Section 6: Scoring
Counting Throws
Score on a hole equals the number of throws taken plus any penalty throws assessed. Throws include the tee shot, every subsequent throw on the hole, and the throw that holes out. Penalty throws (OB, lost disc, missed mandatory, courtesy violations exceeding the warning, certain stance violations) are added to the throw count.
Par and Performance
- Each hole has a designated par — the score an expert player is expected to take
- Round score is the sum of hole scores
- Performance is sometimes expressed relative to par (e.g., "−5") and sometimes expressed as the raw stroke total
Tournament Scoring
- Multi-round events sum the round scores; the lowest cumulative score wins the division
- Ties are broken by play-off (sudden-death extra holes) in PDGA-sanctioned majors, or per the Tournament Director's published format
- Scoring discrepancies discovered after the card is turned in are governed by the Competition Manual; uncorrected scorecard errors are typically resolved in favor of the higher score
Ratings
The PDGA assigns each round a numeric rating based on the average performance of rated players on the course. Players accumulate a rolling rating from their rated rounds; PDGA player ratings are used for division eligibility and for some seeding purposes. Ratings are calculated separately from raw competition scoring and are not used in determining placement within a single event.