
What is better than an albatross in golf?
An albatross in golf is explained as scoring a three-under-par on an individual hole. This rare shot in golf is also known as a -3 under par and can only be achieved on at least a par 5 hole. Article Content [ show] Why is it Called an Albatross? You have to go back to 1899 to first learn about the origins of the albatross term in golf.
What does the term "albatross" mean in golf?
Jan 13, 2022 · In golf, an albatross (also a Double Eagle) occurs when a golfer gets the ball into the hole three strokes under par. It is one of the rarest things to happen during a round of golf, so it always gets lots of attention when it occurs.
Do is you know what an albatross in golf?
Mar 09, 2022 · In both golf and nature, the albatross is a very rare bird (Image credit: Getty Images) It is a fitting term, for the albatross in golf comes along once in a blue moon, either when a player holes his or her second shot on a par 5 or has a hole in one on a short par 4.
Who has had Albatros in golf?
Jul 28, 2021 · You see, an albatross is a scoring designation representing a score of three-under-par on a single hole. The feat is too rare to happen even to professional golfers, although more than one person had done it previously. The effort is possible in a par-5 hole if you succeed in holing the second ball.

Is an albatross in golf rare?
Depending on the data source, the odds of making an albatross are between six million to 1 and one million to 1. Comparatively, the odds of the average golfer making a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1 according to the National Hole-in-One Registry.Sep 5, 2021
What's the difference between a double eagle and an albatross?
An albatross, also called a double eagle, is a score of three-under-par on a single hole. This is most commonly achieved with two shots on a par-5, but can be done with a hole-in-one on a par-4.
Is there anything better than an albatross in golf?
Par-3 Hole Another note about the alternative term for "double eagle": Albatross is the preferred term in most of the golfing world; double eagle is the preferred term in the United States.May 24, 2019
What is a condor in golf?
A condor in golf occurs when a player gets the ball into the hole using four fewer shots than the par states. For example, a par five hole will result in a condo if a golfer made a hole-in-one shot. Getting a condor shot is one of the rarest occurrences on the golf course.Jan 13, 2022
What is a dodo in golf?
The day after Gene Sarazen made an albatross in the final round of the 1935 Masters using a 4-wood from 235 yards, he called it a dodo. Tagsalbatross golf terms.Mar 21, 2015
Has anyone ever made an ostrich in golf?
Ostriches almost never happen in golf. In fact, obtaining a score of five-under par has never happened in a professional golf match. This feat is so rare that there are no recorded instances of it actually happening.
What's harder hole-in-one or albatross?
The odds of scoring a hole in-one, or ace, is 12,000 to 1, while an albatross is six million to 1, according to golf experts. The odds of doing both in the same round are, well, almost incalculable. Consider that golf greats like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have never had an albatross during a PGA Tour event.Nov 4, 2020
What is the rarest shot in golf?
Scoring a condor represents one of the rarest of events in golf. Scoring a condor is the rarest event in golf. This is normally a hole in one at a par five (a two at a par six would also count, but this has never been done).
What is a turkey in golf?
Three consecutive birdies during one round of golf.
What is a frosty in golf?
When frost is present golf course superintendents delay play until the frost has melted. This is done to prevent damage that affects the quality of the playing surface and could potentially be very expensive to repair. Frost is basically frozen dew that has crystallized on the grass, making it hard and brittle.
What is snowman in golf?
In golf, a snowman is something you very much want to avoid. That's because "snowman" is a slang term golfers use for a score of eight on any individual hole. Use eight strokes to play a hole and, sorry bud, you just made a "snowman." A golf snowman won't melt anything but your scorecard.Mar 20, 2018
What is a falcon in golf?
"Five under"/"falcon"/"quadruple eagle" - five strokes under par. "Four under"/"condor"/"triple eagle" - four strokes under par. "Three under"/"albatross"/"double eagle" - three strokes under par. "Eagle" - two strokes under par. "Birdie" - one stroke under par.
