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Golf scoring starts with one unusual idea: lower is usually better. In ordinary stroke play, every stroke counts toward a total and the player with the lowest score wins. Terms such as birdie and bogey compare a hole score with its par.
Match play uses a different logic: players compete hole by hole rather than simply adding every stroke for one final total.
What is par?
Par is the expected scoring standard assigned to a hole for a skilled player under normal conditions. A par-3, par-4 or par-5 tells you the reference number for that hole.
Course par is the sum of the pars assigned to all holes, commonly 70, 71 or 72 on full-length championship courses.
Birdie, bogey, eagle and more
| Term | Score relative to par | Example on par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Albatross / double eagle | 3 under | 1 |
| Eagle | 2 under | 2 |
| Birdie | 1 under | 3 |
| Par | Even | 4 |
| Bogey | 1 over | 5 |
| Double bogey | 2 over | 6 |
Those labels make it easy to compare performance on holes of different length.
Stroke play: add every hole
USGA Rule 3 describes regular stroke play as competition based on total score. A player holes out on each hole and adds all strokes, including penalty strokes, across the round or tournament.
If one player shoots 70 and another shoots 72, the 70 is better.
How “under par” works in a tournament
Broadcast leaderboards often show score relative to par rather than raw strokes. A player listed at −8 has used eight fewer strokes than the combined par for the holes completed. A player at +3 is three over par.
Relative-to-par scoring makes players easier to compare even when they are at different points on the course.
Match play: win holes, not total strokes
In match play, a player competes directly against an opponent. The lower score wins the hole. If both players take the same number of strokes, the hole is tied.
The match ends when one player leads by more holes than remain. A score such as “3 and 2” means the winner was three holes ahead with only two holes left, so the opponent could no longer catch up.
Gross score vs. net score
Gross score is the actual number of strokes taken, including penalties. Net score applies handicap strokes under the competition’s handicap rules.
A scratch competition may use gross scores only. A club event may use net scoring so players of different ability levels can compete under a handicap system.
Penalties still count
A penalty stroke is added to the player’s score when the Rules require it. That can change both a hole result and a total score, which is why keeping an accurate scorecard matters in stroke play.
Why concessions exist in match play
Match play permits concessions of a stroke, hole or match under the Rules. A short putt may be conceded because only the two sides in that match are directly affected.
Stroke play is different because the entire field has an interest in every competitor’s score.
FAQ
Is a lower golf score better?
Yes in standard stroke play. The lowest total wins.
What is a birdie?
One stroke under par on a hole.
What is an eagle?
Two strokes under par on a hole.
What is a bogey?
One stroke over par on a hole.
What does “even par” mean?
The player’s score matches the combined par for the holes played.
What is the difference between stroke play and match play?
Stroke play compares total strokes; match play compares holes won and lost.
What does 3 and 2 mean in match play?
The winner led by three holes with only two holes left, so the match ended.
What is net score?
A score adjusted by handicap strokes under the applicable competition rules.
Bottom line
Start with par, then decide which competition you are watching. In stroke play, total strokes decide the result. In match play, each hole is its own contest.
Explore next: Golf Major Championships Explained • Golf.
Sources
Rules guidance verified September 30, 2026.
