What is a Birdie in Golf?

Any golfer who is out on the course for more than just a walk in a beautiful setting has his mind on shooting the best score possible. With the possible exception of a hole-in-one on a par 3 or a spectacular eagle (2 under par) on a long par 5, the golfer will be aiming to collect as many birdies as possible. No, the golfer is not an ornithologist. A birdie is a score that is one under par on a particular hole and an indication that the golfer has a skill level that is quite high.

Significance

Shooting a birdie on a hole and then repeating the feat several times in a round of golf is great for a golfer's confidence. Usually, the key to getting a birdie on a whole is the golfer's ability to sink a long putt. On a 425-yard par 4 hole, the golf course designers are expecting the golfer to reach the green in two shots and sink the ball in the hole after two putts. Since it would be all but impossible to reach the green in one, the golfer gets his birdie when he reaches the green in two and sinks his first putt. To do that, the second shot must be sensational, not only landing on the green but usually getting to within 15 feet of the hole. The golfer can also shoot a birdie by holing out his third shot from off the green. This is rare among amateur golfers, but top pros do it regularly.

Identification

A birdie in golf relates to the score on a particular hole. Most 18-hole courses have holes that are par 3, par 4 and par 5. If the golfer takes three strokes to put the ball in the hole on a par 3, he has shot a par. If the golfer puts the ball in the hole in 2, it is called a birdie. On a par 4, the golfer has shot a birdie if he puts the ball in the hole in 3 strokes. On a par 5, the golfer gets a birdie if he puts the ball in the hole in 4 strokes. Golfers receive credit for an eagle if they are 2 under par on a particular hole. These are rare, but if a golfer gets a hole in one on a par 3, that is an eagle. Golfers who make it into the hole in three strokes on a par 5 also get an eagle.

History

Great birdie putts are recorded throughout golf's history. All the greats of the game--Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan--have put together spectacular birdie runs to win major tournaments. However, the greatest birdie putt ever may have been made by Tiger Woods in the 2001 Masters. Woods had won the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Tournament in 2000 and the Masters would represent a sweep of golf's majors, something that had never been done at the professional level. On the 18th hole at Augusta, Woods knocked in an 18-foot curving birdie putt that gave him the Masters title and the unprecedented sweep.

Time Frame

Standing over a birdie putt and contemplating the ramifications of the shot can be quite nerve-wracking for any golfer. Usually the golfer will look over his putt for about 45 seconds, approach his ball and take a practice putt and stand over his ball and hit it. Once the golfer has addressed the ball, he should hit within 30 to 45 seconds. The longer he stands over the ball the more likely he is to "overthink" his shot and not hit his best putt. It is important to develop a routine when putting for a birdie and then stick to that plan and execute it.

Effects

It's one thing for Tiger Woods or another top-level pro to sink a long birdie putt that wins a tournament and it's quite another for an amateur golfer to sink a birdie putt. The pro can make as many as 7 or 8 birdies in a given a round. An amateur might be lucky to have 1 or 2 chances for birdies in a given round. As a result, when the amateur makes a birdie, it has an energizing effect. The golfer may have shot a 95 for his round of 18 holes, but that birdie on the 17th hole will stay with him for days and push him back to the course.