You’re probably wondering what the term ‘birdie’ has to do with golf. Before we get down to this, we have to explain what a ‘par’ is.
Each hole on a golf course is graded according to how many strokes it should take an expert golfer to sink a ball. So, if a particular hole is graded as a ‘par-3’, then it is expected that an expert golfer will take three shots to sink their ball on that hole.
If a player sinks a ball in one shot under the par rating for that hole, they score a ‘birdie’. So, to use the ‘par-3’ example again, if they score a birdie on a hole such as this they will sink the ball in two shots instead of 3.
The History Of The Term ‘Birdie’
In the 19th century, ‘bird’ was American slang and mean ‘great’ and this is why it was associated with the one-under-par score. A golf course in Atlantic City, New Jersey, claimed that the term ‘birdie’ originated here in 1903.
Other Bird-Related Golf Terms
Eagle
An ‘eagle’ refers to a two-under-par score and it is a term which originated among American golfers. The eagle is the national symbol of the United States and as the two-under-par score is a great score, this magnificent bird was readily associated with it. The eagle made its way to British golfers by way of a Mr HD Gaunt who came across eagles in Canada.
Albatross
An ‘albatross’ refers to a three-under-par score. It is called such because it is a very rare score just as an albatross is a very rare bird. Since the 1930s, less than 50 men and women have been lucky enough to score albatrosses in golfing championships around the world.
Ostrich
When you sink a ball in five fewer strokes than the par for the particular hole you’re playing, you score an ostrich. So, you’ll score an ostrich if you:
- Sink a ball, with two strokes, on a par-5 hole, or
- Sink a ball, with one stroke, on a par-6 hole.
There are other terms, which are related to golf, that have no bird associations. For example, the term ‘bogey’ is used to refer to a score of one over par. For example, if you’re playing a 7-par hole – and you sink the ball in eight shots – you’ll score a bogey. Two- or three-over-par are referred to as a ‘double-bogey’ or ‘triple-bogey’. A ‘condor’ is the term for a four-under-par score. This score is only possible to achieve on a par-5 or a par-6 hole.
Although the variety of golfing terminology may seem off-putting because there is so much of it, don’t use this as an excuse not to try the game out. It’s not strenuous like games such as rugby and soccer, but you still get a good workout while walking the course. Also, making the perfect shot also requires a great amount of concentration, so if honing your mind skills is something that you enjoy doing then golf is for you!