Welcome to Marshall Street’s comprehensive Disc Golf Scorekeeping Guide! Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting, understanding the nuances of scoring in disc golf is crucial. In this extensive guide, we’ll delve into the fundamentals of keeping score, the impact of par, terminology used by disc golfers, and explore various scorekeeping methods. By the end of this article, you’ll be well-versed in the terminology and knowledge needed to keep score with confidence!
Decoding Disc Golf Scoring
Disc golf doesn’t follow a conventional points system when it comes to scoring. Instead of trying to accumulate points, players count their throws, commonly known as “strokes.” Each throw, regardless of distance, is considered a single stroke.
A disc golf scorecard has several rows, one for each player. Each row contains 18 boxes, one for each hole, as well as a Front 9 total box, and an overall total box. Typically, one person will keep the scores of everyone they’re playing with. After finishing each hole, you’ll write down the number of strokes it took for you to land in the basket, and then you’ll ask your card-mates for their scores. If, for example, someone threw a good drive, completed their upshot, then properly buried their putt in the basket, you’d write a 3 on the scorecard.
Disc golf mirrors ball golf in that a higher score is actually a worse score. Remember that the goal of disc golf is to try and complete the course in as few throws as possible. Your score is simply a count of your throws, so try to get it as low as you can!
At the end of the round, you add together all 18 of your scores into one number. That’s your score! Tally together your card-mates’ scores as well, and you’ll be able to see who had the winning low score.
The Significance of Par
Understanding par is essential in grasping disc golf scorekeeping. Each hole in disc golf has a par, and it represents the expected number of strokes an advanced player would typically take on a hole. This can give you insight into the difficulty of a hole, or offer clues on how a hole is intended to be played.
The vast majority of disc golf holes have a par of 3, which means the hole demands a good drive, an upshot, and a made putt. Par 4 holes are also fairly common, which means that the hole calls for two well placed shots, an upshot, and a made putt. You’ll never see a par below 3, or a par over 5.
Course Par
Par for the course, or course par, is determined by adding together the pars of all the holes on the course. If every hole on the course is a par 3, then the course par would be 54. Since holes with a par of 2 don’t really exist, 54 is the lowest course par you’ll see. The more par 4 or par 5 holes that a course has, the higher the course par will be. This makes the course par a general indicator of what an advanced player should shoot overall.
Navigating Over Vs. Under Par
As you’ll quickly learn for yourself in your disc golf scorekeeping experience, scoring over or under par is a common occurrence in disc golf. Achieving a score under par is a notable feat, while scores over par are typical due to the inherent challenges of the sport, such as tree kicks and missed putts. Players often express their final score as it relates to the course par. Sharing scores in relation to par creates a universal language among disc golfers. If a player shoots a 52 on a course that has a course par of 55, they’ll usually say they shot a -3 (minus three).
Mastering Hole Scoring Terms
Disc golfers utilize specific terms to describe their scores in relation to par. If you’re scorekeeping, you’ll want to know some of these:
Birdie: Achieving a score one less than the hole’s par.
Bogey: Scoring one more stroke than the hole’s par.
Ace: A hole-in-one, the pinnacle of success in disc golf.
Eagle: Attaining a score two strokes less than the hole’s par, symbolizing exceptional skill. The Eagle is also a super popular fairway driver!
Avoiding Penalty Strokes
Unfortunately, there are a couple other things that can add strokes to your score other than your throws. In competition, most rule violations come with a penalty stroke, meaning that breaking a rule may inflate your score.
Most commonly though, penalty strokes incur when players throw out-of-bounds. If a player throws into an out-of-bounds area, whether it be a pond, road, or even just marked off area, the player is expected to add an extra stroke to their score at the end of the hole.
*Tip* Circling Scores: If you’ve taken a penalty stroke on a hole, you’re supposed to circle the score. All the circle indicates is that you took a penalty on that hole. If, for example, you ask your buddy what they scored and they reply “circle 4”, that just means that completed the hole in 3 throws but took a penalty stroke (probably from going out of bounds).
The Importance of Scorekeeping in Disc Golf
While scorekeeping is crucial during tournaments, it holds significance in solo or casual rounds as well. Your score serves as a comprehensive record of your performance over time, allowing you to track improvements, identify weaknesses, and celebrate achievements.
Diverse Methods of Disc Golf Scorekeeping:
Traditionally, paper scorecards have been the go-to method for scorekeeping. Most players have a scorecard clipboard and a pencil handy. However, in the digital age, apps like UDisc have gained popularity. UDisc not only offers digital scorecards for various course layouts but also provides course information, locations, reviews, and additional features like tracking average performance on specific holes.
*Extra Tip* – Unlocking the Potential of Score Handicaps
Let’s create some fictional disc golfers – Phil and Vanessa.
Phil and Vanessa play disc golf together at the same course once a week. Phil is very consistent, and averages a score of 3 under par, or -3. Vanessa is a little newer to the sport, and averages a score of 2 over par or, +2.
Score handicaps can help level the playing field between players of varying skill level. Basically, a handicap is an adjustment of score based on average performance. In Phil and Vanessa’s case, Vanessa would be given a 5-stroke handicap, since her average is 5 strokes worse than Phil’s. In other words, she’d get -5 off of her score at the end of the round to even out their averages.
Score handicaps are a great way to allow players of multiple skill levels to compete head-to-head. If you play frequently with someone who always beats you or always loses to you, try using a score handicap to tip the scales!
Conclusion: Elevate Your Disc Golf Experience
Equipped this knowledge of disc golf scorekeeping, you’re now ready to give it a try! Remember, scorekeeping can help track your greatest throwing achievements. It’ll also help you track any changes in your performance over time. In this extensive guide, you’ve embarked on a journey to master the art of disc golf scoring. So, step onto the course, keep score with confidence, and enjoy the exhilarating world of disc golf!
