In golf, your score for a round is simply the total number of times you hit the ball, plus any penalty strokes. Knowing what is par in golf is key; par is the expected number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to finish a hole or a course. How to count golf strokes starts with the very first time you swing at the ball on the tee. Each swing that hits the ball counts as one stroke. You add up all these golf terminology strokes for every hole to get your score for the round. So, how many shots per hole golf requires varies greatly depending on your skill and the hole’s difficulty, aiming to match or beat par.
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The Basic Unit: What Is a Stroke?
In golf, a “stroke” is the most basic action you take. It is when you swing your club with the intent to hit the ball.
- It counts even if you swing and miss the ball completely. That’s called an “air ball” or “whiff,” and it adds one stroke to your score.
- If you swing and barely touch the ball, making it move just a little bit, that still counts as a stroke.
- Once you start your swing, you can’t stop it just because you realize you might miss. If you swing, it counts.
Think of a stroke like a step on a journey. Each time you swing and hit (or try to hit) the ball, you’ve taken one step towards finishing the hole.
Comprehending How to Count Golf Strokes
Counting your strokes correctly is vital to following golf scoring rules. It seems simple: hit the ball, add one to your count for that hole. But there are times counting can get tricky, especially with penalties.
Here’s the simple way to count on a hole:
- Tee shot: Hit the ball from the tee box. That’s stroke number 1.
- Next shot: Find your ball and hit it again. That’s stroke number 2.
- Keep hitting: Repeat this until your ball is in the hole.
- Last stroke: The final stroke is the one that makes the ball drop into the cup.
Your total for the hole is the sum of all these hits.
For example, on a par-4 hole:
- You hit your first shot from the tee. (Stroke 1)
- You hit your second shot from the fairway. (Stroke 2)
- You hit your third shot onto the green. (Stroke 3)
- You putt the ball into the hole with your next shot. (Stroke 4)
Your score for that hole is 4 strokes.
Grasping Golf Scoring Rules and Penalties
Golf scoring rules are set by The R&A and the USGA. These rules dictate how you play, what you can and cannot do, and what happens when you break a rule. Breaking rules often results in penalty strokes. Penalty strokes are strokes added to your score even though you didn’t actually hit the ball that many times.
Common ways to get penalty strokes:
- Hitting the ball out of bounds (OB): If your ball lands outside the marked playing area. You add one penalty stroke and must hit another shot from where you last hit. This is called stroke and distance. Example: Your tee shot (stroke 1) goes out of bounds. You add 1 penalty stroke (total 2). You hit your next shot from the tee again. This will be your third stroke.
- Hitting into a penalty area (water hazard or red/yellow staked areas): You have options, but often you’ll take a penalty stroke and drop a new ball near where the ball entered the area.
- Losing your ball: If you can’t find your ball within three minutes of looking. Like out of bounds, it’s stroke and distance (add 1 penalty stroke, hit again from the last spot).
- Taking an unplayable lie: Deciding your ball is in such a bad spot you can’t hit it. You can take a penalty stroke and drop the ball in a specific way (e.g., two club lengths from the spot, no closer to the hole).
- Touching the ground in a bunker or penalty area before hitting: Depending on the rule, this can result in penalty strokes.
- Hitting the wrong ball: This is a serious error and usually results in a penalty.
- Getting help from your caddie or others in a way the rules don’t allow: Can lead to penalties.
Each penalty adds strokes to your score for that hole. You must include these penalty strokes when you write down your score on the golf scorecard explanation.
Example with a penalty:
- Par 4 hole.
- Tee shot. (Stroke 1)
- Second shot lands in a water hazard (penalty area). (Stroke 2)
- You decide to drop a new ball with a penalty. Add 1 penalty stroke. (Total 3 so far, but the penalty stroke didn’t involve a hit).
- You drop the new ball and hit it onto the green. (Stroke 4)
- You putt into the hole. (Stroke 5)
Your score for the hole is 5 strokes (2 hits + 1 penalty + 2 putts). It’s crucial to count hits and penalties correctly. This is a key part of following golf scoring rules.
Deciphering the Scorecard Explanation
A golf scorecard explanation shows you where to write down your strokes for each hole. It’s a simple chart.
Here’s what you typically see on a scorecard:
- Hole Number: 1, 2, 3, up to 18.
- Yardage (Length): How long the hole is from the tee to the green. This helps you understand the hole’s difficulty and select the right tee box.
- Par: The number of strokes a skilled golfer should take on that hole (usually 3, 4, or 5).
