A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a single hole. Make a 3 on a par 4, a 2 on a par 3 or a 4 on a par 5 and you've made a birdie.
Birdie examples
- Par 3: 2 strokes
- Par 4: 3 strokes
- Par 5: 4 strokes
Par 5s are where most recreational golfers make birdies, because a good third shot can set up a short putt. For tour players, birdies are routine. For a high handicapper, one birdie in a round is a great day.
Why is it called a birdie?
The term was born at the Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey around 1898 or 1899. In American slang of the time, "bird" meant something excellent. The story told by the club and the USGA is that Ab Smith, playing with his brother William and George Crump, hit his second shot on a par 4 to within inches of the cup and called it "a bird of a shot." He holed the putt for one under par, and the group agreed to call that score a "birdie" from then on. The club dates its formal adoption of the term to 1903.
George Crump went on to build Pine Valley, often ranked the best golf course in the world. The birdie started a whole family of bird names for good scores, including the eagle and the albatross.
Common questions
What is a birdie putt?
A putt that would give you a birdie if it goes in.
Is a birdie better than par?
Yes. A birdie is one better than par. Lower is better in golf.
What is a natural birdie?
A birdie made without any handicap strokes, as opposed to a net birdie, where a handicap stroke on that hole turns a par into a birdie for scoring purposes.
See how birdie fits with the other scoring terms in what is par, or browse the full golf terms glossary. Chasing more birdies on par 5s? A wedge that fits your swing helps. Read wedge bounce explained.
