A complete guide to golf scoring terms, from double bogey to albatross, and what each one actually means on the scorecard.
Golf has its own language, and nowhere is that more obvious than on the scorecard. Birdie, eagle, bogey, par, albatross — these words get used constantly on the course, on television, and in conversation, and if you are new to the game or still filling in gaps, it can feel like everyone else got a vocabulary lesson you missed.
This guide covers every major golf scoring term, what each one means in plain language, and why the sport named them the way it did. By the end, you will know exactly what happened when someone in your group walks off the green grinning about a birdie on sixteen.
Golf scoring basics: understanding par
Before any scoring term makes sense, you need to understand par. Par is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need to complete a hole. Each hole on a course is assigned a par value, typically a 3, a 4, or a 5, based on its length and difficulty. A full 18-hole course is also assigned a total par, most commonly 72 (made up of four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s, though layouts vary).
Every golf scoring term is defined relative to par. Score fewer strokes than par and you are under par, which is good. Score more strokes than par and you are over par, which is not. Scoring exactly the par number of strokes on a hole is called, simply, making par.
Complete golf scoring terms reference
| Term | Score Relative to Par | Example on a Par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Condor | 4 under par | Hole out in 0 strokes (impossible on par 4; occurs only on par 5 with a hole-in-one) |
| Albatross | 3 under par | Hole out in 1 stroke (hole-in-one on a par 4, or 2 strokes on a par 5) |
| Eagle | 2 under par | Hole out in 2 strokes |
| Birdie | 1 under par | Hole out in 3 strokes |
| Par | Even | Hole out in 4 strokes |
| Bogey | 1 over par | Hole out in 5 strokes |
| Double Bogey | 2 over par | Hole out in 6 strokes |
| Triple Bogey | 3 over par | Hole out in 7 strokes |
| Quadruple Bogey | 4 over par | Hole out in 8 strokes |
Each term explained
Par is the baseline. It is the score a skilled golfer is expected to make on any given hole under normal conditions. On a par-4 hole, par means reaching the green in two shots and sinking the putt in two more. On a par-3, par means reaching the green with your tee shot and two-putting from there.
At the tour level, making par on every hole would result in a score of 72 for the round, which is typically the course par. For most amateur golfers, consistently making par on individual holes is a meaningful achievement. Shooting your handicap means scoring at a level close to par when adjusted for your skill level.
A bogey is one stroke over par on a hole. On a par-4, that means finishing the hole in five shots. On a par-3, it means finishing in four. Bogey was actually the historical standard for a good score before the modern handicap system developed, and the term itself is thought to derive from a British expression for a score that would challenge the "bogey man" — the imaginary opponent you were always trying to beat.
For most recreational golfers, bogey golf is a reasonable and enjoyable standard. A golfer who makes bogey on most holes will typically shoot in the high 80s to mid-90s for 18 holes.
Double bogey is two over par on a hole. Triple bogey is three over. Beyond triple, some golfers and scorecards use the term "quadruple bogey" and so on, though at a certain point the convention shifts to simply writing the number on the card and moving on.
These scores are common on holes where something goes wrong: a tee shot out of bounds, a ball in the water, a difficult chip that leads to several putts. Every golfer, including professionals, takes the occasional double or triple bogey. How you respond to it is one of the mental tests that makes golf interesting.
A birdie is one stroke under par on a hole. On a par-4, that means finishing in three shots. On a par-5, finishing in four. The term comes from early American golf slang in the late 1800s, when "bird" meant something excellent or first-rate. The story most often cited is that the term originated at Atlantic City Country Club around 1903, where a golfer described a shot as a "bird of a shot" and the name stuck for the score that followed.
A birdie is a satisfying result for any golfer at any level. Professionals aim to make several per round. Recreational golfers may make a handful per season early in their development. Each one tends to be remembered.
An eagle is two strokes under par on a hole. On a par-5, an eagle means reaching the green in two shots and sinking the putt in one — or holing out from off the green in two total. On a par-4, an eagle requires a hole-in-one, which is itself a rare event. Eagles are most commonly made on par-5 holes, where a long drive followed by a well-struck second shot can leave a makeable eagle putt.
The eagle name follows naturally from birdie: if a one-under score is a bird, a two-under score is a bigger, more impressive bird. Eagles are uncommon enough that most golfers genuinely celebrate them when they happen.
An albatross is three strokes under par on a single hole. In the United States, it is also called a double eagle, though the term albatross is the international standard and is gaining more widespread use in American golf as well. In practice, an albatross means making a hole-in-one on a par-4, or holing out in two shots on a par-5. It is, by virtually every measure, the rarest commonly achievable score in golf.
