
What Is the Meaning of 'Par'?
- The Par of an Individual Hole. Think of any hole on a golf course. ...
- The Par of a Golf Course. ...
- Scoring in Relation to Par (1-Under Par, Etc.) "Par" is also used to describe a golfer's scoring performance on an individual hole or for a complete round of golf.
- 'Par' Before Golf. ...
What is 4 under par called in golf?
Then, what is 4 under par in golf? Condor is an unofficial name for a score of four under par (−4). This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par. One condor was reportedly achieved with a 3-iron club (in 1995 on a horseshoe-shaped par-5 hole). A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle.
What is 3 under par in golf?
More on Ace in golf here. For hole completions three strokes under par is recognized in golf as Albatross. This is also known as “double eagle” in relation to the “birdie” and “eagle” theme. More on albatross in golf here. The reasoning for the name is that albatross is a very rare bird and so is scoring three under par.
What is the definition of par in golf?
In golf, par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient golfer should require to complete a hole, a round, or a tournament. Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. A typical 18-hole golf course will have a total par around 72, and a 9-hole par-3 course will have a total par of 27.
What is a golf score under par?
An average golf score is 90 strokes for every 18 holes played. This score applies to an amateur golfer playing on a par 72 course. A good golf score is a maximum of 108 strokes, while a bad score is considered to be 120 strokes or higher. Since golf is such a complex sport, there are many degrees of skill levels.

Is golf par an acronym?
Par - (apocryphally an abbreviation for "professional average result"), standard score for a hole (defined by its length) or a course (sum of all the holes' pars).
What is a good par in golf?
Golf courses normally have a par that ranges between 70 and 72; any score that is at par or under par is considered good.
What is par called in golf?
All three of these golf terms refer to scoring. “Par” represents the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to make on the hole or course. Every golf hole has a “par” assigned to it. Most holes are either a par 3, par 4, or par 5.
What is par in 18 holes of golf?
72On a typical 18-hole championship course, the par is 72, and a score of 99 equates to 27 over par.
What is my handicap if I shoot 90?
Golf Handicap If You Shoot 90 Over time, the handicaps will decrease as the player improves. In simple terms, a person playing on a par 72 golf course and shooting 90 is said to have a handicap of 18.
What is my handicap if I shoot 110?
about 35What Is My Handicap If I Shoot 110? If you shoot 110, your handicap is probably going to be about 35. At some point, if your handicap gets high enough, the GHIN handicap system may max out your handicap. This is to keep the game fair for those that are trying to compete.
How many hits is a par?
Par is the number of shots considered an even score. For example, a par-5 hole requires the golfer to hit five shots from the tee box to the cup in order to attain a par score. The par score for most 18-hole golf courses ranges from 70 to 72, and typically includes a majority of par-4 holes.
How many strokes is a par?
Golf Scoring Terms Cheat SheetGolf Scoring TermExplanationStrokeAny forward club swing that's intended to hit the golf ball.ParThe number of strokes an expert player is expected to make for a given hole or a group of holes (usually 9 or 18).BirdieOne stroke under par on an individual hole.8 more rows•Jul 15, 2021
What is 3 shots under par called?
Albatross. An albatross is—you guessed it—a term for three under par. Like the bird itself, achieving an albatross in golf is rare indeed.
What is a hole in 1 on a par 4 called?
Your odds of shooting an “albatross” — a hole in one on a par-4 (most holes in one are nailed on par-3s) — are even more steep: Try a staggering 6 million-to-1, according to the Double Eagle Club (though some believe it might be closer to 1 million-to-1).
Is 87 a good golf score?
Good, based on what is average, is 90 strokes for every 18 holes played. This “good” golf score is based on playing a round of golf on an industry standard par 72 course. If a golfer stays within (assuming they are an amateur) scoring a 90-108 stroke (maximum), they are within the 'good golf score' range.
Is 20 over par good?
Over 18 Holes Considering that most courses are Par 72, the average player shoots between even par and -1 for the round. Therefore, a good score is anywhere from -2 to -5. Anything lower than that is exceptional.
What is the most common par in golf?
72Add up the par for all of the holes on the course, and you'll get the par for a golf course. For an 18-hole course, the most common par is 72, though 70 and 71 round out the most common golf course par. If you shoot even par, you have, by USGA standards, played a tremendous round of golf.
What is the average par for 9 holes?
Each 9 has its par rating say 36 each 9. Taking a professional golfers scorecard would possibly reflect a score of 35 for the front, and 37 for the back 9, called a matching par of 72.
What does a par 4 5 mean?
Par 4: 251 to 470 yards. Par 5: 471 yards or more. For women, the values vary only slightly. Par 3: Up to 210 yards. Par 4: 211 to 400 yards.
What is 5 over par called in golf?
QUINTUPLE BOGEYQUINTUPLE BOGEY. Completing a hole having struck the ball five more times than par, such as taking an nine on a par four hole.
What Is a Par in Golf?
An expected number of golf stroke s defines par, and that number represents how many strokes a golfer should reasonably take to complete that particular hole or course. A par will have a slightly different value for different holes on a golf course.
