Golf Basics
The Objective
The goal in golf is to complete each hole in as few strokes as possible.
A standard round consists of 18 holes. In most LPGA Tour events, players complete four rounds for a total of 72 holes.
Unlike most sports, lower scores are better.
Par
Every hole has a designated par — the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need to complete the hole.
Most holes are a par 3, par 4 or par 5.
The par values for all 18 holes are added together to determine the course's total par.
Scoring
Golf scores are commonly described in relation to par.
- Eagle
- Two strokes under par on a hole.
- Birdie
- One stroke under par.
- Par
- Completing the hole in the expected number of strokes.
- Bogey
- One stroke over par.
- Double Bogey
- Two strokes over par.
For example, on a par-4 hole, a score of 3 is a birdie, 4 is par and 5 is a bogey.
Reading the Leaderboard
A leaderboard shows each golfer's cumulative tournament score relative to par.
- -5
- Five strokes under par.
- E
- Even par.
- +3
- Three strokes over par.
Because lower is better, a player at -8 is ahead of a player at -5.
A “T” before a position means players are tied. T3, for example, means tied for third place.
Rounds
Most LPGA Tour events are played over four rounds, with golfers generally playing 18 holes per round.
Scores carry over from one round to the next. The golfer with the lowest total score after the final round wins.
During a live round, a leaderboard may show “THRU” to indicate how many holes a golfer has completed. THRU 9 means she has completed nine holes of her current round.
The Cut
Many tournaments begin with a larger field that is reduced after the early rounds, commonly after the second round of a four-round event.
This is called the cut.
Players who make the cut continue to the remaining rounds. Players who miss the cut do not continue in the tournament.
“MC” on a leaderboard means missed cut.
The Course
- Teeing Area
- Where each hole begins.
- Fairway
- The closely cut area leading toward the green.
- Rough
- Longer grass surrounding the fairway.
- Bunker
- A sand-filled area designed to make a shot more difficult.
- Green
- The closely cut area surrounding the hole where players generally putt.
- Front Nine
- Holes 1 through 9.
- Back Nine
- Holes 10 through 18.
Ties & Playoffs
If two or more golfers are tied for the lead after the final scheduled round, a playoff may be used to determine the champion.
The format varies by tournament. Many events use sudden death, with the tied golfers playing additional holes until one records a lower score than the others on a playoff hole.
Common Terms
- Drive
- The opening shot on a longer hole, usually played from the teeing area.
- Putt
- A stroke played on or around the green, usually with a putter.
- Tee Time
- The scheduled time a golfer begins her round.
- Leaderboard
- The current tournament standings.
- Cut
- The point at which the field is reduced.
- MC
- Missed cut.
- T
- Tied. For example, T5 means tied for fifth.
- Thru
- The number of holes completed in the current round.
- Playoff
- Additional holes used to determine the winner when players remain tied after regulation.