A birdie in golf is a score of one stroke under par on a single hole. For example, if a hole is a par-4, scoring a birdie means completing the hole in 3 strokes; on a par-3 hole, it would be 2 strokes, and on a par-5 hole, 4 strokes
. The term "birdie" originated in early 20th century American slang where "bird" meant something excellent or very good. The story goes back to 1903 at the Atlantic City Country Club when a player described a very good shot as a "bird of a shot," and from then on, scoring one under par was called a birdie
. Birdies are considered a positive achievement in golf and are often celebrated by players because they indicate playing a hole better than the expected standard (par). Even professional golfers average only a few birdies per round, highlighting their significance
. In summary:
- Birdie = 1 stroke under par on a hole
- Example: 3 strokes on a par-4 hole
- Origin: Early 1900s American slang "bird" meaning excellent shot
- Significance: A good score that helps lower overall golf score and is celebrated by golfers