What does "par" mean in golf?
With all that in mind, the golf term “scoring par” means the golfer completed the hole with even-par or took an equal amount of stroke to the par of the hole. Most golfers target this score as for most golf holes in a round of golf; par score distinguishes the novice players from the great ones.
How many pars do you need to play golf to get a good score?
Do not let this scare you, as most holes will have a good par, and you won’t be too far off making a bogey or two. Be it par 4, 5, or even 3; if your score is short par or even par for any hole, you got a good score on the game.
What is the par number for a hole in golf?
Every individual hole in a course is assigned a par number. Usually, these are par 3, par 4, par 5, and very rarely par 6.
How to calculate handicap on golf course?
You may calculate your handicap by subtracting your average number of strokes over 10 games from your course’s overall par for every hole.
What is a hole in one called?
In basic scoring in golf terms, a hole in one, or making the hole with the first shot, is called an Ace. To get a hole in one, though, you need to bag the hole of a par 3 or par 4 in one single shot. So, you can assume how difficult the execution of a hole-in-one is in golf.
How many holes are there in a golf course?
Now let’s come to what the total par of typical golf courses are. Most golf courses or country clubs around the world have 18 holes.
What is “Par” in Golf?
The term “par” in golf refers to the number of strokes that an expert golfer should need to complete an individual hole or a “round” of golf holes (usually 18 or 9 holes).
What is the par of a golf course?
The par of a golf course or group of holes (like the back 9 or front 9 holes) is the sum of par for every hole in the group.
What is a condor in golf?
Condor – A “Condor” is a score of 4 strokes under par on an individual hole. On most golf courses, this could only be accomplished by getting a hole-in-one on a par-5 hole. You’ve probably never heard of this golf term because only a handful of “condors” have ever taken place. It should generally be physically impossible to hit the ball far enough for a condor on a par 5.
What is an eagle on a par 3?
Eagle – An “Eagle” is a score of two strokes under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-4 hole or 3 strokes on a par-5 hole. While a hole-in-one (one stroke) on a par-3 could be described as an eagle, it’d more commonly be referred to as a “hole-in-one” or “ace.”
What is double eagle?
Albatross (Double-Eagle) – An “Albatross” or “Double-Eagle” is a score of 3 strokes under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-5 or a “hole-in-one” on a par-4. Again, 1 stroke on a par-4 is usually referred to as a “hole-in-one” or “ace,” rather than an albatross. This feat is so incredibly rare that I doubt it’ll ever come up in your golf round!
What does "one under par" mean in golf?
If you took 4 strokes to complete a par-5 hole, you could say you were “one under par” or “one under.” However, other terms are more commonly used to describe a golfers score for a hole in relation to par (see the “Scoring Terms for Individual Golf Holes” section below).
What is a birdie score?
Birdie – A “Birdie” is a score of one stroke under par on an individual hole. For example, 2 strokes on a par-3 hole, 3 strokes on a par-4 hole, or 4 strokes on a par-5 hole.
How Does ‘Par’ Work In Golf?
Par is the benchmark you should be aiming for. And these standard numbers aren’t just randomly selected for each hole. Rather they’re a total of the number of strokes needed for completing those individual holes.
How Many Strokes In A Par?
This is why the par-3 hole, since it’s a short one, requires a single stroke (by a highly skilled golfer), followed by two putts. And if it’s a long hole, then its rating is par-4 or par-5.
What is the par score for a golf tournament?
If each of the four rounds has a par of 72, the tournament par would be 288. For example, a golfer could record a 70 in the first round, a 72 in the second round, a 73 in the third round, and a 69 in the fourth round. That would give a tournament score of 284, or "four-under-par".
How is par determined?
Par is primarily determined by the playing length of each hole from the teeing ground to the putting green. Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five, which includes a regulation number of strokes to reach the green based on the average distance a proficient golfer hits the ball, and two putts.
What is the score of a golfer?
A golfer's score is compared with the par score. If a course has a par of 72 and a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete the course, the reported score is +3, or "three-over-par" and takes three shots more than par to complete the course. If a golfer takes 70 strokes, the reported score is −2, or "two-under-par".
What is a birdie hole?
Birdie. A hole score of one stroke fewer than par (one under par, −1) is known as a birdie, e.g. 2 strokes to complete a par 3 hole or 4 strokes on a par 5 hole. This expression was coined in 1899, at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey.
How many times has a condor been on a par 5?
As of January 2021, a condor had been recorded only five times on a par-5, once reportedly on a straight drive (a record 517 yards or 473 metres, aided by the thin air at high altitude in Denver ). Another was reportedly achieved with a 3-iron club (in 1995 on a horseshoe-shaped par-5 hole). In December 2020, a condor on a par-6 was recorded on the 18th hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. A condor has never been achieved during a professional tournament.
What is the seventh hole in golf?
A sign at The River Course at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisconsin, indicating that the seventh hole being played is a par-four. In golf, par is the predetermined number of strokes that a proficient (scratch, or zero, handicap) golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the pars of the played holes), ...