- Handicap (HCP/Index): A number from 1 to 18 assigned to each hole based on difficulty. Hole 1 is the hardest, 18 is the easiest. This is used in handicap scoring.
- Player Names: Space to write who is playing.
- Scores: Boxes under each hole number where you write the number of strokes you took.
- Front Nine (Out): Total strokes for holes 1-9.
- Back Nine (In): Total strokes for holes 10-18.
- Total: Your final score for the whole 18-hole round (Front Nine total + Back Nine total).
Here’s a simplified example of a few holes on a scorecard:
| Hole | Yardage | Par | HCP | Player 1 | Player 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 350 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| 2 | 150 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 500 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
| Out | 14 | 13 |
After playing each hole, you agree on the scores with your playing partners and write them down. At the end of the round, you add up all the strokes to get your total score. This total is the main way scores are compared in stroke play format.
Interpreting Par in Golf and Relative Scores
What is par in golf? As mentioned, par is the expected number of strokes to finish a hole or a course. It’s based on the length of the hole and its difficulty.
- Par-3 holes: Usually shorter holes, expected to take 3 strokes (1 tee shot, 2 putts).
- Par-4 holes: Medium length, expected to take 4 strokes (1 tee shot, 1 approach shot, 2 putts).
- Par-5 holes: Longer holes, expected to take 5 strokes (1 tee shot, 2 approach shots, 2 putts).
The par for a full 18-hole course is the sum of the pars for all individual holes. Most 18-hole courses have a par of 70, 71, or 72.
Your score on a hole or for the round is often talked about in relation to par. This is the difference between par and score in golf.
Here’s the golf terminology strokes used for scores relative to par:
- Albatross (or Double Eagle): 3 strokes under par on a single hole (very rare, usually on a par 5 by making it in 2 strokes).
- Eagle: 2 strokes under par on a single hole (e.g., scoring 3 on a par 5, or 2 on a par 4).
- Birdie: 1 stroke under par on a single hole (e.g., scoring 3 on a par 4, or 4 on a par 5).
- Par: Scoring exactly the number of strokes expected (e.g., scoring 4 on a par 4).
- Bogey: 1 stroke over par on a single hole (e.g., scoring 5 on a par 4, or 4 on a par 3).
- Double Bogey: 2 strokes over par on a single hole (e.g., scoring 6 on a par 4).
- Triple Bogey: 3 strokes over par on a single hole (e.g., scoring 7 on a par 4).
And so on (Quadruple Bogey, etc.).
Your total score for the round is also often expressed relative to par.
- If par for the course is 72, and you score 70 strokes, you are “2 under par”.
- If par is 72 and you score 75 strokes, you are “3 over par”.
- If par is 72 and you score 72 strokes, you are “Even par”.
This way of talking about scores (e.g., “I shot 2 over today”) is very common and quickly tells other golfers how well you played relative to the course’s expected standard. The lower your total number of strokes, the better your score. The golfer with the fewest strokes wins in stroke play.
Fathoming the Golf Handicap Explanation
A golf handicap explanation helps players of different skill levels compete fairly. A handicap is a number that shows how many strokes over par you typically shoot. The lower your handicap number, the better golfer you are.
How a handicap works:
- You play several rounds and record your scores according to golf scoring rules.
- You submit these scores to a handicapping system (like the World Handicap System).
- The system looks at your best recent scores relative to the difficulty of the courses you played.
- It calculates a handicap index for you. This index is a number like 15.4 or 2.8.
- When you play a specific course, your handicap index is used to calculate your Course Handicap. This number tells you how many strokes you get to subtract from your gross score (actual strokes taken) to get your net score for that round.
Example:
- Your handicap index is 15.4.
- You play a course where this index translates to a Course Handicap of 17.
- You play a round and take 90 strokes (your gross score).
- Your net score is 90 – 17 = 73.
This means that for competition purposes against someone with a different handicap, your effective score for that round is 73. This allows a higher-handicap player (who usually takes more strokes) to have a chance against a lower-handicap player (who usually takes fewer strokes).
The handicap system promotes fair play by leveling the field. It lets beginners and experienced players enjoy competing together. The number of strokes you take is the basis for calculating and using your handicap. Your handicap is a way to measure your potential ability based on your scoring history.
Typical Scores: Average Golf Score 18 Holes
What is considered a “good” score in golf? It really depends on who is playing! The average golf score 18 holes for a casual or recreational golfer is much higher than for a professional player.
