Mini golf scoring

• The basics
• Par and the names
• Common course rules
• Scorecard

Every stroke counts against you. Write down how many strokes each player takes on each hole, add them up at the end, and the lowest total wins. Most courses are 9 or 18 holes.

The basics

• Every swing at the ball is a stroke, whether it moves an inch or the length of the hole.
• The hole is finished when the ball drops in. Write down that player's strokes and move on.

Par, birdies and bogeys

Par is the number of strokes a hole should take — the course usually prints it on the scorecard or at each tee. Scores are named by how they compare:

Result	Strokes
Hole in one	1
Eagle	2 under par
Birdie	1 under par
Par	even
Bogey	1 over par
Double bogey	2 over par

Par only changes how a score is described, not the score itself — the winner is still whoever took the fewest strokes.

Course rules

Mini golf has no single official rulebook. Most courses post their own on the scorecard — commonly a maximum number of strokes per hole, what to do when a ball leaves the course, and whether you can move a ball away from a wall. Agree on them before the first tee.