Scoring in golf: What is a birdie, eagle, albatross, par, bogey, etc.? Keeping score

One of the enjoyable aspects of golf is the experience of hearing the scores being announced. The terms used, such as birdie, bogey, and par, have become widely recognized in the English language beyond the context of golf. The origin of these words is just as fascinating as their meaning.

Let’s begin by discussing the term “bogey.” The term “Bogey Man” is known for its convoluted origin. It refers to a mythic or unseen person or entity. The term “ground score” was coined by Mr. Hugh Rotherham, Secretary of the Coventry Golf Club, to refer to the concept of standardizing the number of shots that a skilled golfer should ideally take at each hole.

The idea quickly became popular at the Great Yarmouth Club, where the golfer who provided the “ground score” was known as the Bogey Man. This led to other clubs in Britain adopting the term “bogey” to refer to this ground score.

During the early 20th century, golf experienced significant growth in the United States. This expansion led to two simultaneous developments that brought about substantial changes in the game. One notable development was the growing professionalization of the players. It was no longer just a casual pastime for the upper classes; players began dedicating their energy to improving their game.

The second aspect mentioned is the characteristic of industrialization that is commonly associated with the United States. The advancements in club and ball manufacturing have the potential to help professional players achieve consistently lower scores.

Golf clubs in the US adjusted their ground score to be one stroke lower than the outdated “bogey” score, recognizing that it was no longer accurate for the modern game. The term “par” was borrowed from Latin, meaning “equal” or “like,” by American golf courses. Originally used in the stock exchange to refer to the face value of a share, it was adopted to describe the ground score in golf. Additionally, American golf courses coined the term “bogey” to refer to a score that is over par, causing some tension with their British counterparts.

By the end of the 20th century, after the conclusion of two world wars, the longstanding rivalry had diminished and American terms gained global recognition.

The term “Birdie” has an interesting origin. It originated from American slang in the early 20th century, where it was used to describe something that is excellent. When something was considered a remarkable accomplishment, it was commonly referred to as “bird”. An interesting instance of an Americanism being embraced by the press across the Atlantic is the term “birdie,” which came to signify a hole completed in one stroke under par.

In golf, there is a scoring term called an eagle, which is a hole played one stroke better than a birdie. The eagle is considered a more impressive achievement, and in American culture, it is associated with a sense of majesty. After the concept of the birdie gained popularity, it didn’t take long for the term “eagle” to be widely recognized as well.

The concept of the double-eagle was further developed by the Americans, representing a hole that was played three under par. However, the British responded with their own variation at this stage. In the United States, the term “double-eagle” is commonly used to describe a three-under hole. However, in most other parts of the world, the British term “Albatross” is widely adopted to refer to this impressive achievement. The name “Albatross” is given to one of the rarest achievements in golf, which is even more uncommon than scoring an eagle.

The four-under-par shot, known as the Condor, is extremely rare and often considered mythical in nature.