What Does "Par" Mean? Golf Scoring Explained for Families

Par is the single most common golf term families hear and don't quite understand - here's a clear, simple explanation.

"Par" is probably the single most commonly used golf term that non-golfing parents hear without a clear explanation - it comes up constantly in junior golf conversations, so it's worth understanding properly.

Par Is a Benchmark, Not a Target Score for Everyone

Each hole on a golf course is assigned a par - almost always 3, 4 or 5 - representing the number of strokes a skilled adult golfer is expected to need to complete that hole, including two putts on the green. It's a fixed benchmark for the hole, not a personal target that adjusts for a junior's current skill level.

How Par Is Set for Each Hole

Par is based mainly on the hole's length - shorter holes (typically reachable with a tee shot and a short approach) are usually par 3, medium-length holes needing two solid shots to reach the green are par 4, and longer holes needing three are par 5. The total par for a full course is usually around 70 to 72 for 18 holes.

Scoring Relative to Par

A "birdie" is one stroke under par on a hole, a "bogey" is one stroke over, and an "eagle" is two under - these terms describe performance on a single hole, and a round's overall score is usually described as a number "over" or "under" par in total, or simply as a raw stroke count.

Why Junior Scores Often Look High Compared to Par

It's completely normal for a junior golfer, especially a beginner, to score well above par - par reflects an experienced adult's expected performance, not a junior's, so there's no reason for a child (or parent) to feel discouraged by a high score relative to par early on.

Is it bad for a junior to never break par?

Not remotely - breaking par (scoring under it) is a genuinely advanced achievement that even many skilled adult amateurs rarely manage. Progress for a junior golfer is much better measured against their own previous scores than against par itself.