What 'Over Par' Means in Golf
Let's start by making sure we all understand what par is. "Par" is a numerical value assigned to an individual hole or to the full golf course that represents the number of strokes an "expert golfer" should need to complete that hole or collection of holes. If a hole is rated as a par-5, for example, then our expert golfer is expected to be able to play that hole in five strokes.
But very few people who play golf qualify as "expert golfers." Most of us are far from being able to match or beat par. And that means that the vast majority of golfers out there are scoring "over par" every round of golf they play. But even golfers whose scores are always very high over par will occasionally (or at least rarely) play an individual hole in fewer strokes than par.
"Over par" is also known as "above par." "Under par" is the opposite of over par. "Even par" (or "level par") means neither over nor under par but matching par. "Over par" can also be referenced by talking about a player who used more strokes than par, or any number of strokes greater than or higher than par.
Over Par on a Single Hole
A golf course is a collection of individual holes, each one with its own par rating. That usually means par-3 holes, par-4s and par-5s, but once in a blue moon a golfer might encounter a par-6 hole.- Completing a hole over par on a par-3 means scoring 4 or higher.
- Completing a hole over par on a par-4 means scoring 5 or higher.
- Completing a hole over par on a par-5 means scoring 6 or higher.
- Completing a hole over par on a par-6 means scoring 7 or higher.
- 1-over par on a hole is called a bogey.
- 2-over par on a hole is called a double bogey.
- 3-over par on a hole is called a triple bogey.
Over Par for a Full Round or Collection of Holes
A full round of golf is a collection of 18 holes. Add up the pars of those individual holes and you get the par for the full golf course. Most full-length, regulation-sized golf courses are either par-70, par-71, par-72 or par-73.Playing the full round over par means that your total score — the number of strokes you used to complete the golf course — is higher than the course's par rating. That means, for example, scoring 73 or more on a par-72 course, or scoring 71 or higher on a par-70 course.
We often also hear golf broadcasters or others involved in golf (such as fans and golfers themselves) refer to scoring over par for a specific stretch of holes. Any collection of holes can be referred to in this way: "She played the first six holes in 3-over par," or "He was 6-over for holes 10 through 13."
The 9-hole collections of holes known as the front nine (Holes 1-9) and back nine (Holes 10-18) are frequently referred to with collective scores: "She played the par-36 front nine in 40, 4-over par," or "He scored 45 on the par-36 back nine, 9-over par."
More golf scoring terms:
