A birdie is a golf score of one stroke under par on a given hole. In plain terms, if the hole’s par is 4 and a player finishes the hole in 3 shots, that is a birdie. The term has historical roots in early 20th-century golf and is widely used to indicate a noticeably better-than-average performance on that hole.
Key points:
- Value: one under par on a single hole.
- Typical context: used during stroke play to reflect a better-than-par outcome on that hole.
- Origin note: the term emerged from slang and a famous early 1900s anecdote at Atlantic City Country Club; its popularity grew into standard golf scoring terminology.
