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Golf Rules and Basics All clubs Beginner ⏱ 1 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Bogey, birdie, eagle: Scores According to Marion Ricordeau

Your playing partner calls out a bogey, and you don't know what that is? Marion Ricordeau uses a par-4 hole as an example to explain each score, from a triple bogey to an albatross.

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Marion Ricordeau
Marion Ricordeau · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

15 minSame problemGolf Rules for Beginners: The Six You Need to KnowGolf Monthly · Beginner9 minSame problemThe Five Basics for Beginners: Me and My GolfAndy Proudman · Beginner2 minFrom the same proBuilding Your Golf Bag: The Clubs, Marion RicordeauMarion Ricordeau · Beginner

What the lesson shows

Marion Ricordeau takes a by 4, the most common hole on a golf course. The goal: hit the fairway on the first shot, get the ball on the green on the second shot, and make two putts. Four strokes is a par. Five shots—don't panic, it's a bogey; six, a double bogey; seven, a triple bogey, and so on.

Going above and beyond what's expected has its own names, too. Three strokes on a par-4 hole is a birdie. Two shots—hitting the second one right in—that's a eagle. And a single shot on a par-4 hole—even more spectacular—is a albatross, a fairly rare score.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Locate the hole.
  2. Count your strokes, including putts.
  3. Compare to "a draw": if it's a tie, it's a draw.
  4. Above: bogey, double bogey, triple bogey, depending on the number of strokes over par.
  5. Below: birdie, eagle, albatross.

Key Takeaways

Par is the number of strokes expected for a hole: four on a par-4.
One stroke over par: bogey; two: double bogey; three: triple bogey.
One stroke under par: birdie.
Two strokes under par: eagle.
Three strokes under par—that is, one stroke on a par-4 hole: an albatross.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Forgetting to count the putts in the hole's score.
  • Confusing a birdie (one stroke under par) with an eagle (two strokes under par).
  • Freaking out over a bogey? “Don’t panic,” says Marion Ricordeau.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Announce your score with a witty remark at the end of each hole
  2. Recite the scoring scale for a par-4 hole: from 1 stroke (albatross) to 7 strokes (triple bogey)
  3. Count your strokes, including putts

Your Questions

What is a bogey in golf?

One stroke over par for the hole: five strokes on a par-4. Six strokes is a double bogey; seven is a triple bogey.

What's the difference between a birdie and an eagle?

A birdie is one stroke under par—three strokes on a par-4 hole. An eagle is two strokes under par—for example, by holing out on the second shot.

What is an albatross?

Three strokes under par: just one stroke on a par-4 hole. Marion Ricordeau notes that this is quite rare.

Learn More

All “Golf Rules and Basics” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Golf Basics for Beginners: Aim, Stance and GripWeek 1 of a beginner's plan: align the clubface, then the body; position the ball; learn the grip step by step; and debunk two common misconceptions about the swing. Golf Etiquette Mistakes: The Seven to AvoidSeven common mistakes made by new golfers—from placing the bag on the wrong side of the green to having shade on the putting line—demonstrated in real-life situations. Golf Rules for Beginners: The Six You Need to KnowSix rules applied in real-life situations on the course: the air shot, the 14 clubs, the provisional ball, the 3-minute search, advice, and the bunker. Marion RicordeauAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Marion Ricordeau). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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