How many yards are par 3 holes?
In general, par-3 holes for men will be under 260 yards (240 m) from the tee to the green, par-4 holes will be 240–490 yards (220–450 m), par-5 holes will be 450–710 yards (410–650 m) and par-6 holes will be over 670 yards (610 m). For women, par-3 holes will be under 220 yards (200 m) from the tee to the green, par-4 holes will be 200–420 yards (180–380 m), par-5 holes will be 370–600 yards (340–550 m) and par-6 holes will be over 570 yards (520 m) These boundaries are commonly extended upwards for elite tournament players, who will often encounter par-4 holes of 500 yards (460 m) or more; this is often the result of a normal par-5 hole being rated as a par-4 for them. Some golf courses feature par-7 holes, but these are not recognised by the United States Golf Association .
What does "par" mean in golf?
Overall, par can be used multiple ways in golfer terminology and vocabulary. You can refer to the par of the golf course or the par of the individual hole. You can also refer to your score relative to par.
What is the standard score for par golf?
For example, if the “Par” of the golf course is 72 (which is pretty standard for most golf courses) then you would be expected to score a 72 to shoot par golf.
How Do Golf Courses Determine the Par of a Hole?
The score assigned to represent the par value of that hole is always determined by adding two strokes for putting. The remaining strokes that comprise that par score are determined by the distance of the golf hole.
How to determine the par value of an 18 hole golf course?
The par of the entire 18 hole golf course is determined by adding up the par of all individual holes on the golf course. The total sum usually comes out to 72 for most golf courses but there are others who have par value of 70, 71, and sometimes 73.
How many strokes do you need to hit a par 4?
On a par 4 a golfer should need two strokes to reach the green, followed by the 2 putts to get the ball into the hole and complete the par 4 score.
How many shots off a par 5 to get 3?
Using the Par 5 as an example, you would subtract 2 shots off the Par 5 value to get 3. This is the number of shots it should take you to get the ball on the green so that you can finish with the two putts to complete the par.
What is the end goal of golf?
The end goal is to achieve the par of a golf course, which is very hard to do especially if you’re a beginner and new to the sport of golf.

What Is A Par in Golf?
Is Par A Good Golf Score?
- As only 1.85% of golfersplay off scratch, a par in golf can be considered a good golf score. While par can mean one thing, as we described earlier, it is also a quantitative value to measure a golfer’s performance. Since par is the number of strokes expected of professional golfers to complete the round, golfers have been keeping their performance score relative to the par for a l…
Other Golf Scoring Terms
- Bogey
If a golfer takes one stroke more than the course’s par, it is called a bogey. Double bogey, triple bogey, and quadruple bogey mean the golfer took two strokes, three strokes, and four strokes more than the par, respectively. For example, if you hit the ball a total of 5 times on a par 3 hole, … - Birdie
Birdies are the exact opposites of bogey. In the golf world, when a golfer takes one stroke less than the par to complete an individual hole, they make a “birdie.” For example, if a player takes 4 strokes to finish a par 5 hole, it will be a “birdie.” Check out our complete birdie in golf guide here.
Why Is It called A Par in Golf?
- In 1911, the USGA decided that par should be the “ideal score” or “reference score” for any hole in a golf play, be it at club level or international, and long before this “par” had been being used in almost the same meaning in clubs around the world. But where did this word come from? According to the USGA (United States Golf Assosiation), the gol...
Conclusion
- Par is a common golf termthat all golfers should be well versed with. By having a par as an aim on any given hole you can set yourself up for success. Holes in one or even double eagles are scarce on golf courses. As a golfer, you should always aim for the par score as your starting point as it is a realistic target for golfers of all abilities. By mastering this stepping stone you can become a b…
How Does Par Work in Golf?
- Par is the standard that golfers try to achieve. It is important to note that par is a score which an expert golfer or professional golferwould be expected to make on that individual hole. Most golfers expected score on a hole could be anywhere from 1 to 3 shots over par depending on their golfing ability and experience.
Is A Par Good in Golf?
- If you're making pars on the golf course, you are playing to a high standard. Golf is an extremely challenging game and getting the golf ball into the hole is really difficult. Professional golfers will make mostly pars when playing a complete round. Recreational golfers making pars regularly should be proud. A scratch golfer would be considered to be playing to a par score regularly. Ov…
How Many Strokes in A Par?
- How many shots you need to take to make a par score will depend on the golf hole in question. Most golf courses will consist of par 3, par 4 and par 5 holes. On a par four for example, an expert golfer is expected to take two shots to reach the green, then take two putts to get the ball into the hole. If they were two take one stroke less this would be a birdie. Two strokes less and it would …
Scoring Relationship and Par
- If you have ever watched golf on the television, you will have heard the golf terms "level par", "even par", "under par" and "over par." These are used to describe a player's scoring relationship relative to par. For example if a player plays the first hole of a golf course, (a par 4) in for shots, they would be level par or even par through one hole. If they then made a hole in one on the next par …