For amateur golfers:
- Many beginners might shoot well over 100 strokes for 18 holes, perhaps 110-120 or even more.
- A golfer who plays sometimes might average around 100-105 strokes.
- An average golfer who plays regularly might aim to break 100. Scoring in the 90s is often seen as reaching a decent level.
- Breaking 90 is generally considered a good goal for amateurs.
- Scoring in the 70s is excellent for an amateur and usually means you have a low handicap.
For professional golfers on the PGA tour average score:
- Professional golfers consistently shoot scores under par.
- A typical winning score in a PGA Tour event is often 15 to 20 strokes under par over four rounds.
- This means their average score per round is usually 67, 68, or 69 strokes on courses with par typically around 70-72.
- The PGA tour average score for a single round is somewhere in the low 70s, but this includes all players, even those who miss the cut. The best players average well under par.
The significant difference between par and score in golf highlights the gap between amateur and professional skill levels. While an amateur might be happy scoring 10 strokes over par (82 on a par 72), a professional aims to be several strokes under par.
Factors affecting average golf score 18 holes:
- Skill Level: Beginners take more strokes than experienced players.
- Course Difficulty: Longer courses, those with more hazards (water, bunkers), or tricky greens lead to higher scores.
- Playing Conditions: Wind, rain, or a course in poor condition make it harder to score well.
- Tee Boxes Used: Playing from forward tees results in shorter holes and typically lower scores than playing from back tees.
Breaking Down the Shots Per Hole
How many shots per hole golf players take is the core of their score. While par gives you a target, your actual number of shots depends on execution.
On a par-3 hole:
- Skilled golfer: Aims for 1 shot onto the green (tee shot) and 2 putts. Score = 3 (par).
- Average golfer: Might hit the tee shot short or off the green, take another shot to get near the green, chip on, then 2 putts. Score = 5 (double bogey).
- Beginner: Might take multiple shots to reach the green, then several putts. Score could be 6, 7, or higher.
On a par-4 hole:
- Skilled golfer: Aims for 1 tee shot to the fairway, 1 approach shot to the green, 2 putts. Score = 4 (par). May reach the green in 1 shot on a short par 4 for an eagle chance, or 2 shots and sink a long putt for birdie.
- Average golfer: Might take 2 shots to reach near the green, chip on, 2 or 3 putts. Score = 5 or 6 (bogey or double bogey).
- Beginner: Could take 3, 4, or more shots to reach the green, plus several putts. Score could be 7, 8, or higher.
On a par-5 hole:
- Skilled golfer: Aims for 1 tee shot, 1 long second shot to reach or get near the green, then chip or putt on, 2 putts. Score = 5 (par), or 4 (birdie), or even 3 (eagle) if they reach in 2 shots and putt well.
- Average golfer: Takes 3 shots to reach near the green, chip on, 2 or 3 putts. Score = 6 or 7 (bogey or double bogey).
- Beginner: Many shots to reach the green plus putts. Score could be 8, 9, 10, or even more.
The number of shots on a hole isn’t just about distance. It includes:
- Tee shots
- Fairway shots
- Approach shots to the green
- Bunker shots
- Penalty area drops (these add strokes but aren’t ‘hits’)
- Chips and pitches near the green
- Putts on the green
Every swing counts towards the total strokes for that hole. Mastering scoring starts with accurately counting these strokes, including any penalties taken according to golf scoring rules.
Tracking Your Progress: From Stroke Count to Handicap
Keeping track of your scores is important for seeing how you improve. The raw number of strokes is your score. Over time, your scores paint a picture of your skill level.
- Lowering your average golf score 18 holes is the goal for most golfers.
- As your scores improve, your handicap will go down.
- A lower handicap lets you compete on a more equal footing with better players.
Using the golf scorecard explanation correctly after each round ensures your scores are accurate. These scores are the data used to calculate your handicap. So, accurate stroke counting is the foundation for everything else in golf scoring, including the golf handicap explanation.
Understanding the Nuance of Golf Terminology: Strokes and Beyond
While “stroke” is the most fundamental golf terminology strokes, there are other terms related to hitting the ball that are useful to know:
- Shot: Often used interchangeably with stroke (“I hit a great shot,” “That was my third shot”).
- Putt: A stroke made with a putter on the green (or sometimes from just off the green). It’s still a stroke, just a specific type.
- Chip: A short shot played near the green, meant to get the ball onto the green quickly and rolling towards the hole. It’s a stroke.
