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?
In golf, "condor" is the popular term for a score of 4-under par on an individual hole. Among common golf holes, a condor is only possible on a par-5 hole. Scoring a condor is so rare that only a handful are known in the history of golf. Since a condor is a score of 4-under-par on a golf hole, these are the scores required to claim a condor:
What is 5 under par in golf?
Now, most readers probably recognize the problem: A score of 5-under-par is impossible on a par-3 hole, on a par-4 hole, and on a par-5 hole. Five-under on a par-5 hole, after all, is zero. So in order to score an ostrich, a golfer must be playing a golf hole with a par rating greater than par-5. And, yes, par-6 holes do exist. Therefore, to ...
Do golf course all have the same par?
While 72 is the most common, by far, there is no “standard” par for golf courses. I’ve personally played “full sized” 18 hole golf courses with pars that range from 68 to 73. It’s essentially based on both the overall length of the course, and the combination of how many par 3, 4, and 5 holes on the course.
What percentage of golfers can shoot under par?
While there are not available figures that address your question, most believe that only 1-2% of amateur golfers will ever shoot a round under par. I've played for 55 years and have enjoyed a single round under par. It was incredibly enjoyable and I remember every shot as if it was yesterday.
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.
How does par in golf work?
By definition, “Par” is the number of strokes needed to complete a hole in a golf course. Each hole in a course is given its own par rating. In our golf course in Doral, for instance, par varies across 18 holes. Par may also indirectly hint hole length.
How is par decided?
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.
How many strokes is 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
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.
Scoring Par Is NOT Easy for Most Golfers
It’s essential to remember that “par” is the number of strokes an “EXPERT” golfer is expected to make.
Scoring Terms for Individual Golf Holes
While you could describe your score as “one under,” “three over,” etc. for individual golf holes, there are other golf scoring terms more commonly used to describe how you scored in relation to par for a particular hole.
What Is a Par in Golf?
An expected number of golf strokes 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.
Is Par a Good Golf Score?
As only 1.85% of golfers play off scratch, a par in golf can be considered a good golf score.
Other Golf Scoring Terms
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.
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?
Frequently Asked Questions
You may calculate your handicap by subtracting your average number of strokes over 10 games from your course’s overall par for every hole.
Conclusion
Par is a common golf term that 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.
How does par work in golf?
Par is a standard to which golfers aim for. These numbers are not randomly given to each hole, but are mainly based on the number of strokes a golf expert would require to complete them.
Is a par good in golf?
Par sets the line between good golfers and great golfers. Simply put, if you maintain a par score in each hole, then you can consider yourself having a competitive golf score and an expert at that.
How many strokes in a par?
This varies between holes. As mentioned, length may come into consideration in knowing how many strokes you would need to complete a hole. For example, a par-3 hole is considered a short hole and would only require an expert golfer one (1) stroke to reach the green and then two (2) extra strokes to complete it.
What is the deal with par-70, par-71 and par-72?
No, it doesn’t mean a very long hole. As mentioned, each hole has its own par. A typical golf course has 18 holes. So, if you add up all 18 par numbers, you could get around par 69 to 74 total. A regulation golf course has a par of 72 which is equivalent to four (4) par-3, ten (10) par-4 and four (4) par-5.
Par and scoring relationship
Par can also be a golfer’s performance indicator. Basically, you have “parred the hole” if you completed it with the number strokes equal to its par (i.e. four (4) strokes in a par-4 hole). This is also known as “level-par” or “even-par.”
How Many Strokes In A Par?
Par is not the same between holes, it varies of course. And length is what is taken into account in determining the number of strokes needed for completing a hole. 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.
Connection Between Par and Scoring – Under Par Golf Scoring Terms
BIRDIE – 1-under par, that is 1 stroke under par is referred to as a birdie. Good examples would be 4 strokes on par-5, 3 strokes on par-4, and 2 strokes on par-3.
Connection Between Par and Distance
The logic is pretty straightforward – longer holes equal to higher par.
What Is the Average Par On A Golf Course?
That would be 72 for your regular 18-hole round of golf. As for a 9-hole golf course, the average is par-3.
Time to Wrap Things Up!
You can use the term ‘par’ in multiple ways for the game of golf. But USGA defines it as the total number of strokes any expert golfer would take for completing an individual hole. And it goes without saying that this also depends on the difficulty and length of the hole.
When did the term "par" come into play?
It is from that meaning that the USGA applied the term par to golf in 1911. Par and bogey were once interchangeable terms, but with this delineation, the golf world decided par was better than bogey. The phrase "par for the course" is typically used colloquially to mean something that is commonplace and expected.
What is the average par for an 18 hole 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. Par, however, is also different from a course rating, which is what a scratch player is expected to shoot under normal scoring conditions.
Is it rare to shoot a par round?
Shooting a round of even par or better in a round is quite rare and unexpected. Considering that less than 1.6 percent of all golfers are capable of routinely breaking the course rating on any golf course -- a term known as being a scratch player -- "par for the course" is anything but ordinary.
Is Par Good in Golf?
Yes, a par in golf is good because the vast majority of golfers struggle to make par consistently. According to the National Golf Foundation, the average 18-hole score for a round of golf is about 100, almost 30 strokes more than the typical par for a course, 72.
What Is a Scratch Golfer?
A golfer who averages close to a score of par on each hole is called a scratch golfer.
Where Does the Word Par Come From?
The word par did not originate as a golf term. Par is a term used in the financial industry to describe the baseline value or par value of a bond. The first use of par in golf dates back to the 1870 British Open Championship held at Prestwick Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland.
How Is Par Determined in Golf?
The United States Golf Association provides the following recommendations for par based on the playing lengths of each type of hole:
Can Par on a Hole Be Different for Men and Women?
Yes, par can be different for men and women on the same golf course. Let’s return to the Prestwick scorecard for further explanation. As you can see above, the Championship, Medal, and Senior/Ladies teeing grounds are each Par 71 while the Ladies tees have a par of 74.
Is Par Always 72?
As proven with the previous example, par is not always 72 for a golf course. Like fingerprints, snowflakes, and people, no two golf courses are identical. Each golf course is built around, on top of, and into the surrounding geographic landscape.
Par vs Birdie vs Bogey
As you have learned so far, a score of par is equal to the standard number of strokes a golfer should take to get the ball in the hole from start to finish.
What is Par?
Par is the most fundamental piece of the sport; it underlines everything in the game.
Levels of Golfers
There are different levels of players, the expert or gold players, and the beginner player or the green players.
Final Thoughts
That’s just about everything you need to know about the basics of what par is in golf.
What Is A Par in Golf?
- An expected number of golf strokes 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. Every individual hole in a course is assigned a par number. Usually, these are par 3, par 4, par 5, a...
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 golf term “par” was used in describi…
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?
Is A Par Good in Golf?
How Many Strokes in A Par?
What Is The Deal with Par-70, par-71 and Par-72?
Par and Scoring Relationship
What Does “Par For The Course” Mean?
- You probably heard of the term “par for the course.” It’s basically an idiomatic expression derived from golf which usage is equal to that of “normal”, “expected” or “common.” Like in golf, par is the expected/normal number of strokes. So you could use the phrase to describe a similar situation, event or behavior.