how many of each par in a golf course

by Ericka Bradtke 4 min read

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.

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.

Full Answer

What is the par for a hole in a golf course?

Holes are generally assigned par values between three and five. 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. Par is primarily determined by the playing length of each hole from the teeing ground to the putting green.

How many par-3s should I put in my golf course?

A good designer will generally put in four par-3s (two per each nine holes), 10 par-4s (five per nine holes) and four par-5s (two per nine holes). But this is a very general guideline -- it is determined by the landowner's wishes, the terrain of the land, and a million other variables.

What is the average par on a full-size 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.

Is 18 holes always par 72?

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.

Is every golf course par 72?

Nowadays, almost all private and public golf courses have a standard of 72 as their par. In other words, a majority of all modern day golf courses have a standardized baseline of 72 par. Both the USGA and R&A have made efforts to standardize what par is.

How many shots is par on a golf course?

Par is the number of shots considered an even score. For example, a par-5 hole requires the golfer to hit five shots from the tee box to the cup in order to attain a par score. The par score for most 18-hole golf courses ranges from 70 to 72, and typically includes a majority of par-4 holes.

How many strokes is par for 18 holes?

On a typical 18-hole championship course, the par is 72, and a score of 99 equates to 27 over par.

Is 92 a good golf score?

In golf, scores less than 120 strokes are seen as respectable, or “good” scores among amateur golfers. While 90 stroke scores are considered average, scores below 120 strokes on an 18-hole course are seen amongst the golf community as relatively good.

Is 79 a good golf score?

The average golf score that is considered to be 'good' for college players is as follows: For men can be anywhere within 68-80. For women, the average scores are between 70-92.

How long is a par 5?

Current Yardage Guidelines for Par RatingsMenWomenPar 3Up to 250 yardsUp to 210 yardsPar 4251 to 470 yards211 to 400 yardsPar 5471 to 690 yards401 to 575 yardsPar 6691 yards+576 yards+Nov 4, 2019

What is 3 shots under par 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 standard par in golf?

The standard par for a course is 72, meaning the average golfer shoots 28 strokes over par to shoot her 100. A milestone such as becoming a bogey golfer, meaning you average shooting 1 over par on every hole, would lead to an average score of 90 strokes.

Is 81 a good golf score?

An average golf score is 90 strokes for every 18 holes played. This score applies to an amateur golfer playing on a par 72 course. A good golf score is a maximum of 108 strokes, while a bad score is considered to be 120 strokes or higher.

What does 72 mean in golf?

A hole with a par of 4 is one that an expert golfer is expected to need four strokes to complete, for example. A golf course that an expert golfer is expected to need 72 holes to complete is called a par-72 course. And "even par" (often shortened to just "even") means that the golfer matched that par number in strokes.

Is 80 a good golf score?

Only about 2 percent of all golfers ever break 80, which generally is considered the Holy Grail of scoring. To legitimately break 80 — no improved lies; no 3-foot gimmes; no free drop from out of bounds — is to breathe the rarefied air of good, if not great 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.

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.

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 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.

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 .

Where is the Par 3 golf course?

The "par 3" or pitch and putt course in Shibden Hall, England. Pitch and putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf and is also known as chip and putt. The maximum hole length for international competitions is 90 metres (100 yd) with a maximum total course length of 1,200 metres (1,310 yd).

How many holes are there in a golf round?

The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin". A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes. Most courses contain 18 holes; some share fairways or greens, and a subset has nine holes, played twice per round. Par-3 courses consist of nine or 18 holes all of which have a par of three strokes.

How many markers are there in a golf tee box?

Each tee box has two markers showing the bounds of the legal tee area. The teeing area spans the distance between the markers, and extends two-club lengths behind the markers. A golfer may play the ball standing outside the teeing area, but the ball itself must be placed and struck from within the area.

What is the first section of a golf hole?

