Golf is one of those sports where newcomers can feel a little intimidated by the jargon. Bogeys and birdies, draws and fades, flop shots and tee shots.
If you’re new to golf betting then it’s understandable that you won’t know all the terminology. That’s why Paddy’s here to help with a golf betting glossary aimed at improving your knowledge of the sport.
From ‘making the cut’ to ‘each way golf betting’, it’s time to brush up on your golf knowledge.
Golf betting terms
Below is our glossary of golf terms that you will likely encounter when betting on golf odds in the Paddy Power sportsbook. These terms focus on either the types of bet you can place on golf, or the rules of the game.
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Golf Accumulator – Also known as a golf acca, this is a bet structure where you pull together multiple single bets into one big wager. If all bets win then your golf accumulator wins and you receive a much bigger payout. You can use the Paddy Power bet slip to create golf accas with ease.
All square – A term used in match play when the scores between golfers are level. For example, if both players are on par after five holes then they are ‘all square’.
Birdie – A birdie is a score that is one shot below the ‘par’ score for the hole. For example, Hole 13 at Augusta is a Par 5 hole. If a player completes the hole in four shots, they’ve nailed a birdie.
Bogey – The opposite of a birdie. A bogey is a score that goes one shot over the par score. So, if you shoot six on Hole 13 (Par 5) at Augusta, then you’ve hit a bogey.
Cut – The cut in golf is the halfway mark of a tournament, where players are ‘cut’ from the field. Players who don’t record a good enough score over the first two rounds will ‘miss the cut’. You can bet on players to make or miss the cut at Paddy Power!
Double – A double is the shortest form of golf acca you can make. You select two outcomes and combine them into a double bet, where both need to happen in order to win the bet. For example, you could bet on Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler to finish in the top 5.
Double bogey – A player records a double bogey when they shoot two over par. For example, if a player shoots six on Hole 17 at Augusta (a Par 4 hole) then they record a double bogey.
Eagle – What’s better than a birdie? An eagle of course. An eagle in golf is when a player shoots two below par. For example, going round a Par 5 hole in just three shots.
Each Way – Each way bets in golf are similar to those in horse racing. Here, you bet on a player to win a tournament and finish in the top five places. If they win, you win both sides of your bet. If they finish fourth then only the EW side of your bet pays out.
First round leader – Most golf tournaments take part over four rounds, across four days. You can bet on the player who tops the leaderboards (i.e. scores the lowest score) after the first round. This is the first round leader.
Group Betting – Golfers usually go around a course in groups of two or three in order to speed up the action. Paddy Power gives punters the opportunity to bet on which player will win their specific group. This is a good option when betting on live golf, as you can then follow a group round.
Hole in one – This is when a player hits the ball in the hole in just one shot. It’s most commonly found on Par 3 holes.
Match Bets – A match bet focuses on two players. You back one of them to beat the other over the course of the tournament. There is no requirement for either to win the tournament. They simply need to beat the other guy.
Par – The ‘par’ score in golf is the expected number of shots it should take for a player to complete a hole. Most holes are between three and five par. There is an overall par score for a course, which is usually 72. Of course, the aim is to shoot as low a score below par as possible.
Stroke – Another term for a shot. Players are scored based on the number of strokes they take over the course of a tournament.
Three ball – A three ball is when three players are playing in one group. You can bet on who will win a three ball via Paddy’s group betting tab. In the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, a four ball is when four players are competing in a group, each with their own ball.
Tied finish – It’s possible to have a dead heat in golf that affects your bet settlement. That’s because players who finish on the same score are given a ‘tied’ finish. For example, if three players score -17 and are tied fourth, then their classification will be T4. If you placed an each way bet which covers fourth place, then your total winnings are divided by the number of tied players. In this instance, your winnings would be divided by three, as three players finished T4.
Top 5 / 10 / 20 finish – You can bet on a player to finish in the top five, 10 or 20 of a tournament at Paddy Power. This is an ideal bet if you think an outsider will fare well but not quite well enough to win the whole thing.
Top region – Paddy gives punters the opportunity to group players by nationality and bet on them. You can either bet on the nationality of the tournament winner, or you can wager on which player will fare the best among their compatriots. For example, you might bet on Dustin Johnson to be the best-scoring American at the Open Championship.
Tournament Winner – This ‘outright’ bet is where you back a player to win the tournament in question. You can place these bets weeks and months in advance of the tournament. Or you can follow the live odds during the action and time your bet to perfection.
Triple bogey – If you score a triple bogey then you’re really having a bad day. This is where you shoot three over par. It’s likely that a player is deep in the rough, can’t escape a bunker, or keeps shooting into a water hazard.
Now you know the golfing terms required to bet on the sport, why not join Paddy Power today!
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