
What Is the Meaning of an Eagle in Golf?
- Definition. Eagle, as defined in golf, is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. ...
- Example. Eagles don't happen often, but they tend to happen on par-5s. ...
- Hole-in-One. Often, when a hole-in-one is recorded, that shot doubles as an eagle. ...
- Origins. According to Scottish golf lore, the term eagle was coined as an extension of the term birdie. ...
- Double-Eagle. ...
What is an eagle in golf?
Mar 02, 2022 · An eagle is a golfing term for a score on a golf hole that is two under its given par (the score that a scratch golfer would be expected to record on that hole). Most commonly, eagles are scored in golf on par-5s when a player is able to reach the green in two shots and putt out into the hole for a three. Sometimes an eagle may be scored by a player holing out a longer …
Is it possible to shoot an eagle on a golf course?
Apr 20, 2022 · If a golfer uses an approach shot to hit into a hole, that is two shots under par, also known as an eagle. Any golfer with reasonable distance and shorter par 5s and 4s can also reach the green in a less than regulation shot and use one-putt to score an eagle. Eagles happen more on par 5s than they do on other pars. Hole-in-One Explained
How far under par is a double eagle in golf?
Eagle, as defined in golf, is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. As a verb, to eagle is to shoot 2-under par on any given hole. Example. Eagles don't …
How do you score an eagle in golf?
Apr 06, 2020 · Eagle, birdie and bogey are all golf terms for the number of strokes required to complete a hole. They are relative to par, which is the number of strokes set as the standard for a particular hole. A player scores an eagle when he or she hits the ball in the hole with two strokes fewer than par. For example, if par is five, a player scores an eagle by completing the hole in …

What is better than an eagle in golf?
An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an "albatross"). A triple bogey is 3-over par.May 24, 2019
What is the rarest shot 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). Only five condors have ever been recorded: The most recent was Kevin Pon, who made a 2 on a par 6 at Lake Chabot Golf Course on the 10th December 2020.
Is eagle a good score in golf?
Eagle. This scoring term was coined shortly after the birdie scoring tag, basically following the bird theme. It describes a putt for a 3 on a par-5 hole or simply two strokes under par. You are an excellent golfer if you have some eagles in your card.Aug 20, 2019
How many shots is an eagle in golf?
two shotsAn eagle is two shots below par. So if you're playing a par-5, you score a 3 on the hole. These are most common on Par 5's as golfers can hit on in two shots and make a putt for eagle.
What is a ostrich in golf?
The term "ostrich" is used to describe the completion of a hole using five fewer strokes than the par. Each hole is assigned a number of strokes that are considered to be par, otherwise known as average for the course.
How common are eagles in golf?
Eagles Are Very Rare, Even For Professional Golfers Laird made 17 eagles in 1,440 holes (1.18% of holes).Jul 14, 2021
Is an ace considered an eagle?
Note that an eagle on a par-3 hole is a hole-in-one. And you can call a par-3 ace either an "eagle" or a "hole-in-one;" both terms are correct.May 24, 2019
What score is an eagle on a par 5?
3 strokesEagle. A hole score of two strokes fewer than par (two under par, −2) is known as an eagle, e.g. 2 strokes to complete a par 4 hole or 3 strokes on a par 5 hole. The name "eagle" was used to represent a better score than a birdie due to it being a relatively large bird.
What is a ace in golf?
An “ace” is one of the most coveted accomplishments in the golf. It is simply an alternate golf term for “hole-in-one“, which is when a player needs only one shot to get his ball in the hole. Virtually all “aces” or “holes-in-one” occur on par 3s.Apr 25, 2019
What is the best shot in golf called?
“A” Game:A golfer's best game which is executed on a regular basis.Airmail:A golf shot which travels a considerably longer distance than planned.Albatross (aka Double Eagle):This means a score of three strokes under Par, which as you can imagine is very rare.All square:Tied score in match play.3 more rows
What is the first shot in golf called?
The first stroke, usually a pitch, a bunker shot or a chip, gets the ball 'up' onto the green, and the subsequent putt gets the ball 'down' into the hole. A variation is called “up and in”.
Is hole-in-one an eagle?
Definition of an Eagle If you holed your ball in three shots on a par-5, that's considered an eagle. Another eagle would be if you holed your ball in two shots on a par-4. A hole-in-one on a par-3 is also considered an eagle, but is almost always referred to as a hole-in-one.
What is par in golf?
Par is derived from the stock exchange term that a stock may be above or below its normal or 'par' figure. In 1870, Mr AH Doleman, a golf writer, asked the golf professionals David Strath and James Anderson, what score would win 'The Belt', then the winning trophy for 'The Open', at Prestwick, where it was first held annually from 1861 to 1870. Strath and Anderson said that perfect play should produce a score of 49 for Prestwick's twelve holes. Mr Doleman called this 'par' for Prestwick and subsequently Young Tom Morris won with a score of two strokes 'over par' for the three rounds of 36 holes.
What does "birdie" mean in golf?
Birdie. "Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent. The September 1911 edition of Maclean Magazine described a golf shot as - '"bird" straight down the course, about two hundred and fifteen yards.'.
