Golf Score to Par Calculator
Turn a gross golf score and the course par into your score relative to par — even, over or under — plus your average strokes per hole.
How it works
Score to par = total strokes − course par · Per-hole average = total strokes ÷ holes played
Golf scores are almost always quoted relative to par rather than as a raw total, because par normalises for how hard and long a course plays. A positive number means you took more strokes than par (over par); a negative number means fewer (under par); zero is “even” par. Comparing your per-hole average to the typical par of about 4 strokes tells you at a glance how far your game sits from scratch.
Worked example
Shooting 90 on a par-72 course gives 90 − 72 = +18, i.e. 18 over par. Across 18 holes that is 90 ÷ 18 = 5.0 strokes per hole, exactly one over the par-4 baseline.
Frequently asked questions
What does “even par” mean?
Even par (written “E”) means your total strokes exactly equal the course par — for a par-72 course, a score of 72. Anything higher is over par (+), anything lower is under par (−).
Is a lower score to par better?
Yes. Golf is a lowest-score-wins game, so −3 (three under par) beats even par, which beats +5. Tour professionals routinely finish tournaments several strokes under par.
Does this account for my handicap?
No — this shows your gross score to par. To see your net score to par, subtract your course handicap from the gross total first, then compare to par.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.