What Does E Mean In Golf?
Ever been staring at a golf leaderboard and noticed the letter “E” next to some of the scores? Wonder what it means? Don’t worry, you don’t need to brush up on your high school algebra equations—it’s actually quite simple. The letter “E” stands for even par, which means that a golfer has taken the same number of shots as expected - no more or no less. Let's break down what this means and explain the different scores in golf.
Par is the number of strokes that you should take to complete one hole of golf. Par is typically determined by the distance and difficulty of a hole. If a golfer takes the same number of shots as par, then their score for that hole would be marked as “E” for even par.
A Bogey is one stroke over par on any given hole. For example, if the par for Hole 1 was 4 and you took 5 strokes, then your score would be marked as “+1” which stands for one stroke over par.
A Birdie is one stroke under par on any given hole. For example, if the par for Hole 2 was 5 and you took 4 strokes, then your score would be marked as “-1” which stands for one stroke under par.
An Eagle is two strokes under par on any given hole. So if you took 3 strokes on Hole 3 where the expected number of shots was 5, then your score would be marked as “-2” which stands for two strokes under par.
An Albatross is three strokes under par on any given hole. This is about as rare as it gets. In fact according the National Hole In One Registry the odds of a golfer scoring an albatross are 6,000,000 to 1.
And what about an Ace? This is a hole-in-one and could be 2 or 3 strokes under par. You're most likely to ace a Par 3 for a "-2" but it's possible to ace a shorter Par 4 for a "-3."
It's the dream of every golfer - that is until you get to the 19th Hole and have to buy your foursome a round of drinks ;) The odds of a hole in 1 are about 12,500 to 1 for the average golfer and about 3,000 to 1 for a Pro Tour Player. Perhaps not your everyday occurrence but certainly better than an albatross.
No matter how well or not so well you do out on the course, it's important to remember why we play golf - for fun! Aside from getting to enjoy some time outside with your buddies and challenge yourself mentally and physically, sometimes it's nice just to be able to say "Hey I did exactly what I was supposed to do today." And if that means playing 18 Holes in even par then congratulate yourself - you just shot a 72 on a Par 72!
So if you ever find yourself looking at a leaderboard with an “E” next to your score - give yourself a pat on the back because now you know! Golf can be difficult but understanding the terms, traditions and how to play the game makes for a beautiful experience!
So get out to the course and hit 'em straight!
If you're looking to put up more "E's" on the scorecard it starts with the short game and sinking more putts. Tap below to see how.
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