What are the three terms used in golf?
There is quite a history behind the golfing terms bogey, par, birdie, eagle and albatross. Bogey and par were central to the development of handicapping, pioneered by the LGU. The modern meaning of three of the terms - bogey, birdie and eagle - comes from their use in USA. Bogey Par Birdie Eagle Albatross.
Who is the youngest golfer to win the Open?
Tom Morris Jnr Youngest Open Winner. Although the first noted use of the word "par" in golf was in Britain and predates the bogey, today's rating system does not and the par standard was not further developed until later.
What is the term for three under par?
Albatross is the term for three under par and is a continuation of the birdie and eagle theme, but is in fact a British term. Ab Smith said his group used the phrase 'double eagle' for three under ( see Birdie above ), which is still the term most Americans and the name for their Double Eagle Club (membership by invitation only).
What is an eagle in golf?
Eagle, as defined in golf, is a score of two strokes under par on a hole. As a verb, to eagle is to shoot 2-under par on any given hole.
What is the meaning of the word "eagle" in golf?
According to Scottish golf lore, the term eagle was coined as an extension of the term birdie. It was coined as a way of saying big birdie, since an eagle is such a large bird.
What is a double eagle in golf?
A double eagle refers to a score of 3-under par. Scoring for shots under par became much simpler in the 1900s when the term “birdie” was initiated as this frequently used American slang word referred ...
What does it mean to score a par in golf?
To score a par in golf means that you get the ball from the tee into the hole in the same number of shots that were predetermined by the golf club. This is normally the number of shots that a good golfer should require to complete the hole.
Who won the 1935 Masters?
As with many other areas in life, the Americans decided to change the term from albatross to double eagle after Gene Sarazen won the Masters golf tournament in 1935. During the final round of the tournament, Gene Sarazen scored an albatross on the par 5, 15th hole to force a playoff. He eventually won the playoff and became the champion.
What is a birdie score?
By the 1910s the “birdie” became accepted worldwide and commonly used to describe the 1-under par score on a hole. As scores of 2-under par became more common, a larger and grander bird was introduced to stay in line with the avian species.
Who is Nick Lomas?
Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.
What is a stroke in golf?
Golf Scoring Terms Explained. Stroke - In golf, a "Stroke" is any forward club swing, including when putting, that a golfer is trying to hit the ball. You can essentially use "Stroke" as a synonym for a shot/putt, but keep in mind that it also includes "whiffs" if you miss the ball when trying to hit it. Par - " Par " is the number of strokes that ...
What is a condor in golf?
Condor - A "Condor" is when a golfer scores four strokes less than par on an individual golf hole. A hole in one on a par 5 is a condor. Only four condors have been recorded in PGA history. Generally, the only way to accomplish a condor is to massively "cut off" a "dogleg" par-5 golf hole for a hole-in-one.
What is an albatross?
Albatross / Double Eagle - An " Albatross " or " Double Eagle " is when a golfer scores three fewer strokes than par on an individual golf hole. Ex: 2 strokes on a par-5 hole. An Albatross is far rarer than even a hole-in-one (ace).
How many yards is a par 4?
Par-4 – 211 to 400 yards. Par-5 – 401 to 575 yards. The golf scoring term "Par" is also used to reference the combined par of a group of golf holes. Full-length 18-hole golf courses include par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes.
What does "double eagle" mean in golf?
Double eagle: On a par-5, means you finished the hole in 2 strokes. Eagle: You finished the hole in 3 strokes. Birdie: You finished the hole in 4 strokes. Par: You finished the hole in 5 strokes.
What does "par" mean in golf?
"Par" refers to the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete the play of one hole on a golf course. Golf holes of different lengths will require more or fewer strokes by a golfer.
What is a birdie in golf?
They describe a golfer's performance on a hole in relation to the hole's par: A birdie is a score of 1-under par on a hole (for example, scoring 4 on a par-5). A bogey is 1-over par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par on a hole. A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole.
What is a double bogey?
A double bogey is 2-over par on a hole. A double eagle (very rare) is 3-under par (also called an " albatross "). Given that a par-5 hole is the highest par most golfers will ever see, there is a limit to how far under par a golfer can go.
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. So you're new to the game of golf and you keep hearing references to birdies and bogeys, eagles and pars.

The Scores Needed to Make An Eagle
Why Is It called An 'Eagle'?
- Now we know what an eagle is ... but why is it called "eagle"? Where does that specific term come from? "Eagle" is used because it followed "birdie" in the golf lexicon. Birdie, meaning 1-under par on a hole, came first. Once birdie was established, golfers simply stuck with the avian theme and added "eagle" for 2-under on a hole. The bigger question is where that bird theme came from in t…
Other Forms of 'Eagle' Used by Golfers
- Golfers also use the term "eagle" as part of a couple other related expressions. For example, an "eagle putt" is any putt that, if the golfer makes it, results in a score of eagle. So if you are on the green in two strokes on a par-5, your first putt attempt is an "eagle putt" because if you make it, you'll have an eagle. And there's "double eagle"...