A golf score is simply the number of strokes it takes you to get the ball into each hole, added up over the round. Everything else on a scorecard (par, stroke index, net score, Stableford points) exists so that score can be compared fairly with other golfers. This guide explains every box on the card, the names for each score, how handicap strokes and Stableford points work, and gives you a free printable golf scorecard to download.
Free Printable Golf Scorecard (PDF)
The scorecard has 18 holes split into the front nine (Out) and back nine (In), rows for par, stroke index and distance, and space for four players with a score line and a points line each, plus boxes for handicaps, totals and the marker’s signature. It prints on a single A4 or US Letter page in landscape.
Download the free printable golf scorecard (PDF)
Prefer not to add it up by hand? Enter your hole scores in our Golf Score Calculator and it totals your gross score, score to par, net score, greens in regulation and fairways hit for you.
Golf Scoring Terms Chart
Every hole has a par: the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need. Your score on a hole is named by how far above or below par it is.
| Name | Score vs par | On a par 4 | On a par 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albatross (double eagle) | 3 under | 1 (hole in one) | 2 |
| Eagle | 2 under | 2 | 3 |
| Birdie | 1 under | 3 | 4 |
| Par | Level | 4 | 5 |
| Bogey | 1 over | 5 | 6 |
| Double bogey | 2 over | 6 | 7 |
| Triple bogey | 3 over | 7 | 8 |
A hole in one on a par 3 is technically an eagle; on a par 4 it is an albatross. Most 18-hole courses have a par of 70 to 72, usually made up of four par 3s, ten par 4s and four par 5s.
How to Fill In a Golf Scorecard
- Before you tee off, write the date, the course, the tees you are playing and each player’s name. In a competition, add each player’s handicap.
- Swap cards. In competitions you normally keep the score of another player (you are their “marker”) and they keep yours.
- After each hole, write the number of strokes, including penalty strokes, in that hole’s box. Count every swing at the ball, every penalty and every putt.
- Add up the front nine in the “Out” column and the back nine in the “In” column. “Total” is Out plus In.
- Check and sign. At the end of the round, check each hole with your marker, then both of you sign the card. In competitions an unsigned card or a hole score written too low means disqualification; a score written too high stands.
Gross Score vs Net Score
Your gross score is the actual number of strokes you took. Your net score is your gross score minus the handicap strokes you receive. Net scores are what let a 25-handicapper compete fairly with a 5-handicapper.
Example: you shoot 92 and your Playing Handicap is 20. Your net score is 92 − 20 = 72. To find your Playing Handicap for the tees you are playing, use our Course Handicap Calculator.
Stroke Index: Where You Get Your Handicap Strokes
Each hole on the scorecard has a stroke index (SI), from 1 to 18. It ranks the holes by how much help an average golfer needs on them, and it decides which holes you receive your handicap strokes on.
| Playing Handicap | Strokes received |
|---|---|
| 9 | 1 stroke on the holes with SI 1 to 9 |
| 18 | 1 stroke on every hole |
| 20 | 1 stroke on every hole, plus a second stroke on SI 1 and 2 |
| 28 | 1 stroke on every hole, plus a second stroke on SI 1 to 10 |
| 36 | 2 strokes on every hole |
Mark the holes where you receive a stroke with a dot in the box before you start. It makes the net score and Stableford points much easier to work out as you go.
Stableford Scoring
Stableford is the most popular club competition format in the UK, Ireland, Europe and Australia. Instead of counting total strokes, you score points on each hole based on your net score, and the highest total wins.
| Net score on the hole | Stableford points |
|---|---|
| Net double bogey or worse | 0 |
| Net bogey | 1 |
| Net par | 2 |
| Net birdie | 3 |
| Net eagle | 4 |
| Net albatross | 5 |
Worked example. A golfer with a Playing Handicap of 20 plays a par 4 with stroke index 5. They receive one stroke on that hole, so a net par needs a gross 5.
- Gross 4 → net 3 → net birdie → 3 points
- Gross 5 → net 4 → net par → 2 points
- Gross 6 → net 5 → net bogey → 1 point
- Gross 7 or more → 0 points, so you can pick up your ball and move on
Playing to your handicap scores 36 points over 18 holes (2 points a hole). Because a disaster hole only costs you that hole, Stableford rounds are faster and kinder than stroke play. Our Stableford Calculator works out the points for a whole round.
Other Ways to Score a Round
- Stroke play (medal): every stroke counts and the lowest total wins, gross or net.
- Match play: you play hole by hole against an opponent. Win a hole and you go “1 up”; the match ends when one player is more holes ahead than there are holes left. See how handicaps work in match play.
- Par / bogey: you play against the course, winning, halving or losing each hole against par using your net score.
- Scramble and team formats: one team score per hole. Each format uses its own handicap allowance.
Maximum Hole Score for Your Handicap
When a score is submitted for your Handicap Index, no hole can count for more than a net double bogey: par + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive on that hole. A 20-handicapper on a par 4 with stroke index 5 can count no more than 4 + 2 + 1 = 7, even if they took 10. This stops one bad hole from distorting your handicap.
What Is a Good Golf Score?
On a par-72 course, breaking 100 is the first big milestone for most golfers, breaking 90 puts you around the average club golfer, and breaking 80 is the mark of a low single-figure player. See the average golf score by handicap, or check what your handicap is if you shoot 90.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep score in golf?
Count every stroke on each hole, including penalty strokes and putts, and write the total for that hole on the scorecard. Add the front nine (Out) and back nine (In) together for your total score. In competitions another player marks your card and you both sign it at the end.
What do the numbers on a golf scorecard mean?
Each column is a hole. The rows show the hole’s distance from each set of tees, its par (the expected number of strokes) and its stroke index, which ranks the holes from hardest (1) to easiest (18) and decides where handicap strokes are given.
How many points is a good Stableford score?
36 points means you played exactly to your handicap. Anything above 36 is a good round, and scores of 40 or more often win club competitions.
What is the difference between gross and net score?
Gross is the number of strokes you actually took. Net is gross minus your handicap strokes. A gross 92 with a Playing Handicap of 20 is a net 72.
Do penalty strokes count on the scorecard?
Yes. Penalty strokes are added to your score for that hole. For example, hitting a ball into a penalty area costs one penalty stroke, and a lost ball or a ball out of bounds costs one stroke plus the distance of replaying from where you last played.
Can I print the scorecard for free?
Yes. The PDF above is free to download, print and copy. It has room for four players and works for stroke play and Stableford.
