Par, Stroke Index (SI), and Their Role in Scoring
A back-to-basics guide on what Par and Stroke Index mean and how they are fundamental to golf scoring.
By Team on 22 June 2025
Two of the most fundamental terms on any golf scorecard are 'Par' and 'Stroke Index' (SI). Understanding them is the first step to understanding your score and how handicap systems work.
Par
'Par' is the number of strokes an expert golfer (a scratch player) is expected to take to complete a hole. It's based primarily on the length of the hole. Holes are generally designated as Par-3, Par-4, or Par-5.
- Par-3: A scratch golfer is expected to hit the green in one shot and take two putts.
- Par-4: Two shots to the green, followed by two putts.
- Par-5: Three shots to the green (for most), followed by two putts.
The total par for an 18-hole course is usually between 70 and 72.
Stroke Index (SI)
The Stroke Index ranks the holes on a course from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest). This ranking is used to determine where handicap strokes are applied. If you have a Course Handicap of 10, you get one extra stroke on the holes with SI 1 through 10.
In Stableford scoring, this is crucial. A net par on a hole with a low SI (a hard hole) is a great result. Our Stableford Calculator helps you manage your scores against the par and SI of each hole.