Why is it Called an Albatross?
You have to go back to 1899 to first learn about the origins of the albatross term in golf.
Is it Double Eagle or Albatross?
In the US, a double eagle is still used – but in the UK and Europe as a whole, the term “albatross” is a more widely used term to describe a double eagle.
Is it Hard to Shoot an Albatross?
Most amateurs will never shoot an albatross in their lives. When you think about what is required to make this shot on a par 5 hole it seems impossible!
What Professional Golfers Have Made an Albatross?
Remarkably, there are numerous players that have shot an albatross in golf, such as Jack Nicklaus who in 1996 hit an albatross on the par 5, 18th hole at the Atlantic Beach Country Club.
What is an Example of an Albatross Shot in Golf?
An albatross occurs when a golfer gets the ball into the hole three strokes under par. For example, on a par 5, an albatross will arise if it only took two strokes to get the ball in. If the hole was a par six and you got the ball into the hole in three strokes, it will also be an albatross.
Can You Get a Hole-in-One and a Double Eagle on the Same Shot?
Yes, you can achieve both a hole-in-one and a Double Eagle on the same golf shot. For example, on par 4, you can hit a hole-in-one and achieve an albatross. In January 2022, Rowan McCarthy recorded a hole-in-one and albatross on the same shot.
Why is it Called an Albatross?
Golf uses bird names to score certain shots, so they call it an albatross or a double eagle. For example, a Birdie means that you got the ball into the hole one shot under par. Meanwhile, an Eagle occurs when you take less than two shots to score what the par says.
How Rare is an Albatross Shot in Golf?
According to the Tamos Hanter Golf, your odds of making an albatross shot is about one in six million. To put that in perspective, you have a 12,500 to 1 chance of making a hole-in-one in golf, according to Ahno.com. Getting a hole-in-one, while incredibly impressive, isn’t even close to what an albatross is in the odds.
Is There Anything Better than an Albatross Shot in Golf?
The rarest shot in golf belongs to a condor, where you are four under par. As of January 2022, there have only been six players to achieve that. Interestingly, all of the six players were amateur golfers.
Has Anyone got an Albatross in the U.S. Open?
Three players got a double eagle during the U.S. Open as of January 2022. Their names are Chen Tze-Chung, Shaun Micheel, and Nick Watney. The most recent occurrence of the double eagle in the U.S. Open was in 2012.
Has Anyone got an Albatross in The Open Championship?
Eight professional golfers got a double eagle during The Open Championship as of January 2022. The players’ names include Young Tom Morris, Jonny Miller, Manny Zerman, Greg Own, Greg Evans, Paul Lawrie, and Bill Rogers.
What Is An Albatross In Golf Terms?
As we have stated earlier, an albatross in golf term is also called the double eagle. It is something that most golfers might not achieve in their lifetime. Why not? You see, an albatross is a scoring designation representing a score of three-under-par on a single hole.
Albatross vs. Double Eagle
The other term for an albatross is a double eagle in golf. The terms are the names given for a score of three under-pars on a hole. But the expression double eagle is widely used instead of an albatross.
How Rare Is an Albatross in Golf?
Did we tell you that an albatross score is one of the rarest shots in golf? It is rarer than lightning striking you once in your lifetime. However, the National Hole-in-One Registry, a premier worldwide Hole-in-One Golf Registry, reported that a PGA Tour player has a 3,000-to-1 chance of scoring a hole-in-one.
How to Get an Albatross in Golf
There are several factors that may affect your shot and the chance you make an albatross. Here are some of them:
Is It Worth Trying to Make an Albatross?
There is nothing wrong with golf if you are targeting an albatross shot. However, to win your game in golf, you should have fewer strokes in getting the ball to the hole. But deciding to always try getting an albatross in most cases is not recommended.
What Is Better Than an Albatross in Golf?
