
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 does par stand for in golf?
Aug 28, 2003 · In golf, "par" is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete an individual hole, or to complete all the holes on a golf course. Par is the standard to which golfers aspire. Usage Examples: "This hole is a par-4." "The par for this golf course is 71." "I'm 3-over par so far in my round."
What is 4 under par called in golf?
Depending on the hole you’re playing, a typical golf course par is 3, 4 or 5 strokes, though it can be as many as 7. Maybe it doesn’t sound particularly fair, but for championship, play the golf course par can be lowered by a stroke, turning a 500-yard par 5 hole into a par 4.
What is the highest par rating in golf?
Par, or bogey, is a scoring system used mostly in amateur and club golf. It is a stroke play format played against the course, with match play scoring based on the number of strokes taken on each hole compared to a fixed score, [1] usually the par or bogey; in this context, bogey is meant in the traditional sense as the score a good player would expect on the hole, usually par but …
What is five over par in golf?
Jun 21, 2019 · Par-3 holes are holes that an expert golfer is expected to need only three strokes to finish (one stroke to get the ball on the green, followed by two putts). A par-3 hole is usually less than 200 yards in length, and on par-3 golf courses you can expect most of the holes to be 150 yards or less. Featured Video.

What does a par 70 course mean?
What is the average par on golf course?
What does par mean on a golf course?
What is a good golf score par?
What is a normal par?
How many hits is a par?
What does par stand for?
Why is it called par?
What is 2 under par called?
What is Stableford format in golf?
What is a good golf score for a beginner?
How many points is a par in golf?
What is par in golf?
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), or a tournament (the sum of the pars of each round). Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. A typical 18-hole golf course will have ...
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.
How many yards are there in a par 5?
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).
How many pars are there in a 9 hole golf course?
A typical 18-hole golf course will have a total par around 72, and a 9-hole par-3 course (where all holes are rated as par 3) will have a total par of 27.
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".
How many rounds are there in a golf tournament?
Tournament scores are reported by totalling scores relative to par in each round (there are usually four rounds in professional tournaments). 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, ...
What is a bogey score?
A score of one stroke more than par (+1) for a hole is known as a bogey, e.g. 4 strokes to complete a par 3 hole or 6 strokes on a par 5 hole. The first meaning of bogey in golf was the number of strokes a good golfer should take at each hole, and first came into use at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in 1890, based on the phrase " bogey man " and a popular music hall song Here Comes the Bogey Man. Notionally, players competed against Colonel Bogey, and this gave the title to a 1914 marching tune, Colonel Bogey March. As golf became more standardised in the United States, par scores were tightened and recreational golfers found themselves scoring over par, with bogey changing meaning to one-over-par.
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.”
What is par in golf?
Simply stated, par is the number of strokes that it is believed an expert golfer would take to move the ball from the tee to the hole. The idea is that as you advance in your golfing skills, you should be able to meet and perhaps even make it under the golf course par.
What factors determine par in golf?
Obstacles. Other factors that help determine a golf course par are those wonderful obstacles that plague golfers of all skill levels. Those hindrances on the terrain, such as water hazards, rises and mounds, trees, bunkers, and even buildings can raise the difficulty of the course and the stroke count for par.
What is a par 3 golf course?
Updated June 21, 2019. A "par-3 course" is a golf course that consists of nothing but par-3 holes. A "regular" or "regulation" 18-hole golf course most commonly has four par-3 holes, four par-5 holes and 10 par-4 holes. The specific mix of par ratings can change, but a regulation course features a variety of hole lengths, from short to long.
How many holes are there in a par 3 golf course?
A "regular" or "regulation" 18-hole golf course most commonly has four par-3 holes, four par-5 holes and 10 par-4 holes. The specific mix of par ratings can change, but a regulation course features a variety of hole lengths, from short to long.
How many holes are there in a par 3?
But par-3 courses most commonly have only nine holes (although some do have 18 holes) and, as noted, all of them are par-3s. A 9-hole par-3 course has a par of 27; an 18-hole par-3 course has a par of 54.
How many strokes are needed for a par 3?
Par-3 holes are holes that an expert golfer is expected to need only three strokes to finish (one stroke to get the ball on the green, followed by two putts). A par-3 hole is usually less than 200 yards in length, and on par-3 golf courses you can expect most of the holes to be 150 yards or less.
What is a good par 3 course?
Par-3 courses are particularly good for beginning golfers and higher scorers, since they provide shorter holes, but are often played by skilled players with time constraints or those who want to work on their short games.
What is an executive golf course?
An " executive course " is also shorter than a regular golf course, and typically composed mostly of par-3 holes. But unlike a par-3 course, an executive course usually has at least one, maybe two or three, longer holes: a couple par-4 holes, for example, or one par-4 and one par-5, in addition to the par-3s that make up the majority of its nine ...
Under par and over par
Now that, we all know the definition of the par score in golf, let's have a brief discussion about the scoring system.
Types of the par score
Before we discuss the types of the par score, we would like to mention to you that for every par score, two strokes are dedicated to the putting section, whereas the rest of the score is dedicated to taking the golf ball into the green side area. That means if you are playing in a hole that has a par score of three.
Par score depending on the yardage
There are no hard fast rules to determine the par score system. Most of the time, it depends on the condition of the course and the level of obstacles on the course. In 1911, USGA indicates the measurement of the yardage to mark the par score of the hole. Then in 1917 and in 1956, they made a slight change in the measurement.
What was before the invention of the par score?
It is quite natural to wonder thinking what was before the par score method. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the system of the par score appeared in golf. But, before that, the total number of strokes that a player used to take was the complete score of that particular player.
Final words
The term par hole score is a fascinating invention in the game of golf. It has revolutionized the complete scoring system and added more professionalism in every player playing this beautiful game.
What is the par 3 course?
An added bonus, the Par 3 course is a great way to hone your iron & wedge play and improve around the green. A great way to sharpen your chipping and putting, while still competing for a score or making small wagers with your friends.
How many holes are there in a par 3 golf course?
A golf course, but instead of having par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s, it’s constructed of all par 3s. They can be 6 holes, 9 holes, or 18 holes. Most are quite short, so ask for a scorecard before you play.

Overview
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), or a tournament (the sum of the pars of each round).
Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. A typical 18-hole golf coursewill have a total par around 72, and a 9-hole par-3 course (wh…
Determination of par
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. On occasion, factors other than distance are taken into account when setting the par for a hole; these include altitude, terrain and obstacles that result in a hole playin…
Course and tournament scores
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".
Tournament scores are reported by totalling scores relative to par in each round (there are usual…
Hole scores
Scores on each hole are reported in the same way that course scores are given. Names are commonly given to scores on holes relative to par.
A hole score equal to the par of the hole is simply called a par. The term is thought to have originated from the stock exchange, where is was used to describe the expected value of stocks. The transition to golf was made by writer A. H. Doleman prior to The Open Championship at Prest…
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.