Golf normally asks a player to complete the required holes in as few strokes as possible within the rules. Par supplies a reference for each hole, allowing the result to be expressed above, at or below that benchmark. This guide concerns common stroke-play scoring; other formats require their own interpretation.
Translate the relative-to-par terms
One stroke under par is a birdie, two under an eagle and one over a bogey. A negative total generally indicates a score below par, while a positive total indicates one above. Check whether the figure covers a completed round or only the holes already played before comparing two players.
Include penalties in the score
The recorded result is not always just the number of swings observed. Certain situations bring penalty strokes, and balls lost, out of bounds or in penalty areas require the appropriate procedure. An increase without an accompanying visible stroke may therefore reflect correct application of the rules rather than a broadcast counting error.
Place one hole within the round
A bogey does not automatically show that the overall strategy was wrong. On a demanding hole, avoiding a larger loss can protect a useful total; elsewhere, opportunities may justify a more assertive approach. Consider difficulty, remaining holes and the competitive situation rather than judging the round solely through the number of birdies.