An albatross is better in golf if you can do it without putting your other shots at risk. However, a hole-in-one is much better because it is the minimum shot or stroke required in completing a golf hole. A condor is also considered a rare shot in golf that gives you more advantages.
Famous Albatrosses in Golf
Aside from PGA Tour legend Gene Sarazen, there were numerous other golfers who became famous doing an albatross. On April 6, 1967, Bruce Devlin made an albatross (the second in golf history) in the same Master's Tournament, also in Augusta, Georgia.
What Is an Albatross in Golf?
Albatross is an extremely rare golf shot that entails scoring a 2 on a par-5 hole or three under par on a particular golf hole. To make an Albatross, you need to take two perfect shots under par, the latter taking the ball into the hole.
Why Is It Called an Albatross?
Albatross is a scoring term in the game of golf. It’s called an Albatross because the shot is as rare as the seabird itself. But why Albatross when three-under-par could literally be anything? To understand the clearly visible aviary theme in golfing, we have to take a look at the golf history.
How to Score an Albatross in Golf?
There are no hard and fast rules to bag this golden achievement because the ones who had made an Albatross did not live to make another. Except for Jeff Maggert, the only golfer to have scored an Albatross twice in major championships ( PGA Tour )!
Professional Golfers Who Scored an Albatross
Albatrosses have been made a total of 18 times in Major golfing events. Shaun Micheel gave the world a spectacular scene in the final round of the US Open at the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s possible to score better than an Albatross as long as you count a bird or a hole-in-one as the better term. You’re not allowed errant shots when it comes to a hole-in-one.
Rounding up
Hitting an albatross may seem difficult and is an extremely rare feat and golf term, even for professionals but that doesn’t mean that other golf scores such as an eagle, birdie or a par aren’t a good score too.
What does albatross mean in golf?
In golf, an albatross is something that most golfers will never have the fortune to make. This scoring term, which represents three strokes under par on a single hole, is extremely difficult to achieve.
Who has scored an albatross in golf?
Other pro golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Shaun Micheel and Joey Sindelar, have scored albatrosses in their careers. A notable, recent albatross and belongs to Nicholas Thompson, who achieved the feat at the 2009 Fry.com Open.
What hole did the golfer make an albatross on?
After making an albatross on the par-5 11th hole, he made a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th hole. The back-to-back albatross and hole-in-one is an extremely rare occurrence in the game.
How to score an albatross?
Scoring an albatross on a given hole requires that you are playing on a par-5 hole. If you were to hole out three shots below par on a par-4, this accomplishment would technically be called a hole-in-one rather than an albatross. On a par-5 hole, you would need to sink your second shot to achieve an albatross.
Who was the first professional golfer to record an albatross?
Notable Albatrosses. PGA Tour legend Gene Sarazen was the first professional golfer to record an albatross in one of golf's four modern major events, and he did so when the stakes were high. Sarazen earned this rare score on the par-5 15th hole of the 1935 Masters, which forced a tie for the lead and a subsequent playoff that he won.
Can you make an albatross on a par 5?
Because it's only possible on a par-5 hole, this limits your chances of an albatross to the number of par-5 holes on the course . Although you have a chance to make a 1-under-par birdie or even a 2-under-par eagle on any hole on any given course, the albatross remains highly elusive. Sorry, the video player failed to load.
Do golfers score albatross?
Several professional golfers have scored an albatross in a tour event, but the list remains relatively short compared with the number of holes collectively played by all the golfers in PGA Tour and LPGA Tour history.
What is an albatross in golf?
The History of The Albatross in Golf. A par score on a hole is predetermined by the golf club and refers to the number of shots that a good golfer should require to get the ball from the tee into the hole. Before the 1900s golf was scored in the number of shots under or below par. An albatross would be referred to as a 3 under par score.
Who was the first golfer to have an albatross?
