Why is it called a birdie? The story behind golf's favorite term

If you’ve ever heard a golfer shout “birdie!” you might wonder where that odd word comes from. It isn’t about actual birds – it’s a piece of golf folklore that started over a hundred years ago. Let’s break down the origin so you can drop the term with confidence next time you’re on the course.

The birth of the birdie

Back in 1903, a newspaper called the American Golf Association reported a match at the Atlantic City Country Club. A player named Ab Smith made a score of one under par on the 7th hole. A fellow golfer, looking for a fun way to describe it, wrote that the shot was "a bird of a shot" – a phrase that meant something excellent.

At the time, "bird" was slang for something great or impressive. Think of today’s “awesome” or “cool.” The reporter shortened it to "birdie" and the term caught on instantly. It was a catchy way to celebrate a good break without sounding too formal.

How the term spread

After that story hit the press, other clubs started using "birdie" in their scorecards. By the 1910s it had become part of the official golf vocabulary. The United States Golf Association (USGA) eventually listed it in their rulebook, cementing its place in the sport.

Even the British embraced the word. In the UK, players began calling a one‑under‑par score a "birdie" as well, and today it’s used worldwide. The term even inspired other scores – a "eagle" (two under) and an "albatross" (three under) followed the same bird‑themed pattern.

Why did it stick? Simple: it’s fun, easy to say, and it adds a bit of excitement to the game. When a player makes a birdie, the crowd gets a quick, upbeat shout that feels like a celebration.

So the next time you hear a golfer cheer “birdie!” remember it’s not about feathered friends but a piece of early 20th‑century slang that survived over a century. It’s a reminder that golf loves a good story as much as a good swing.