Even
Even in golf means "level" — in stroke play exactly at par level, in match play a tied match between the sides.
The term has two areas of use. On the leaderboard, "E" or "Even" stands for a score exactly on par: anyone who is neither above nor below course par after a round is even. In match play even describes the state in which both sides have won the same number of holes — the term All Square is also common for that. In both cases it simply means: nobody is ahead.
In practice you keep running into the word on leaderboards and in reports. An example: "even after nine holes" means you played the first half of the round exactly to par — 36 strokes on a par-36 half, that is. In match play you read "even after 14" when both players have won the same number of holes up to that point. From that position the last four holes decide the match. On the scorecard you mark each hole in match play with plus, minus or precisely this tie.
Even is often confused with "par". Par is the allowance for an individual hole; even describes the balance over several holes or the whole match. Anyone who plays two Birdies and two Bogeys over four holes is even without having recorded a single par. It is precisely this balance logic that makes the term useful: it tells you at a glance where you stand, no matter how mixed the individual results were.
FAQ
What does "even" mean on the leaderboard at a tournament?
The "E" next to a name means the player is exactly at par level — neither above nor below the course par. Being even after nine holes therefore means exactly 36 strokes on a par-36 stretch. This lets you see at a glance who is playing solidly without having to work through the individual hole results.
Can I be even without having played a single par?
Yes, because even measures only the balance, not the route there. Two birdies and two bogeys cancel each other out — you are even even though your card shows not a single par. That is exactly what makes the term practical: it shows at a glance where you stand, no matter how colourful the scorecard looks.
What does even mean in match play?
In match play, even describes the tie: both sides have won the same number of holes, nobody is ahead. All Square is also a common term for this. If the match is even after 14 holes, the last four holes decide it — the most exciting starting position of all.