Understand How To Score In Golf

Are you new to the game of golf? Or wanting to brush up on the rules of scoring in various gameplays. Below we have outlined the different ways we can score in golf

How To Keep Score

Keeping score in golf is relatively simple, once you have finished a hole, you will need to add and record the number of shots you hit, this will be your score for the hole. Each player will have a scorecard with them on a round of golf, once you have completed each hole you should write down how many shots you took in the box next to the hole number.

Each hole is assigned a number from 1 to 18. Every hole has a different skill level (S.I) and a different 'par'. There are three types of pars on a golf course, par 3, par 4 and par 5. This is the expected amount of shots it takes to finish the hole. If you manage to finish every hole on the golf course by scoring par on every hole, you have completed the round at 'Level par'.

Now there are many names in golf that equal a specific score against the par of a hole. We are going to make our examples around a 'par 4'. Listed below is what each score is called and how many shots you would take to get that score:

PAR 4 (Example)

- Eagle = 2

- Birdie = 3

- Par = 4

- Bogey = 5

- Double Bogey = 6

- Triple Bogey = 7

- Quadruple bogey = 8

After each hole, you must write down the score on your card, once you have finished your round of golf you can add up the score on each hole, resulting in a total number of shots hit during your round. This is your score for the round. If you manage to finish the round with the same score as 'par' you are classed as a scratch handicap golfer which only about 1.6% of golfers achieve.

Stableford (Game 1 Example)

Stableford is a very common form of golf scoring amongst clubs; most competitions you play will either be 'Stableford' scoring or 'stroke play' scoring. This section will look at how to score a round of golf using 'Stableford'.

It is essential that when you start a round of golf, you have a handicap to playoff. For this example, we are going to use a handicap of 18. Every hole on the golf course has a 'stroke index', this lets you know the difficulty of the hole. As there are 18 holes on a golf course, the stroke indexes range from 1 - 18, 1 being the most difficult and 18 being the easiest.

When you are scoring Stableford, you are getting a number depending on how many shots you take; this takes into account your handicap, which creates a level playing field for all the competitors. Outlined below is how many points you will receive depending on your score.

- 6 Points = Four strokes under par

- 5 Points = Three strokes under par

- 4 Points = Two strokes under par

- 3 Points = One stroke under par

- 2 Points = Level Par

- 1 Point = One over par

- 0 Points = Two or more over par

These scores relate to your handicap and vary from player to player. We will use a scratch and 18 handicap player as an example. If you are playing as a 'scratch' golfer, you will not receive any help on the course. Whatever the par is, you will play that as the par. If you are an 18 handicap golfer you will receive an extra shot on every hole, for example, if you are playing a par 4, to score 2 points (par), you will need to hit 5 shots. Having a handicap system in place allowed new players to compete against more experienced players.