What is the main way golf is scored? The main way golf is scored is by counting the total number of strokes taken to complete a round of 18 holes. This total is called the “gross score.”
Golf scoring can seem tricky at first. Many people play for fun. Others play to compete seriously. Knowing the different golf scoring systems helps everyone enjoy the game more. This guide breaks down how calculating golf scores works. We will look at the basic rules and the special ways scores are handled in contests.
The Core of Golf Scoring: Counting Strokes
At its simplest, golf is about taking the fewest swings. Each time you hit the ball, that is one stroke. You count every swing. This includes practice swings if you hit the ball. It also counts penalty strokes.
Basic Scoring Terms
To grasp golf scoring systems, you need a few key words. These terms relate the number of strokes you took to the expected score for the hole.
- Par: This is the standard number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to finish a hole. Pars are set by the course designer. Holes are usually Par 3, Par 4, or Par 5.
- Birdie: Taking one stroke less than Par on a hole. (e.g., 3 strokes on a Par 4).
- Eagle: Taking two strokes less than Par.
- Bogey: Taking one stroke more than Par.
- Double Bogey: Taking two strokes more than Par.
Counting golf strokes is the first step. Once you finish 18 holes, you add up all your strokes. This total is your gross score.
Determining Par for a Hole
Courses assign Par based on distance. Shorter holes get lower Pars.
| Hole Type | Typical Distance (Yards) | Typical Par |
|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 100 to 250 | 3 |
| Par 4 | 250 to 470 | 4 |
| Par 5 | Over 470 | 5 |
Most 18-hole courses have a total Par between 70 and 72.
Stroke Play Scoring: The Most Common Format
Golf stroke play scoring is the most common way to keep score in casual and professional golf. In stroke play, your score for the entire round is the sum of the strokes taken on every hole. The player with the lowest total score wins.
Recording Scores Hole by Hole
Every hole, you write down the total strokes taken. Penalties add to this total. If you hit a ball out of bounds, you add a one-stroke penalty and replay the shot (this is often called “stroke and distance”). If you touch a loose impediment on the putting green, that might also be a penalty.
When calculating golf scores in stroke play, accuracy matters. You must be honest about every shot.
Example of a Stroke Play Scorecard Entry:
A player faces a Par 4 hole.
- Tee shot: 1 stroke.
- Second shot (approach): 1 stroke. Total: 2 strokes.
- Puts: 2 strokes. Total: 4 strokes.
- Score for the hole: 4. This is Par.
If the player took 5 strokes, they made a golf bogey and par score of 1 over par.
Match Play Scoring in Golf: Head-to-Head Battles
Match play scoring in golf is very different from stroke play. In match play, you compete against one other golfer (or a team). You do not count total strokes for the whole round. Instead, you try to win more individual holes than your opponent.
Winning Holes
You win a hole if you complete it in fewer strokes than your opponent.
- All Square: If both players finish a hole in the same number of strokes, the hole is tied.
- Dormie: This means a player is leading by the number of holes remaining in the match. For example, if you are up by 3 holes with only 3 holes left, you have won the match, even if the remaining holes are tied.
The match ends when one player leads by more holes than are left to play. The final score is written as “3 and 2” (meaning the winner won by 3 holes with 2 holes left to play when the match ended).
Key Difference: Total Strokes vs. Holes Won
In match play, if you score a 6 on a Par 3, and your opponent scores a 7, you win that hole. Your score of 6 does not matter for the overall match total unless you win more holes. Even a high score can win a hole if your opponent has a disaster.
Adjusting Scores for Fairness: Handicaps
For golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly, we use handicaps. Understanding golf handicaps is vital for competitive amateur play. A handicap reflects a golfer’s potential playing ability.
What is a Handicap?
A handicap is a number assigned to a player. It represents how many strokes over par the player is expected to shoot on a standard course. A lower handicap means a better player.
Golf handicap index (HCI) is the modern system used globally. It takes into account the difficulty of the course played (its “Course Rating” and “Slope Rating”).
Golf Net Score Calculation
When handicaps are involved, we calculate the golf net score calculation.
Net Score = Gross Score – Handicap Allowance
If a course has a Par of 72, and your handicap allowance for that day is 18 strokes:
- You shoot a gross score of 95.
- Your Net Score is 95 – 18 = 77.
This net score is what you compare against other players who also used their handicaps.
Applying Handicaps Hole-by-Hole (Stroke Allocation)
For competitive rounds, the handicap is often applied hole by hole based on the “Handicap Index” of the course. Each hole is ranked from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest).
- If you have a full 18 handicap, you get one extra stroke on every hole.
- If you have a 10 handicap, you get one extra stroke on the 10 hardest holes (Holes 1 through 10 on the scorecard).
If a hole is a Par 4 (Handicap 5), and you get a stroke on it (because your handicap is 10 or higher), your net Par is 3 strokes, not 4. You are playing that hole as if it were a Par 3 for scoring purposes.
Alternative Golf Scoring Systems
While stroke play and match play are the main formats, other golf scoring systems exist to make the game more fun or to put a focus on consistency rather than just the absolute lowest score.
Stableford Scoring
Golf stableford scoring awards points based on performance relative to par on each hole. This system encourages aggressive play because a very bad hole doesn’t destroy your whole round score.
