Sometimes their scoresįor individual rounds will also be shown or discussed. On leaderboards and television graphics, you'll usually be shown a professional golfers score relative to par for all holes played thus far in all days of the tournament. On a par-72 golf course, par for four rounds is 288. In the PGA tour, tournaments are usually played over four days, with 18 holes being played each day. Par can also be used for multiple rounds of golf. 'Course Par' for the 18 holes will usually be between 69-73, with par-72 being most common for an 18-hole golf course. The golf scoring term 'Par' is also used to reference the combined par of a group of golf holes.įull-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. Here are the USGA's distance guidelines for men:įor women, the USGA’s distance guidelines are:

On a par-4 hole, a scratch golfer is supposed to reach the green in two strokes, then complete the hole with two putts.ĭistance, or more specifically 'effective distance' (the distance a hole plays after accounting for whether it's uphill/downhill, its elevation, etc.), is the main determining factor in a hole's par rating. Par always includes two putts for each hole. Par - ' Par' is the number of strokes that an expert or ' scratch golfer' is expected to need to complete a hole. You can essentially use 'Stroke' as a synonym for a shot/putt, but keep in mind that it also includes 'whiffs' if you miss the ball when trying to hit it. Stroke - In golf, a 'Stroke' is any forward club swing, including when putting, that a golfer is trying to hit the ball. Three strokes over par on an individual hole.įour strokes over par on an individual hole. Two strokes over par on an individual hole. One stroke over par on an individual hole. Getting the ball in the hole (cup) in only one stroke. Three strokes under par on an individual hole.įour strokes under par on an individual hole. Two strokes under par on an individual hole. One stroke under par on an individual hole. The number of strokes an expert player is expected to make for a given hole or a group of holes (usually 9 or 18). Golf Scoring Terms Cheat Sheet Golf Scoring TermĪny forward club swing that's intended to hit the golf ball.

We've compiled a list of 100+ golf terms that are useful to know, but the golf scoring terms we'll cover in this guide are among the most essential when you're out on the course or watching televised golf.

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