When you watch golf on TV for the first time, the scoreboard makes absolutely no sense. Why is the leader at “-12” while the person in last place is at “+4”? In almost every other sport, a higher number means you are winning.

Golf is the exact opposite.

In golf, the lowest score wins. The goal of the entire game is to hit the ball into the hole in as few swings as possible.

Here is a dead-simple explanation of how golf scoring works, and what all those weird bird words (Birdie, Eagle, Albatross) actually mean.

What is “Par”?

To understand golf scoring, you must first understand the concept of “Par.”

Par is the number of swings it should take an expert golfer to complete a specific hole.

Every hole on a golf course is assigned a Par based on how long it is.

• Par 3: A very short hole. You should be able to hit the ball onto the green in 1 swing, and take 2 putts to get it in the hole. (1 + 2 = 3).
• Par 4: A medium-length hole. You should hit it off the tee, hit an approach shot onto the green, and take 2 putts. (1 + 1 + 2 = 4).
• Par 5: A very long hole. You should take 3 swings to reach the green, and 2 putts. (3 + 2 = 5).

When you add up the Par for all 18 holes, a standard golf course has a total Par of 72. If an expert golfer plays perfectly, they will shoot a 72.

The Glossary of Golf Scores

When you finish a hole, you count how many times you swung the club. You then compare your number of swings to the Par for that hole to get your score name.

The Good Scores (Under Par)

These are very difficult to achieve and are the reason people get addicted to the game!

• Birdie (1 Under Par): You finished the hole in 1 swing less than Par. (e.g., You took 3 swings on a Par 4).
• Eagle (2 Under Par): You finished the hole in 2 swings less than Par. (e.g., You took 3 swings on a Par 5).
• Albatross (3 Under Par): Extremely rare. You finished the hole in 3 swings less than Par.
• Hole-in-One (Ace): You hit the ball into the hole on your very first swing from the tee box.

The Bad Scores (Over Par)

As a beginner, you will see a lot of these. That is completely normal!

• Bogey (1 Over Par): You took 1 swing more than Par. (e.g., You took 5 swings on a Par 4).
• Double Bogey (2 Over Par): You took 2 swings more than Par.
• Triple Bogey (3 Over Par): You took 3 swings more than Par.
• The Snowman (An 8): If you take 8 swings on any hole, golfers jokingly call it a “Snowman” because the number 8 looks like one!

What Does “-12” Mean on TV?

When you watch Tiger Woods on TV and his score says “-12” (Twelve Under), it means that over the course of the tournament, he has taken 12 fewer swings than the course Par. He is playing incredibly well.

If someone is “+4” (Four Over), they have taken 4 more swings than Par. They are losing to Tiger Woods by 16 swings.

What is a Good Score for a Beginner?

If a perfect round is a 72, what should you expect as a beginner?

Do not expect to shoot anywhere near 72. Breaking 100 (taking less than 100 swings) is a massive milestone that takes most golfers years to achieve.

If it is your first time playing, your only goal should be to keep up with the group in front of you and have fun. If you keep an honest score, expect to shoot between 110 and 130. And remember: no matter how bad your score is, a bad day on the golf course is always better than a good day at the office!