The first section of every hole consists of the teeing ground, or tee-box. There is typically more than one available box where a player places his ball, each one a different distance from the hole (and possibly with a different angle of approach to the green or fairway) to provide differing difficulty.

What is the farthest tee in golf?

White – Farther still, typically used by low-to-average-handicap men and low-handicap teenage boys. Black or Blue – The farthest tee from the hole and with the most exposure to any major hazards; typically used only during tournaments or by zero-handicap ("scratch") male players.

What is a golf course?

Aerial view of a golf course ( Golfplatz Wittenbeck at the Baltic Sea, Germany) A golf course is the grounds where the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup".

How deep is a hole in a golf green?

The hole, or cup, is always found within the green and must have a diameter of 108 millimeters (4.25 in) and a depth of at least 10 centimeters (3.94 in). Its position on the green is not fixed and typically is changed daily by a greenskeeper in order to prevent excessive localized wear and damage to the turf.

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 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 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.

What is a score of one stroke more than par?

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.

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).

What is a perfect round?

The perfect round (score of 54 on a par-72 course) is most commonly described as scoring a birdie on all 18 holes, but no player has ever recorded a perfect round in a professional tournament.

What is the par of a golf course?

The Par of a Golf Course. For 18 holes of golf, the par is the total number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to require to complete the course. Most full-size golf courses range from pars of 69 to 74, with par-70, par-71 and par-72 courses most common.

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.".

How many strokes to reach green on par 3?

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. On a par-4, he should need two strokes to reach the green, followed by two putts, for four 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.

What does "par" mean in golf?

"Par" is also used to describe a golfer's scoring performance on an individual hole or for a complete round of golf. If you complete a par-4 hole having used four strokes, then you are said to have "parred the hole." This is also referred to as being "even-par" or " level par ."

How many strokes does a par 5 take?

On a par-5, she is expected to reach the green in three strokes, followed by two putts, for five strokes total. There aren't official rules about how long a hole has to be to be called a par 3, 4 or 5, but governing bodies have published guidelines for the length of holes and par ratings .

What are the basic parts of a golf course?

Being aware of and understanding the basic parts of a golf course, such as greens, fairways and bunkers, can better prepare golfers for success on the links.

What are the different types of golf courses?

There are many different course styles including, traditional, links, desert, seaside, forested and each has something different to offer. Each golf course provides a different set of challenges depending on the design and layout of the course.

What is the rough in golf?

Rough. The rough is the longer-cut area of grass surrounding the fairway and green. To be successful, avoid the rough, which is normally allowed to grow longer the farther it is located from the greens and fairways. Hitting from the rough means players must use more club than they normally would to reach the green.

What is the most closely mowed area of grass on a golf course?

Green. Greens, the most closely mowed areas of grass on the course, are where the hole is located and players putt. Greens can vary depending on the conditions of the course. For example, in hot, dry conditions, a green will play faster than usual and approach shots will be less likely to hold on the green. In wet conditions, the greens will be ...

What happens when you read the greens before putting?

When reading greens before a putt, pay attention to the highest point on the surface--putts will usually roll away from that point.

How to determine par on a golf hole?

Par is determined for each hole simply by distance. or what's called the Effective Playing Length of the hole. For example, if a hole typically plays downwind, and it goes downhill, then the hole is not going to play the length on ...

How many yards are par 3s?

Over the century-plus the USGA has issued these guidelines, the distances haven't changed much -- approximately 25 yards on par 3s (from 225 yards to 250 yards), and that playing out through the rest ...

How many yards is a 500 yard hole?

All of a sudden, a 500-yard hole may play more like 440 yards, putting it squarely into a par 4. These are the USGA guidelines for the par on each hole based on length. There's a minimum yardage and a maximum yardage for a hole to be considered a par 3, par 4, par 5 or even a par 6.

Why is a par 3 golf course considered a par 3?

A hole is given a Par 3 ranking because the course designer believes a total of 3 strokes are definitely achievable with enough skill.

How many holes are there in a regulation golf course?

