What does 2 under par mean in golf?
Under Par - The term "under par" describe a player's score when they've taken fewer strokes than par up to a given point of the golf course. If a player took 3 strokes to complete a par-3, 3 strokes to complete a par-4, and 4 strokes to complete a par-5 hole, their score could be described as "two under par" or "-2".
How far under par can you go in golf?
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. But a hole-in-one — knocking the ball in the hole with your first shot — is also called an "ace."
How do you calculate the par on a golf course?
Add up the par of each hole on a golf course to get the par for the course as a whole. (A standard, regulation golf course might have, for example, 10 par-4 holes, four par-3 holes and four par-5 holes, for a total par of 72.) "Par" is also used to describe a golfer's scoring performance on an individual hole or for a complete round of golf.
What is the par rating of a golf hole?
The par rating of a golf hole is up to the hole designers and golf course personnel. But there are guidelines. The USGA has periodically issued guidelines for the par ratings of holes based on their lengths; for example, if a hole is 180 yards, it is rated as a par-3.
What is the name for 2-under par?
eagleAn 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").
What is a 3 under par shot called?
Albatross. An albatross is—you guessed it—a term for three under par. Like the bird itself, achieving an albatross in golf is rare indeed.
What is 2-under on a par 5?
AlbatrossAlbatross or Double Eagle An albatross is achieved when a player either aces a par 4, or scores a "2" on a par 5.
What is a 4-under par?
Golfers have scored condors (a condor means scoring 4-under on a hole — making a hole-in-one on a par-5 or holing out in two on a par-6), but condors are exceedingly rare. And, as we said, as far as we know there has never been an ostrich — a score of 5-under-par on a single golf hole — anywhere, any time.
Is an eagle the same as a hole-in-one?
Eagles on par-4 holes are much rarer because they require either driving the green and 1-putting, or holing out an approach shot from the fairway. 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.
What is a turkey in golf?
Its origin is almost certainly American in nature. In ten-pin bowling, a trio of consecutive strikes is called a turkey, while six in a row is known as a wild, or golden, turkey. It wouldn't be the first time golf has borrowed from another sport to expand its lexicon.
What is +2 called in golf?
If a player took 4 strokes to complete a par-3, 6 strokes to complete a par-4, and 4 strokes to complete a par-5 hole, their score could be described as "two over par" or "+2". Even - "Even" ("E") can be used to describe a golfer's score when it is equal to the combined par of all holes that they've completed.
What is a 2 on a par 6 called?
A condor is also known as a double albatross, or a triple eagle. This is the lowest individual hole score ever made, relative to par. A condor would be a hole-in-one on a par-five (typically by cutting over a dogleg corner), a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven (which is not known to have been achieved).
What is 2 shots in golf called?
An 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.
Is there a par 2 in golf?
Each hole is 32 feet or less in length, with every hole being a Par 2. Par in Golf is the standard of excellence. You can score a hole-in-one on any hole. It takes approximately 30 minutes to play each course.
What is a 1 on par 5 called?
condorA “condor” is term given to a hole-in-one on a par 5. It is almost as rare as two hole-in-ones in a single game of golf.
What is 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 ostrich in golf?
Supposedly, this is the name assigned to completing a hole having struck the ball five fewer times than par. In other words, this is what happens when you hole-out a Par 7 with two strokes or shoot a Hole-In-One on a Par Six. Frankly, this is a case of folklore.
What is a condor in golf terms?
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.
What is an albatross in golf terms?
Albatross: This term means three under par, but the "double eagle" synonym is simply a continuation of the aviary theme of good scores. The albatross is rare, as is a three under par.
What is a double eagle in golf?
Where the term "double eagle" came from is one of golf's mysteries, and it simply doesn't add up. A birdie is universally known as a score of 1-under par on a hole. An eagle is 2-under par. Double that — a double eagle — and it would be 4-under par. "That's American mathematics for you," Hunter Mahan said.