An albatross is rarer than a hole-in-one. Rarer than an eagle. For most amateur golfers, it is the kind of score that could happen once in a lifetime, or never at all. Professional golfers who compete hundreds of rounds per year go entire careers without recording one on a tour scorecard.
The name albatross follows the bird-naming logic: the albatross is one of the largest and rarest seabirds in the world, and a three-under score is one of the largest and rarest scores in golf. It is fitting that the name carries that weight.
This is also where our brand name comes from. ALBY is short for albatross. We named the brand after golf's rarest scoring feat because it represents the standard we hold ourselves to: not the most likely outcome, but the one worth swinging for. Our slogan, Chase Impossible, is drawn directly from what an albatross asks of any golfer who finds themselves in a position to attempt one.
Rarer than a hole in one. Rarer than almost anything else that can happen in a round of golf.
Note: Albatross odds vary by source and methodology. The figures cited in golf industry research and actuarial data reflect approximations rather than precise measurements, and individual probability depends heavily on skill level, course conditions, and hole design. What every source agrees on is that an albatross is exceptionally rare.
A hole-in-one is exactly what it sounds like: sinking the ball from the tee in a single stroke. On a par-3 hole, a hole-in-one is also a birdie, since par is three and you finished in one. On a par-4, a hole-in-one is an albatross. On a par-5, a hole-in-one would technically be a condor, though this has never been documented under normal course conditions.
Hole-in-ones are most common on par-3 holes, where the tee and green are close enough that a well-struck shot has a realistic chance of finishing in the cup. Estimates suggest that an average amateur golfer makes a hole-in-one approximately once every 12,500 rounds, though this varies significantly by skill level. At higher handicaps, the odds are considerably longer.
A condor is four strokes under par on a hole. This would require a hole-in-one on a par-5, which is theoretically possible on a very short par-5 that plays as a driveable hole. As of this writing, only a small handful of condors have ever been recorded under legitimate playing conditions, making it the rarest score in golf history. It is included here for completeness, but in practical terms, a condor is not something you plan for or expect.
Under par vs. over par: how to read a golf scorecard
On a standard golf scorecard, scores under par are typically displayed in red (or circled), and scores over par are displayed in black (or squared). Even par is shown plainly with no special marking. This color convention carries over to television broadcasts and digital leaderboards, which is why you will hear announcers talk about a player being "five under" or "three over" to describe their position relative to par.
When a golfer's total score for the round is described, it is always given in relation to par. A score of 68 on a par-72 course is described as "four under par" or simply "four under." A score of 79 is "seven over." Knowing this makes tournament coverage and conversations about scoring much easier to follow.
How scoring terms apply in match play vs. stroke play
Most recreational golf and virtually all professional tournament golf is played in stroke play format, where the total number of strokes over an entire round (or multiple rounds) determines the winner. In stroke play, every birdie, bogey, and albatross accumulates toward your final score.
In match play, the format used in the Ryder Cup and many club competitions, the score on each individual hole determines who wins that hole. A birdie on one hole beats a par on the same hole, regardless of what happened on previous holes. Scoring terms work the same way, but their importance shifts because each hole is its own contest rather than a contribution to a running total.
Common questions about golf scoring terms
Is an albatross better than an eagle?
Yes. An albatross is three under par. An eagle is two under par. Three under is better than two under. An albatross is also far rarer than an eagle, which makes it a more significant achievement even among golfers who have made both.
Why are golf scoring terms named after birds?
The birdie name started in American golf slang in the late 1800s, where "bird" was informal slang for something excellent. Once birdie became the established term for one under par, the bird naming convention naturally extended upward: eagle for two under, albatross for three under. The birds were chosen to match the rarity and scale of each score.
What is the difference between an albatross and a double eagle?
They are the same score: three under par on a single hole. "Double eagle" is the term more commonly used in the United States. "Albatross" is the international standard used everywhere else and is becoming more widely used in American golf as well. Both terms are correct and refer to identical scoring achievements.
Can you make an albatross on a par-3?
No. Three under par on a par-3 would be a score of zero, which is not possible. An albatross requires either a hole-in-one on a par-4 or finishing in two strokes on a par-5.
What does it mean when a golfer shoots even par?
Shooting even par means their total score for the round equals the course par exactly. On a par-72 course, even par is a score of 72. For a recreational golfer, even par for a full round is an exceptional achievement. For touring professionals, it represents a solid but not standout round.
Bogey is one over par. Par is even. Birdie is one under. Eagle is two under. Albatross is three under. Each term tells you exactly how a golfer performed on a hole relative to the expected standard, and the bird names get rarer and more impressive as the scores drop.
ALBY is named for the albatross — golf's rarest scoring feat. Built for golfers who understand the standard and go for it anyway. Every polo is made from a 92/8 polyester-spandex blend and backed by our Lifetime Guarantee.
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