Birdie
A hole completed in one stroke fewer than par.
A birdie is one stroke under the par of the hole. It always means minus one relative to par, even though the actual number of strokes changes from hole to hole.
What counts as a birdie?
| Hole par | Birdie score | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 strokes | −1 |
| 4 | 3 strokes | −1 |
| 5 | 4 strokes | −1 |
Two putts after reaching a par-5 green in two shots would make four strokes: a birdie.
Reading a leaderboard
A birdie reduces the player’s score relative to par by one. Someone who starts a hole at +2 and makes birdie moves to +1. It does not automatically mean they are one under for the whole round.
Birdie, eagle and net birdie
An eagle is two under par on a hole. A net birdie uses the score after handicap strokes: five actual strokes on a par-5 with one allocated stroke gives a net four. Keep gross and net descriptions clear when talking about a score.