In Stableford, you aim for a high point total, not a low stroke total.
| Score Relative to Par | Points Awarded |
|---|---|
| Double Bogey or Worse | 0 points |
| Bogey | 1 point |
| Par | 2 points |
| Birdie | 3 points |
| Eagle | 4 points |
| Albatross (Triple Bogey) | 5 points |
The player with the most points at the end wins. Stableford is often played with handicaps applied, where the points are based on your net score for the hole.
Par-Based Competitions
Sometimes players compete based only on how well they score against Par, ignoring the actual stroke count if it’s very high.
- Par Game: You only record Par, Birdie, or Eagle. If you score a Bogey or worse, you record a zero for that hole. This rewards only good scores.
Fathoming Golf Terminology Scoring
To communicate clearly on the course, everyone needs to know the lingo. Mastering the right golf terminology scoring avoids confusion.
Key Terms Review:
- Gross Score: The actual number of strokes taken.
- Net Score: The gross score minus the handicap strokes.
- Albatross (Double Eagle): Three strokes under Par (very rare).
- Bogey: One over Par.
- Scoring Average: The total strokes divided by the number of rounds played.
The Importance of Penalty Strokes
Penalties are added strokes. They are crucial when calculating golf scores. Common penalties include:
- Out of Bounds (OB): One penalty stroke, plus re-hitting from the original spot (stroke and distance).
- Lost Ball: Same as OB.
- Unplayable Lie: One penalty stroke, where you drop the ball near where it lies or back on the line from the hole.
- Water Hazards (Penalty Areas): Usually one penalty stroke, with options for dropping the ball.
If you take 4 strokes to hole out, but incurred a one-stroke penalty for an unplayable lie earlier, your score for that hole is 5.
Applying Handicaps Accurately
The modern system demands that players calculate their handicap accurately before a round. This ensures fair competition, especially when playing against golfers who play significantly better or worse than you.
Calculating Your Handicap Index (HCI)
The HCI is dynamic. It changes as you play more rounds. You take several recent scores (usually the best 8 out of the last 20 scores submitted).
For each round, you calculate a “Handicap Differential” using the course’s difficulty ratings:
$$ \text{Differential} = (\text{Adjusted Gross Score} – \text{Course Rating}) \times \frac{113}{\text{Slope Rating}} $$
The lowest differentials from your recent history are averaged to create your current HCI. A lower Slope Rating (usually 113 is standard) means the course is easier. A higher rating means the course is tougher.
Daily Course Handicap
Before your round, you convert your HCI into a “Course Handicap” based on the specific Slope Rating of the course you are playing that day. This tells you exactly how many strokes you get for that round.
If you have a Course Handicap of 15, you get 15 strokes applied to the 15 hardest holes on the course.
Recording Scores for Official Competitions
In serious competitions, scorekeeping is governed by strict rules. Honesty is paramount.
Signing and Attesting Scores
In stroke play events, every player must have a fellow competitor “attest” or sign their scorecard. The attester confirms that the score written down for each hole matches what they observed.
If you post an incorrect score, even if it is lower than your actual score, you are disqualified. This rule emphasizes personal responsibility in counting golf strokes.
Handling Ties in Stroke Play
If two or more players finish with the same lowest net or gross score, a playoff is often required.
- Sudden Death Playoff: Players return to a designated hole (usually the 1st or 10th) and play until one player has a lower score on a hole than the other(s). This continues until a winner is found.
- Countback: If a playoff is too long or not practical, a tie is broken using the scores from the last few holes (e.g., the scores from the last 6 holes, then 3, then the 18th hole alone). This looks at who finished stronger.
Special Scoring Formats for Groups
Many casual golf outings use formats that mix up teams and individual play. These also rely on core golf scoring systems.
Scramble Format
In a scramble, all players on a team hit a tee shot. The team chooses the best shot. Every player then hits their next shot from that best spot. This continues until the ball is holed.
- Scoring: A team usually takes only one score per hole. Handicaps are often applied by dividing the team’s total strokes by a percentage (e.g., 25% of the combined team handicaps). This keeps the golf net score calculation fair for teams of mixed abilities.
Best Ball (Fourball)
This is popular for pairs. Each golfer plays their own ball throughout the hole. For the team score on that hole, only the lowest individual score counts.
- Scoring: If Player A scores a 4 and Player B scores a 5 on a Par 4, the team score for the hole is 4. This combines elements of stroke play with team rewards.
Final Thoughts on Golf Scoring
Mastering how golf is scored requires practice with the pencil and paper as much as with the club. Whether you are focused on your gross score in a simple afternoon round or meticulously managing your understanding golf handicaps for a major event, the principles remain the same: count every stroke honestly and apply the rules of the format being played. Keep tracking your scores, adjust your handicap regularly, and enjoy the challenge of beating the course!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the highest score allowed on a hole?
In most competitive formats, there is no maximum score, but many local games or club competitions use a “Net Double Bogey” rule. This means if you reach double bogey plus any handicap strokes you receive, you simply pick up your ball and record that score, saving time.
Can I use my handicap in a casual round?
Yes, you can use your handicap informally in a casual round to make it more competitive. You and your playing partners just need to agree beforehand how you will apply the strokes (e.g., stroke-for-stroke on the hardest holes).
How do I convert a bogey score to points in Stableford?
If you shoot a bogey (one over par) in Stableford scoring, you earn 1 point for that hole, assuming you are using your handicap correctly to determine your target score for that hole.
What is the main difference between gross and net score?
The gross score is the actual number of strokes you took. The net score is your gross score minus any handicap strokes you are allowed for that round. The net score is generally used when comparing players of different abilities.