Guides · Golf basics
Golf terms, simply explained.
Updated · by the 9Daily team, Berlin
New to golf? These are the words you will meet in 9Daily and on any golf course, in plain English.
What do par, birdie and bogey mean?
Golf scores count against par. The table shows every score name on a par 4 hole and the square it gets in a shared 9Daily result.
| Score | To par | Strokes on a par 4 | Square in 9Daily |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albatross | −3 | 1 | 🟨 |
| Eagle | −2 | 2 | 🟨 |
| Birdie | −1 | 3 | 🟩 |
| Par | E | 4 | ⬜ |
| Bogey | +1 | 5 | 🟧 |
| Double bogey | +2 | 6 | 🟥 |
- Par
- The number of strokes a good player should need on a hole. In 9Daily holes are par 3 to par 5, and now and then a par 6 or even a par 7.
- To par
- Your score compared with par. E (even) means level par, −2 means two under, +3 means three over. 9Daily shows every round this way.
- Birdie
- One stroke under par on a hole.
- Eagle
- Two strokes under par.
- Albatross
- Three strokes under par, also called a double eagle.
- Hole in one
- The ball goes in with the very first shot. Also called an ace.
- Bogey
- One stroke over par. A double bogey is two over.
What are the parts of a golf course?
Every 9Daily hole has these parts, like a real course. How to play them: wind, doglegs and water in 9Daily.
- Tee
- Where every hole starts.
- Fairway
- The short grass between tee and green, the best place to play from.
- Rough
- Longer grass beside the fairway. From the rough the ball flies shorter; from deep rough even more so.
- Bunker
- A hollow filled with sand. Hard to play from.
- Green
- The very short grass around the hole, where you putt.
- Flag
- Marks the hole on the green. Also called the pin.
- Dogleg
- A hole that bends left or right, like a dog’s hind leg.
- Out of bounds
- Outside the course. It costs a penalty stroke and you play again from the same spot.
What are carry, draw, fade, hook and slice?
- Carry
- How far the ball flies in the air before it lands.
- Putt
- A stroke on the green that rolls the ball toward the hole.
- Draw and fade
- A gentle curve to the left (draw) or right (fade), for a right-handed golfer.
- Hook and slice
- A strong curve left (hook) or right (slice). In 9Daily the ball curves when you let go past the rim: a little past gives a draw or fade, further past a hook or slice.
- Penalty stroke
- An extra stroke added to your score, for example after water or out of bounds.
- Drop
- Putting a ball back into play after the water, with a penalty stroke.
Which words are only used in 9Daily?
- Pure
- A 9Daily shot let go right at the rim or at the yellow mark. The ball flies straight.
- Pick up
- At double par the 9Daily hole ends and you move on.
- Practice
- Replaying a past day’s 9Daily course. Practice never counts.
- Streak
- How many days in a row you have played 9Daily. Kept with a free account.
Quick answers
What does E mean in a golf score?
E stands for even: level with par. In 9Daily your round shows as strokes to par, for example E, −2 or +3.
Is an albatross the same as a double eagle?
Yes. Both mean three strokes under par on one hole, for example a 2 on a par 5.
Do I need to know golf to play 9Daily?
No. 9Daily picks the club for you, and a practice hole shows how it works before your first round. The words on this page are all you need. The rules: how to play 9Daily.
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