Golf is a game rich in tradition, with a lexicon of terms to describe scoring. One term, “bogey,” has been the victim of evolving expectations. Others, like "birdie," came into use based on popular culture of the time. Some are straightforward descriptions pegged to specific types of competition.
Bogey
According to the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) Museum, the popular song, “The Bogey Man” in the 1890s inspired use of the word “bogey” in the game. By the end of that decade, the Museum says “the term ‘bogey score’ referred to the ideal score a good player could be expected to make on a hole under perfect conditions. As the concept of “par” developed, “bogey” became a less favorable term; a bogey is one stroke over par for a hole. "Double-bogey" and "triple-bogey" naturally followed to define scores 2- and 3-over, respectively.
Par
Par is what a expert golfer is expected to make on a particular hole. This concept came about in the late 1900s and early 1910s, according to the USGA Museum. So playing all 18 holes at even par--usually between 70 and 72 strokes, depending on the course--is playing at par. One who plays at par is also known as a “scratch” golfer.
Birds
Atlantic City Country Club claims to be the “home of the birdie.” Back in 1899, "bird" was popular American slang for "excellent." The USGA Museum cites a story in H.B. Martin’s “Fifty Years of American Golf,” in which Atlantic City member Ab Smith said out loud that he had made “a bird of a shot” when he hit a ball to 6 inches from the hole. He made the putt for a score of 1 under par on the hole. The foursome agreed that any score one under par doubled the hole wager and called it a “birdie." Following quickly was “eagle” for a score 2 under par for a hole, and the rare “albatross” or "double eagle" for a score 3 under par on a hole.
Match Play
A match between two teams or players has its own scoring terms. “All square” means sides are tied. Scores are usually accounted by how many holes are won, so a side that is “1-up” has won one more hole. Final scores such as “4 and 3” mean the winning side was ahead four holes with three to play, so the competition ended early. “Dormie,” meaning “to sleep,” is when a player or team is ahead with the same number of holes left, meaning a tie will be the worst result.
Stableford Scoring
Stableford scoring assigns points in relation to fixed scores on a hole. If every player has a zero handicap, that fixed score is whatever is par for each hole. Players in such a competition get zero points for anything more than one over par; 1 point for a bogey; 2 for a par; 3 for a birdie; 4 for an eagle; 5 for an albatross and 6 for a miracle ace on a par-5, which is 4-under par. Modified Stableford assigns slightly different point values to hole scores.
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