re unsure what club to hit or how to play a difficult hole, I can give you shot-by-shot guidance based on the situation. If you're stuck in the trees or have a weird lie in a bunker, you can even snap a photo, and the app will help you figure out the best way to get back in play, turning a potential disaster into a managed outcome and keeping those birdie chances alive.