How To Score: Golf Scoring Made Easy

on 05/17/2023 at 1:04 PM

If you’re new to golf, one of the first things you’ll need to learn is how to keep score. This may seem daunting at first, but it’s actually pretty simple. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of scoring in golf. We’ll also go over some common terms and what they mean. So whether you’re just starting out or need a refresher, read on for all you need to know about keeping score in golf!

Golf Scoring Terminology

In golf, the player with the lowest score wins the game. To keep score, you’ll need to know some basic terminology and how to tally up your points. Here’s a quick rundown:

– Par: This is the number of strokes a player is expected to make on a golf course for a given hole, based on their skill level.

– Bogey: A bogey is one stroke over par for a given hole.

– Double Bogey: A Double bogey is two strokes over par for a given hole.

– Triple bogey: A Triple bogey is three-stroke over par for a given hole.

– Birdie: A birdie is one stroke under par for a given hole.

– Eagle: An eagle is two strokes under par for a given hole.

– Albatross: An albatross is three strokes under par for a given hole.

Now that you know the basics, let’s review how to keep score. For each hole, you’ll want to write down your score and the number of strokes it took you to complete the hole. If you’re playing with other people, whoever has the lowest score at the end of the match wins!

Keeping Score For Stroke Play

When playing golf, you’ll keep score using a golf scorecard. The golf scorecard has two sides: the front and the back. On the front, you’ll record the basic information about the hole you’re playing, such as the par and the distance. On the back, you’ll record your score for each hole.

For each hole, you’ll start with a score of zero and add or subtract strokes based on how you did.

For example, if you complete a hole in four strokes and the par for that hole is five, you would subtract one stroke, and your score for that hole would be a birdie.

On the other hand, if you complete the hole in six strokes, you would add one stroke, and your score for that hole would be a bogey.

Once you’ve recorded your score for each hole, you’ll add up all your scores for the round to get your total score.

Keeping Score For Match Play

In match play, golfers compete against each other one-on-one. The golfers take turns taking strokes, and the player who completes the hole in the fewest strokes wins that hole.

If one player completes a hole in four strokes and the other completes the hole in six, the first player would win that hole.

The game is played until one golfer wins a predetermined number of holes. For example, a game could be played to 18 holes, meaning the first golfer to win nine holes would be declared the winner.

Some golfers keep track of the score in match play, but it’s unnecessary. The important thing is to keep track of who wins each hole.

Penalty Strokes Scoring

In golf, a penalty stroke is a stroke that’s added to your score for a particular hole. There are a few different reasons why you might receive a penalty stroke.

Some common reasons are if you hit the ball into a water hazard, hit the golf ball out of bounds, or lose a golf ball.

If you receive a penalty stroke, you’ll add another stroke to your score for that hole.

Common Penalty Strokes

There are a few different types of penalty strokes in golf. Some of the most common ones are:

– Water Hazard: This is when your golf ball lands in the water. You’ll receive a penalty stroke and have to hit your next shot from where your ball crossed the hazard. You’ll have to drop a new ball one club length (any club of your choosing) away from the hazard to do this.

– Out of Bounds: This is when your golf ball goes out of bounds. You’ll receive a penalty stroke and have to hit your next shot from where your ball crossed out of bounds. You’ll have to drop a new ball one club length (any club you choose) way from out of bounds to do this.

Golf Scoring Stableford System

Another way to keep score in golf is the Stableford scoring system.

With this system, golfers receive points based on their score for each hole.

For example, if you score a birdie on a hole, you would receive three points.

If you score a bogey, you would receive one point.

And if you score an eagle, you would receive five points.

The golfer with the most points is declared the winner at the end of the round.

Tips On Keeping Score

When playing golf, it’s important to keep track of the score to determine who is winning and losing. Here are a few tips to help you keep score:

– Use a golf scorecard: This will help ensure you track the right information for each hole.

– Keep track of your strokes: As you’re playing a hole, always keep track of the number of strokes you take.

– Write down the scores as soon as the hole is over: As soon as it is over, always write down everyone’s score so they aren’t forgotten.

– Write legibly: Make sure you can read your own handwriting! This will come in handy when adding up your score at the end of the round.

– Keep track of golf terms: Familiarize yourself with common golf terms to track what’s happening on the course.

– Use golf scoring apps to help keep score.

NEXT READ: The 7 Best Golf Tips For Beginner Golfers

Final Thoughts On How To Keep Score In Golf

Golf can be complicated, but learning how to keep score is pretty simple. In this beginner’s guide, we walked you through the basics of scoring in golf. We also went over some common terms and what they mean. So whether you’re just starting out or need a refresher, you now know all you need to keep score like a pro!