What Is a Birdie in Golf? And how to do it

If you’re a beginner and don’t know about golf. Then you must become confused by hearing all these terms used by other players and commentators and wonder what these terms mean. So, I will tell you what the golf term birdie means. The term birdie in golf is used to describe a player’s performance on a hole. This term is used to describe the score of a player if he took one stroke under par to complete a hole. It is one of the most common terms used in golf and has been in use in golf for over a century.

In this article, we take a deeper look at what is a birdie in golf, birdie golf definition, its history, and how to score a birdie.

What Is a Birdie? (What Does Birdie Mean In Golf)

A Birdie is a term used to describe when you put a hole in one stroke less than expected strokes. So, for example, completing the hole in four strokes on a 5-par game. Few players can achieve this milestone consistently. Generally, even top PGA players can make a birdie around 15-25% of the time in a round. So, a birdie is an excellent shot and worthy of praise if you can achieve this feat.

History of the birdie term (Why Is It Called A Birdie In Golf)

Generally, there is no concrete evidence that where this term came from. However, there are many theories about the origin of the term “birdie”.

Once, one theory said that the term was first used in the late 19th century by a golfer named Ab Smith. According to this theory, Smith has a habit of using bird names to describe good shots and Smith suggested that one shot less than a par be called a birdie.

Another theory is that this term came from an American slang term bird which describes something extraordinary or excellent and the term birdie is an extension of this slang term to describe an excellent shot. 

It is unknown which theory is correct however, the term birdie has been in use in golf for over a century and is now a worldwide recognized term.

Calculating Your Birdie(Is A Birdie One Under Par)

To calculate your birdie, first, you need to know two things one is your score on a hole and the other is the par for that hole.

A Par is the number of strokes that a player is expected to complete the hole. For example, on a par 5 hole, a player is expected to complete the hole in five shots.

But, if you complete the hole in one stroke less than the par, then you have made a birdie. For example, on a par 5 hole, you completed the hole in four shots., you have made a birdie on that hole. Similarly, if you complete the hole in three strokes on a par 4 hole, you have also made a birdie.

It’s important to note that all these terms are used to describe a player’s score on a single hole, not their overall score for a round of golf. To calculate your overall score for a round, you need to add up the number of strokes you took on every hole, and at the end, the golfer with the lowest score is the winner.

The Actual Number of Strokes That Result in a Birdie (How Many Shots Is A Birdie)

In golf, a score of one stroke over par is called a bogey, two strokes over par are called a double bogey, a score of one stroke under par is called a birdie, two strokes under par is called an eagle, and three strokes under par is called an albatross.

Here we Take a look at the number of strokes required to achieve these terms on par 5, 4, and 3 holes:

Par-5 Hole

• Double eagle: if you put a hole in 2 strokes
• Eagle: if you put a hole in 3 strokes
• Birdie: if you put a hole in 4 strokes
• Par: if you put a hole in 5 strokes
• Bogey: if you put a hole in 6 strokes
• Double bogey: if you put a hole in 7 strokes
• Triple bogey: if you put a hole in 8 strokes

Par-4 Hole

• Double eagle: if you put a hole in 1 stroke
• Eagle: if you put a hole in 2 strokes
• Birdie: if you put a hole in 3 strokes
• Par: if you put a hole in 4 strokes
• Bogey: if you put a hole in 5 strokes
• Double bogey: if you put a hole in 6 strokes
• Triple bogey: if you put a hole in 7 strokes

Par-3 Hole

• Double eagle: not possible on the par-3 hole
• Eagle: if you put a hole in 1 stroke
• Birdie: if you put a hole in 2 strokes
• Par: if you put a hole in 3 strokes
• Bogey: if you put a hole in 4 strokes
• Double bogey: if you put a hole in 5 strokes
• Triple bogey: if you put a hole in 6 strokes

How to score a birdie?

It is very difficult to score a birdie as you will need considerable skills and experience. But here are some tips and tricks and by practicing them you can hit a birdie:

• Choose the right club: Most players ignore this fact but a good club that matches your gameplay and skill level can drastically improve your game. You will also need to understand which club to be used in which conditions. Generally, a shorter club is used for a shorter distance, while a longer club is used for a longer distance.
• Correct your stance: A great stance can lead to a long and straight shot. Learn and practice how to stand correctly and hit long shots.
• Take your shot: Once you’ve chosen your club, and corrected your shot aim for the green, and try to get your ball close to the hole in fewer shots.
• Perfect your putts: you cannot lower your score and become a birdie if misses too many putts. Try to practice putts more often to improve your game.
• Practice, Practice, and Practice: now all that remains is practice and consistency. Try to practice all these steps more often and enjoy yourself on the course.

Birdie VS Bogey Vs Eagle(Double Birdie)

Bogey: Bogey is a score of one stroke above par. This means a player completes a Hole in 6 strokes on a Par 5 hole.

Birdie: On the other hand Birdie happens when a player takes one stroke less to complete a hole.

Eagle: Lastly Eagle is a Score when a player takes two strokes less to complete a Hole. Eagle is also called Doule Birdie in Golf.

Summary

We have guided you with all the information about birdies how to calculate your birdie score in Golf and tips and tricks to become one. Hopefully, the next time you hear these terms you won’t get confused about what that means. Now, all you need to practice to become one of the best players in golf and to ensure that most of your shots go birdie. I encourage all of you to learn all the terminologies about golf and what they mean if you are interested in golf.