Regulation golf courses comprise of 18 holes but vary in length. It’s common to see four short holes which are about 130-400 yards in length. Added are ten average holes that are 350-400 yards, and four longer holes of 450-550 yards distance between the holes.

How much of a golf course is tees and greens?

5% of the total golf course is allotted to the most significant part of the golf course known as the tees and the greens. This area scales around 6 acres. After the main elements of the course are planned, the golf course should also account for the clubhouse, storage, and parking areas.

What is a golf course?

A golf course is a field or a ground in which the game of golf is played. The grounds enclose a series of holes each consisting of a ‘fairway’ surrounded by the green. The rough and several ‘hazards’ included in the out of play area, the greens and tees, occupy approximately 5% of the total space. Seemingly simple, golf courses vary not only in ...

What is rough golf?

Rough is an area that every golf player tries to avoid having their ball in. Only superintendents and the maintenance crew deal with the rough on a regular basis. It’s very important to maintain the roughs properly and in perfect condition.

How many miles does a golf course cover?

Average Golf Course Length in Miles. The golf course length on the PGA tour covers around 7,200 yards which is 4.09 miles. A PGA player on an average plays about 78 rounds in a year spanning 319 miles a season.

How long is a golf course?

The average length of a golf course is 6,700 yards (6 .12 kms). If you’re a professional and play on the PGA tour, you’ll probably be playing on a golf course which spans a length of about 7,200 – 7,300 yards.

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Current Yardage Guidelines For Par Ratings

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Keep in mind what, exactly, par represents: A hole's par is the number of strokesan expert golfer is expected to need to complete the hole. And all pars (3, 4, 5 or 6) include two putts. 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 …
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Current Guidelines Represent 'Effective Playing length'

  • 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. The easiest way to understand "effective playing length" is to pictu…
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How The Par and Yardage Guidelines Have Changed

  • Prior to the introduction of effective playing length into course ratings, the yardage guidelines for hole pars were based on actual, measured yards. It's interesting to see how they've changed over the years. We have three examples below; in each case, the yardages listed are for men: 1911 (Note: The USGA adopted the use of "par" in 1911, which makes these its first-ever guidelines o…
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Overview

A golf course is the grounds where the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin". A standard round of golf consists of 18 holes. Most courses contain 18 holes; some share fairways or greens, and a s…

Design

Although a specialty within landscape design or landscape architecture, golf course architecture is considered a separate field of study. Some golf course architects become celebrities in their own right, such as Robert Trent Jones, Jr.; others are professional golfers of high standing and demonstrated appreciation for golf course composition, such as Jack Nicklaus. The field is partially repres…

Features

The game of golf is played in what is called a "round". This consists of playing a set number of holes in an order predetermined by the course. When playing on an 18-hole course, each hole is played once; whereas, on a nine-hole course each hole can be played twice to complete a round. To begin a hole, players start by striking the ball off a tee. Playing the ball off a tee can only be used o…

Types

Links is a Scottish term, from the Old English word hlinc : "rising ground, ridge", describing coastal sand dunes and sometimes similar areas inland. It is on links land near the towns of central eastern Scotland that golf has been played since the 15th century.
The shallow top soil and sandy subsoil made links land unsuitable for the culti…

Ownership and management

See also: Golf course superintendent, Greenskeeper, Turf management § Golf courses, Equipment manager § Golf, and Groundskeeping
There are three main categories of ownership and management of a golf course: private, commercial, and municipal.
A private course is owned and managed by a golf club on behalf of its members, on a non-profit …

Environmental impact

Environmental concerns over the use of land for golf courses have grown since the 1960s. Specific issues include the amount of water required for irrigation and the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in maintenance, as well as the destruction of wetlands and other environmentally important areas during construction. The United Nations estimates that, worldwide, golf courses cons…

See also

• List of golf course architects

External links

• USGA Course Rating Primer at the website of the United States Golf Association

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 course will 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 it 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…