What does "under par" mean in golf?
Under Par - The term "under par" describe a player's score when they've taken fewer strokes than par up to a given point of the golf course.
What is the main determining factor in a hole's par rating?
Distance, or more specifically "effective distance" (the distance a hole plays after accounting for whether it's uphill/downhill, its elevation, etc.), is the main determining factor in a hole's par rating.
How many strokes to complete a par-3?
A golfer would be even through three holes if they took 4 strokes to complete a par-3, 3 strokes to complete a par-4, and 5 strokes to complete a par-5 hole. Birdie - A " Birdie " is when a golfer scores one less stroke than par on an individual golf hole. Ex: 2 strokes on a par-3 hole.
What is a forward club swing?
Any forward club swing that's intended to hit the golf ball. The number of strokes an expert player is expected to make for a given hole or a group of holes (usually 9 or 18). One stroke under par on an individual hole. Two strokes under par on an individual hole. Three strokes under par on an individual hole.
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 ...
How many condors are there in the PGA?
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. Hole-in-One / Ace - A "Hole-in-One" or "Ace" occurs when a golfer hits their first shot into the hole (cup), completing the hole in just one stroke.
What is double bogey?
Double Bogey - A " Double Bogey" is when a golfer scores two strokes OVER par. Ex: 6 strokes on a par-4 hole.
What is par in golf?
Brent Kelley. Updated June 21, 2019. 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.".
What does par 5 mean in golf?
It's a par-5 hole. What does that mean? In this case, it means that five is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to finish play of that hole.
What is the difference between par 4 and par 5?
A par-4 hole is going to be longer than a par-3 hole, and a par-5 longer than a par-4 (with rare exceptions).
How many strokes do you need to hit a par 3 hole?
On a par-3 hole, an expert golfer is expected to need only one stroke to reach the green, followed by two putts, for three strokes total.
How many strokes are under par on a par 4?
This is also referred to as being "even-par" or " level par .". If you take five strokes to play a par-4 hole, then you are 1-over par for that hole; if you take three strokes on a par-4, you are 1- under par on that hole.
How many pars are there in a golf course?
Most full-size golf courses range from pars of 69 to 74, with par-70, par-71 and par-72 courses most common. Add up the par of each hole on a golf course to get the par for the course as a whole. (A standard, regulation golf course might have, for example, 10 par-4 holes, four par-3 holes and four par-5 holes, for a total par of 72.)
How many over par is 68?
The same applies to 18-hole scores: if the golf course's par is 72, and you shoot 85, you are 13-over par; if you shoot 68, you are 4-under par.
What is the par score for a golf tournament?
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, and a 69 in the fourth round. That would give a tournament score of 284, or "four-under-par".
How many yards are par 3 holes?
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). For women, par-3 holes will be under 220 yards (200 m) from the tee to the green, par-4 holes will be 200–420 yards (180–380 m), par-5 holes will be 370–600 yards (340–550 m) and par-6 holes will be over 570 yards (520 m) These boundaries are commonly extended upwards for elite tournament players, who will often encounter par-4 holes of 500 yards (460 m) or more; this is often the result of a normal par-5 hole being rated as a par-4 for them. Some golf courses feature par-7 holes, but these are not recognised by the United States Golf Association .
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.
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".
What is a birdie hole?
Birdie. A hole score of one stroke fewer than par (one under par, −1) is known as a birdie, e.g. 2 strokes to complete a par 3 hole or 4 strokes on a par 5 hole. This expression was coined in 1899, at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, New Jersey.
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 times has a condor been on a par 5?
As of January 2021, a condor had been recorded only five times on a par-5, once reportedly on a straight drive (a record 517 yards or 473 metres, aided by the thin air at high altitude in Denver ). Another was reportedly achieved with a 3-iron club (in 1995 on a horseshoe-shaped par-5 hole). In December 2020, a condor on a par-6 was recorded on the 18th hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. A condor has never been achieved during a professional tournament.