- Pitch: A higher, softer shot played to the green, often from a bit further away than a chip. It flies higher and stops faster. It’s a stroke.
- Drive: Your first shot from the tee box, usually made with a driver club on longer holes. It’s your first stroke on that hole.
All these actions involve swinging the club to hit the ball and count as one stroke each towards your total for the hole.
The complexity in counting often comes from situations where rules are broken, leading to penalty strokes. A player needs to be familiar with basic golf scoring rules to know when and how to add these penalties. For example, accidentally moving your ball on the green might result in a one-stroke penalty, depending on the situation and the specific rule applied. That penalty stroke gets added to your score for that hole, even though you didn’t swing the club.
Comparing Scores: Difference Between Par and Score
We touched on this, but let’s look closer at the difference between par and score in golf. This is more than just a number; it’s how golfers judge performance.
If you shoot 75 on a par 72 course:
- Your raw score is 75.
- Your score relative to par is +3 (or 3 over par).
If your playing partner shoots 70 on the same par 72 course:
- Their raw score is 70.
- Their score relative to par is -2 (or 2 under par).
Comparing +3 to -2 immediately tells you who played better based on the course standard. The lower the number (positive or negative), the better the round. Negative numbers (under par) are better than positive numbers (over par).
- -5 is better than -2
- -2 is better than Even Par (0)
- Even Par is better than +3
- +3 is better than +8
This relative scoring system makes it easy to compare performance across different courses with different pars. If you shoot 75 on a par 70 course (+5) and then 75 on a par 73 course (+2), your round on the par 73 course was better relative to the expected difficulty. This concept is also built into the golf handicap explanation.
Improving Your Stroke Count
To lower your number of strokes and improve your score, focus on several areas:
- Hit the ball solid more often: Practice your swing to make better contact. Solid contact means the ball goes further and straighter.
- Reduce penalty strokes: Learn basic golf scoring rules. Try to avoid hitting out of bounds or into water hazards. Play smarter shots to avoid trouble. If you do hit into trouble, know the rules for dropping with a penalty. Sometimes taking a penalty stroke and playing from a better spot saves you strokes in the long run compared to trying a heroic, low-percentage shot.
- Improve your short game: Chipping, pitching, and putting save the most strokes. Getting the ball close to the hole from around the green, and making more putts, dramatically lowers your score.
- Make smart decisions: Don’t always try to hit the ball as hard as possible. Choose clubs and shots that keep the ball in play. Play away from hazards. Aim for the center of the green instead of the pin if the pin is in a dangerous spot.
- Practice: The more you practice, the better you become at all aspects of the game, which leads to fewer strokes.
Lowering your average golf score 18 holes takes time and effort. It starts with accurately counting every single stroke you take and understanding where those strokes are lost (e.g., too many penalties, too many putts).
Common Pitfalls in Counting Strokes
Even experienced golfers can miscount. Common mistakes include:
- Forgetting to add penalty strokes.
- Miscounting putts on the green.
- Not counting a “whiff” (swing and a miss).
- Tapping the ball accidentally and not counting it as a stroke (this depends on the specific rule, but often results in a penalty or counts as a stroke).
- Forgetting how many shots you took on a hole, especially if you had trouble (like hitting multiple balls from the tee).
It’s good practice to count out loud as you play a hole, or at least confirm the count with your playing partners before marking the golf scorecard explanation. Accurate counting is fundamental to fair play and tracking your true performance.
Golf Terminology Strokes: A Quick Review
Let’s revisit the main terms related to strokes:
- Stroke: Any forward swing of the club with intent to hit the ball. This is the base unit of scoring.
- Penalty Stroke: An extra stroke added to your score for breaking a rule, even though you didn’t hit the ball.
- Gross Score: The total number of actual strokes (including penalties) taken to complete a round.
- Net Score: Your gross score minus your handicap strokes. Used in handicap competitions.
- Score relative to Par: How many strokes over or under the expected par you finished (e.g., +2, -3).
Understanding these terms is key to following golf scoring rules and participating in any type of golf competition, whether formal or just for fun with friends.
Putting It All Together: Playing a Hole and Scoring
Let’s walk through playing a single hole and how you count the strokes. Imagine a par 4 hole, 380 yards.
- Tee Shot: You place your ball on the tee and swing. The ball flies down the fairway. That’s Stroke 1.
- Second Shot: You walk to your ball, which is 150 yards from the green. You take your club and swing. The ball lands just off the green. That’s Stroke 2.
