Ever watched a professional golf tournament, glanced at the leaderboard, and wondered what those numbers next to the players' names mean? You’ll see scores like -5 in red, +2 in black, and sometimes just a simple ‘E’. This system is the language of golf scoring, and understanding it is one of the first big steps to following the sport or even tracking your own improvement on the course. This article will explain exactly what those numbers mean, how they relate to the all-important idea of ‘par,’ and why they are used by pros and amateurs alike.
The number you see next to a player's score represents their performance relative to par. It’s a simple, at-a-glance way to see if a golfer is playing better than expected, worse than expected, or exactly as expected. Before we unpack the plus and minus signs, we first need to get comfortable with the concept of "par."
Par is the predetermined number of strokes a skilled golfer should need to complete a single hole or an entire round. Every hole on a golf course has a par rating:
An entire 18-hole course also has a total par, which is just the sum of the par for all 18 holes. Most standard courses are a Par 72 (twelve par-4s, four par-3s, and four par-5s). When a golfer's achievement is measured against this standard, we get those plus and minus numbers. This entire method of scoring is known as Stroke Play.
Understanding par is the first piece of the puzzle. Now let’s look at how a player’s actual performance on each hole creates their overall score relative to par.
A minus sign (-) next to a score is a very good thing. It means the golfer is "under par." In other words, they have taken fewer strokes than the par for the holes they have played so far. On most televised golf leaderboards, these scores are shown in red to make them stand out. Seeing a lot of red next to your name means you’re having a great day.
Think of it like this:
Example in Action: Let's say a player starts their round on a Par-4 hole. They hit an excellent shot and only need 3 strokes to get the ball in the hole. This is called a "birdie." For that hole, their score is 1-under-par. Their overall tournament score becomes -1.
A plus sign (+) next to a score means the exact opposite. The golfer is "over par," having taken more strokes than the target par for the holes they've completed. These scores are typically shown in black on a leaderboard. While it’s not ideal, it’s a very common part of the game for every level of player.
Example in Action: On that same Par-4 hole, imagine another player has some trouble and takes 5 strokes. This is called a "bogey." For that hole, their score is 1-over-par, and their overall score becomes +1. If on the next hole, a Par 3, they make another bogey (4 strokes), their overall score would move to +2. The goal in golf is always to have the lowest number, making -4 massively better than +4.
Finally, there's 'E'. This simply stands for Even Par. A player who is "Even" has taken a total number of strokes that is exactly equal to the cumulative par for the holes they've played. You’re not gaining strokes on the course, but you’re not losing any either. It’s the neutral baseline.
If a tournament course is a Par 72, and a golfer finishes their round in exactly 72 strokes, their final score for the day is E (or Even Par).
Example in Action: A player makes a birdie (-1) on the first hole and follows it with a bogey (+1) on the second hole. The birdie and bogey cancel each other out, bringing their overall score back to Even (E).
This system can seem a little complicated at first, but following a player through a few holes makes it crystal clear. Let’s follow our friendly fictional golfer, Alex, through the first five holes of a tournament.
As you can see, the score relative to par (e.g., +1) gives you a constant, running update of the player's performance against the course's standard.
You might be wondering, "Why not just count up the total strokes?" While every golfer obviously does that, scoring relative to par provides a few immediate benefits that make the game much easier to follow.
1. Instant Readability and Context. The primary advantage is clarity. Knowing a player has a raw score of 35 after nine holes doesn't tell you much on its own. Was the front nine a Par 34, 35, or 36? But when you see a score of 'E' or '-1', you instantly know they are playing very well. 'Leader: -8' is a clear and powerful statement about their performance, no matter what the total course par is.
2. Easy Player Comparison. In tournaments, players start on different holes and finish at different times. The 'relative to par' system allows you to easily compare players. Someone at -5 after 15 holes is objectively having a better round than someone who is at -2 after 18 holes. It standardizes performance across the entire field of competitors in real-time.
3. Clear Goal Setting. For personal play, this system gives you a great mental framework. Instead of just trying to improve on last week's total score of 95, you can set goals like, "I want to play the front 9 at +5 or better." It breaks the game down into more manageable chunks and gives you constant feedback on how you're doing against your own expectations.
This system isn't just for the professionals. Adopting it for your own rounds is a fantastic way to track your progress and understand your game on a deeper level. Most scorecards have a box for your raw stroke count on each hole, and many players will also use a notation to mark their score relative to par:
At the end of your round, it’s simple to figure out your final score relative to par. First, add up all your strokes to get your gross score (e.g., 90). Then, find out the total par for the course you played (usually 72). Finally, do the math:
Your Gross Score - Course Par = Your Score Relative to Par
Example: 90 - 72 = +18
This tells you your score was "+18" or "18-over-par." As you get better, watching that number shrink from +25 to +18 to +10 is one of the most satisfying feelings in golf.
The number next to the score in golf is simply a broadcast of a player's performance relative to the course's expected score, or par. A negative number (under par) is good, a positive number (over par) is bad, and ‘E’ (even par) is the baseline. It’s a beautifully simple system that provides instant context and makes following a tournament or tracking your own game both easy and engaging.
Once you understand what the scores mean, the focus shifts to making your own numbers better. Thinking strategically through each shot is what separates a decent round from a great one. That’s why we built Caddie AI. We give you instant, on-demand advice for any situation on the course, from smart tee shot strategies to getting out of trouble. It’s like having an expert caddie analyze the hole for you, helping you make the smart decisions that turn those bogeys and doubles into pars or better.
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