From ace to triple bogey — every score name and what it means
| Score Name | vs Par | Common Example | How Rare? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condor | −4 | Hole-in-one on a par-5 (or 2 on a par-6) | Fewer than 10 ever verified |
| Albatross / Double Eagle | −3 | 2 strokes on a par-5 | Extremely rare |
| Eagle | −2 | 3 strokes on a par-5 | Rare for amateurs |
| Birdie | −1 | 3 strokes on a par-4 | Common for low handicappers |
| Par | E | 4 strokes on a par-4 | Expected scratch score |
| Bogey | +1 | 5 strokes on a par-4 | Very common for amateurs |
| Double Bogey | +2 | 6 strokes on a par-4 | Typical early-round score |
| Triple Bogey | +3 | 7 strokes on a par-4 | Trouble hole |
| Quadruple Bogey | +4 | 8 strokes on a par-4 | Pick up and move on |
| Hole-in-One (Ace) | Depends | Always 1 stroke, any par | About 1 in 12,500 rounds for amateurs |
Par is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need on a given hole. Each hole on a course is rated par-3, par-4, or par-5. Your score relative to that number is what gets a name.
Every swing (even a whiff), penalty stroke, and short tap-in counts. Your gross score is the raw total. Hole scores only get their names once you compare gross to par.
Ace / hole-in-one = 1 stroke (par-3 only). Condor = 4 under. Albatross = 3 under. Eagle = 2 under. Birdie = 1 under. Par = even. Bogey = 1 over. Double bogey = 2 over. Triple bogey = 3 over.
Add all 18 hole scores for your gross total. Most courses play to par-72. If you shot 90, you are +18 for the round. If you shot 70, you are -2 (2 under par).
Subtract your handicap index (adjusted for slope) from your gross score. Net score is what counts in most casual and handicap competitions. A 20-handicapper who shoots 90 has a net 70.
Par is the expected number of strokes for a scratch (zero handicap) golfer to complete a hole or a full round. Par-3, par-4, and par-5 are the three hole types. A full 18-hole course usually totals par-72.
A birdie is finishing a hole in one stroke LESS than par. On a par-4, holing out in 3 is a birdie. On a par-3, it means you got the ball in with only 2 strokes. It is the most common "good" score for amateur golfers.
An eagle is two strokes under par on a hole — finishing a par-5 in 3 strokes, or a par-4 in 2 strokes. Eagles are rare for amateurs but thrilling. Pros eagle par-5s regularly by reaching the green in two.
An albatross is three strokes under par on a single hole. On a par-5 that means holing out in just 2 shots. It is incredibly rare — hole-in-ones on par-4s produce albatrosses. Also called a double eagle in North America.
A bogey is one stroke OVER par. Shooting 5 on a par-4 is a bogey. The word comes from a 19th-century British term for an imaginary opponent (the "bogey man") who always played the perfect score of the day.
A condor is four strokes under par — a hole-in-one on a par-5, or holing out in two on a par-6. It is the rarest score in golf. Fewer than a dozen have ever been verified, making it far rarer than even an albatross.
Even par means your total score exactly matches the par for the round. If the course is par-72 and you shot 72, you are even. It is written as "E" on leaderboards. For most amateur golfers, even par for 18 holes is an aspirational milestone.
A hole-in-one (ace) is always 1 stroke. On a par-3, it is an eagle (2 under). On a par-4, it is an albatross (3 under). On a par-5, it would be a condor (4 under). Hole-in-ones on par-4s and par-5s are extraordinarily rare.