- Third Shot: Your ball is in the rough next to the green. You decide to chip it. You swing your wedge. The ball rolls onto the green. That’s Stroke 3.
- Fourth Shot: Your ball is on the green, 20 feet from the hole. You use your putter and stroke the ball towards the hole. It stops 2 feet short. That’s Stroke 4.
- Fifth Shot: Your ball is 2 feet from the hole. You use your putter again. The ball goes into the hole. That’s Stroke 5.
You finished the hole in 5 strokes. On the golf scorecard explanation for that hole, you write down “5” under your name.
Since the hole was a par 4, your score of 5 is one stroke over par (a bogey). If you had made it in 4 strokes, it would be par. If you made it in 3, it would be a birdie.
Now, imagine the second shot (Stroke 2) went into a red-staked penalty area (like woods or heavy bushes) instead of just off the green.
- Tee Shot: Stroke 1. Lands in penalty area.
- Penalty: You decide not to look for the ball and take the penalty stroke option. You add 1 penalty stroke. Your count is now 1 hit + 1 penalty = 2 strokes so far. You must drop a new ball. Let’s say you drop it near where the first one entered the penalty area.
- Third Shot (after drop): You hit the dropped ball towards the green. This is your third actual hit, but because of the penalty, it counts as your Stroke 3.
- Fourth Shot: The ball landed on the green. You putt it. That’s Stroke 4.
- Fifth Shot: You putt again and it goes in. That’s Stroke 5.
In this case, your score for the hole is still 5. It’s 2 hits (tee shot, shot after drop) + 1 penalty + 2 putts = 5 strokes. Notice how the penalty stroke adds to your total count for the hole. You write “5” on the scorecard. On a par 4, this is a bogey.
Accurately tracking each swing and each penalty is the core of mastering how to count golf strokes and follow golf scoring rules.
FAQ: Common Questions About Strokes in Golf
Q: Does a practice swing count as a stroke?
A: No. A practice swing is a swing taken without the intent to hit the ball. It does not count as a stroke. However, if you accidentally hit the ball during a practice swing (e.g., you’re near the ball and your practice swing makes it move), it might count as a stroke or result in a penalty depending on the specific situation and rules. Generally, practice swings are okay as long as you don’t hit the ball.
Q: What if I swing and miss the ball completely? Does that count?
A: Yes, absolutely. A swing with the intent to hit the ball counts as a stroke, even if you miss entirely (“whiff”).
Q: If my ball hits a tree or a cart path and bounces backwards, does that affect my stroke count?
A: No. What the ball hits after you strike it doesn’t change the fact that you made one stroke. You then play the ball from where it comes to rest, and your next swing will be your next stroke.
Q: What is the lowest number of strokes possible on a hole?
A: The lowest number of strokes is 1, which is a hole-in-one. This is when your tee shot goes directly into the hole. On a par-3, this is an Eagle (2 under par). On a par-4, it’s an Albatross (3 under par). On a par-5, it’s a very rare feat (4 under par, sometimes called a Condor, though this is almost unheard of).
Q: If I hit the ball with my putter more than once on a single stroke (double hit), how many strokes is that?
A: Under the most recent rules (as of 2019), if this happens unintentionally, it counts as only one stroke, and there is no penalty. The old rule used to be a two-stroke penalty.
Q: If I declare my ball unplayable, how many penalty strokes is it?
A: Declaring a ball unplayable costs one penalty stroke. You then have specific options for where to drop the new ball (e.g., within two club lengths not closer to the hole, or going back along the line of the shot, or going back to where you last hit).
Q: Does a “mulligan” count as a stroke?
A: A mulligan is hitting a second shot from the same spot (usually the tee) without counting the first one. Mulligans are not allowed under the official golf scoring rules. They are only used in casual play and would violate proper how to count golf strokes for handicap or competition purposes. If you use a mulligan, your score is not official.
Q: How is my total score for the round calculated?
A: Your total score is the sum of the strokes taken on each of the 18 holes, including any penalty strokes incurred on those holes. This is your gross score.
Final Thoughts
Mastering scoring in golf isn’t just about hitting the ball well; it’s also about accurately tracking every single stroke, including those added by penalties. Understanding golf scoring rules, knowing how to count golf strokes, and being familiar with golf terminology strokes are essential. Your total number of strokes is the key figure used to determine your score for the round, compare you against par, calculate your handicap, and track your progress over time as you aim to lower your average golf score 18 holes. Keeping a clear and correct golf scorecard explanation is the final step in recording your performance accurately.