3 in Women’s Open championship (last achieved in 2014) The first professional golfer to record an albatross in one of the modern major events was Gene Sarazen. He achieved this on the par 5, 15th hole of the 1935 Masters and forced a playoff which he subsequently won.
What is double eagle golf?
The term albatross has been in use for several decades around the world, but you may hear the term “Double eagle” frequently being used in the U.S. Both terms refer to the same number of shots under par achieved on a hole
How many albatrosses have been scored in golf?
Of the 18 albatrosses scored in major championships, 17 have been scored on par 5s. Considering that only approximately 10% of golfers have the length and ability to reach a par 5 in 2 shots, the other 90% of golfers don’t have a chance of ever making an albatross.
How many chances are there of scoring an albatross?
According to the National Hole in One Association you are less likely to score an albatross than a hole-in-one. The odds of making a hole-in-one is 12,700 to 1 for amateur golfers and 3,700 to 1 for professional golfers. The odds of achieving an albatross are set at 6 million to 1. The chances of being struck by lightning (1 in 555,000) ...
What are some interesting facts about albatrosses?
Some Facts About Albatrosses in Major Tournaments 1 Only 18 Albatrosses in men’s’ Major history and 4 in women’s major tournaments 2 4 in the Masters (last achieved in 2012) 3 3 in the U.S. Open (last achieved in 2012) 4 18 in The Open Championship (oldest major) (last achieved in 2009) 5 3 in the PGA Championship (last achieved in 2006) 6 3 in Women’s Open championship (last achieved in 2014)
What are the odds of getting an albatross?
The odds of achieving an albatross are set at 6 million to 1. The chances of being struck by lightning (1 in 555,000) making it more likely that you will be struck by lightning than scoring an albatross.
An Albatross at the Ryder Cup! How Jack Pranked Larry
We all knew exactly where his ball was because we’d just seen Jack Nicklaus pick it up and put it there. “Don’t say anything,” the Great Man had instructed the gallery, and no one had dared to disobey.
An Albatross or a Hole in One – What are Your Chances?
Strictly speaking, an albatross – also known in America as a “double eagle” – is a score of three under par on a particular hole.
Why the Albatross is so Rare
Scoring an albatross, however, is a far more difficult and elusive proposition.
How to Get an Albatross
That may not be so much of a problem for the tour pros, with their ever-increasing muscular power. Still, even with the recent huge advances in equipment technology, experts estimate that only around 10% of golfers ever reach a par 5 in two shots.
Albatrosses at the Majors
No other albatross has been seen at the fifteenth hole, and it remains one of only four ever recorded at the Masters, all at other par 5 holes, in the 85-year history of the event.
The First Albatross?
All the more remarkable then, surely, is the achievement of “Young Tom” Morris in holing out in three at the first hole at Prestwick, Scotland, during the 1870 tournament.

How Rare Are Albatrosses in Golf?
- Veryrare. Consider these facts: 1. In the entire history of The Masters, there have been only four albatrosses scored (they are listed on our Masters Recordspage); 2. In the U.S. Open, only three albatrosses have ever been recorded (listed in the US Open FAQ); 3. And over the first 60 years o…
Origins of The Golf Use of 'Albatross'
- You know what an albatross is in golf, but why that word? How did "albatross" come to be used as the word for 3-under par on a hole? It was simply in keeping with the already established avian theme of terms applied to below-par golf scores. Birdie, for 1-under par on a hole, came first. Eagle, for 2-under par, evolved next. (See The Origins of Birdie and Eagle in Golffor more about t…
Double Eagle vs. Albatross
- The two terms are identical in meaning, but where are they used? This is easy: "Double eagle" is the preferred term in the United States, "albatross" is used almost everywhere else. Why "double eagle" came to be the commonly used term in the U.S. probably dates to the 1935 Masters. That's where Gene Sarazenhit a shot that is still among the most famous in golf history, a par-5 hole-ou…