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 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 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.
What is the bogey score?
Here Comes the Bogey Man", which was popular at that time. So at Yarmouth and elsewhere the ground score became known as the bogey score. A 'bogle' was a Scottish goblin as far back as the 16th Century and a Bogey-man was a widely used term for a goblin or devil.
What is the meaning of the eagle in golf?
Eagle. "Eagle", a score of two under par for a given hole, was clearly the extension of the theme of birds for good scores from a " birdie " . It would be natural for American golfers to think of the eagle, which is their national symbol and the term seems to have developed only shortly after the 'birdie'.
When was the par standard first used?
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. It was the Ladies Golf Association, who, from 1893, began to develop a national handicapping system for women.
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 does it mean when you make a 4 on a par 4?
If you make a 4 on a par 4, you have just tallied a “par”. “Birdie” and “bogey” are simple once you understand the concept of par. A player makes a “birdie” when he uses one fewer strokes than the par of the hole. If a player needs one stroke more than par to finish a hole, he makes a “bogey.”.
What is a par? A birdie? A bogey?
Let’s start simply with the golf terms “par”, “birdie” and “bogey”. All three of these golf terms refer to scoring.
What does ‘mulligan’ mean in golf?
A mulligan is a golf term that only applies to recreational golfers. Sometimes (and sometimes often) amateur players will hit a poor drive on the 1st hole, whether it is due to nerves or failing to warm up properly. Rather than start off on a bad note, golfers in casual games will sometimes “take a mulligan” and re-play their first shot with a new ball without counting the original bad shot.
Where does the term ‘golf’ come from?
Many believe it is derived from the Scots-language word “goulf”.
What is a forecaddie in golf?
Some think it comes from the golf term “forecaddie”, which is a person that stands in a forward position on each golf hole to pinpoint where the players’ balls go. “Forecaddies” are often in the line of fire and need to be warned when a ball is flying toward them.
What is an 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. That’s because all players are expected to reach the green on par 3s with their tee shot ...
How do you keep your cumulative score?
Players often keep their cumulative score for an entire round by tracking how many shots over or under they are relative to par. If a golfer makes two pars to start a round, he is “even par” for the round. If a player opens with two birdies, he is “two under” for the round.
What is the par rating of a golf hole?
The par rating of a golf hole is up to the hole designers and golf course personnel. But there are guidelines. The USGA has periodically issued guidelines for the par ratings of holes based on their lengths; for example, if a hole is 180 yards, it is rated as a par-3.
Why is a 180 yard hole called a par 3?
So a 180-yard hole is called a par-3 because an expert golfer is expected to hit the green in one stroke, then take two putts to get the ball into the hole, making for three strokes total.
How many yards is a par 3?
1911. (Note: The USGA adopted the use of "par" in 1911, which makes these its first-ever guidelines on par yardages.) Par 3: Up to 225 yards. Par 4: 225 to 425 yards. Par 5: 426 to 600 yards. Par 6: 601 yards or more.
How many yards is the 18th hole?
This sign tells us the 18th hole is 465 yards and has a par of 4. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. Most golfers know the typical par lengths of golf holes instinctively.
Which is easier, the downhill or the uphill?
Which is the easier hole? Everything else about the holes being equal, the downhill hole will be easier than the uphill, because it will play shorter. Even though both holes measure 450 yards, the downhill hole's "effective playing length" is shorter than that of the uphill hole (everything else being equal), because of the effect the way the holes' slope (uphill vs. downhill) has on a how far a golf shot rolls.
Is par yardage based on yards?
It's important to note that the USGA guidelines cited, the current recommended par yardages, are not, in fact, based on actual, measured yards, but on a hole's "effective playing length.". Effective playing length is one of the factors taken into account when a course is given its USGA course rating and USGA slope rating .
