What is 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. Why is it Called an Albatross?
Where did the term “albatross” originate?
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. And this is thought to have originated way back in 1929. A newspaper clipping from this time quotes a match played in the northeast of England where it quotes…
Did Jack Nicklaus ever hit an albatross in golf?
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. When you factor in the term “birdie” that originated in Atlantic City, you have to wonder…
Can you make an albatross on a par-6 hole?
Par-6 holes are rare in golf, but they do exist. So you can also make an albatross by scoring 3 on a par-6. Albatrosses on par-3 holes are impossible.
What does "albatross" mean in golf?
In golf, "albatross" is a term for scoring 3-under par on an individual hole. Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning.
When was albatross first used?
According to ScottishGolfHistory.org, the earliest use of albatross, in its golf sense, in print occurred in a British newspaper in 1929. The British Golf Museum, meanwhile, says that "albatross" became commonly used by golfers only in the 1930s.
What is the par rating on a golf course?
Remember that " par " is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of a hole. And each hole on a golf course is assigned a par rating. With that in mind, a golfer gets to claim an albatross by: Scoring a 1 (making a hole-in-one) on a par-4 hole; Scoring 2 on a par-5 hole.
Who said "It is an albatross bird"?
Perhaps golfer and U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy said it best: "It (an albatross bird) is grand, which is what describes the shot.". (The shot being the one the golfer holed out with to make the score.)
Is an albatross a double eagle?
Yes, albatross is another word for a double eagle - the two terms are identical in meaning. But, as we'll see below, albatross is the more widely used term. Albatrosses - save for holes-in-one on par-5s, which are nearly (but not quite) non-existent - are the rarest scores in golf. Albatrosses are far rarer than aces .
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.
The Scores That Result in An Albatross
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 of the LPGA Tour's history, a total of only 30 albatrosses were scored.
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 that.) Scores of 3-under par on a hole are rare today, but were even rare…
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-out from 200-plus yards on the 15th hole of the fourth round for a d…