what is par for a golf course

by Delbert Franecki 7 min read

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.

What does par stand for in golf?

Par noun (Golf) The number of strokes required for a hole or a round played without mistake, two strokes being allowed on each hole for putting. Par represents perfect play, whereas bogey makes allowance on some holes for human frailty. Thus if par for a course is 75, bogey is usually put down, arbitrarily, as 81 or 82.

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 the highest par rating in golf?

  • LA QUINTA / CALIF. / 7,266 YARDS / PAR 72. ...
  • OAKMONT / PA. / 7,255 YARDS / PAR 71. ...
  • FARMINGDALE / N.Y. / 7,386 YARDS / PAR 71. ...
  • ASHEBORO / N.C. / 6,543 YARDS / PAR 72. ...
  • HAVEN / WIS. / 7,362 YARDS / PAR 72. ...
  • PINE VALLEY / N.J. / 6,999 YARDS / PAR 70. ...
  • SANFORD / N.C. / 6,554 YARDS / PAR 71. ...
  • MAMARONECK / N.Y. ...
  • HOBE SOUND / FLA. ...
  • SCOTTSDALE / 7,412 YARDS / PAR 72. ...

More items...

What is five over par in golf?

In golf, any score, whether on an individual hole or for a completed round, that is higher than the par rating for that hole or for the round is said to be "over par." "Over par" is usually spoken and denoted in relation to par itself; for example, a score of 5 on a par-4 is termed "1-over par."

Is every golf course par 72?

Are all golf courses 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.

What is par for most golf courses?

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.

What is a par score for 18 holes?

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

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 79 a good golf score?

A good score for a professional golfer is typically under 72. Professional golfers are a clear outlier in this discussion. Typically, the pros perform somewhere below this 90 stroke average and often have games below the 72 stroke par of a course.

What is the lowest par in golf?

55The lowest officially recorded round is 55 by Rhein Gibson (12 birdies and two eagles on a par 71) on May 12, 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Is 100 a good golf score?

Since a score of 100 is considered an average score for an average golfer, you'll be considered an above-average golfer if you can consistently break 100.

Why is it called par in golf?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "par" derives from the Latin, meaning "equal" or "equality," and dates to the 16th Century. Outside of golf, the word is often used to denote a standard level or to mean average, usual, ordinary. If something is "subpar," it is below average.

Is 91 a good golf score?

According to the USGA, the average score for recreational players is 91 on a par 72 golf course. These numbers take into account everyone who actively records their scores and reports them online, and since a lot of golfers don't do this, the average golf score for all golfers is much closer to 100.

What does t mean in golf?

Applies to United States Golf Association (USGA) handicaps. A "T-Score" is any round considered to have been played under a formal competitive setting, such as a sanctioned tournament - i.e., one where a player would not be expected to sandbag.

Why are golf shots named after birds?

Used to score one under par. It began to be used in 1899 in New Jersey. It turns out that on one game day, three golfers were playing when one of them, on his second stroke, hit a bird in flight with the ball and it landed very, very close to the hole. The teammates said it was a stroke of luck for a 'birdie'.

What does the E stand for in golf?

even parMost 18-hole golf courses range from par 70 to 72. When the number of strokes taken matches par, it's considered even par, signified with an "E" on most scoreboards. If a player completes the hole in one shot less par, or birdie, minus 1 is calculated on the scoreboard.

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 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.

How many yards can a scratch golfer send on a stroke?

The main issue about distance and par is that it’s thought that a scratch golfer can generally send a golf ball more than 275 yards on a single stroke. Of course, that doesn’t take into account all ...

How many strokes does it take to change a par in golf?

Changing Par. 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.

How many pars are there in a championship golf course?

Championship courses are made with a variety of different pars, adding up to an average par of 72 for 18 holes. The thought behind the par given to each hole is that it should take no more than one, two, or three shots to the green and then no more than two shots to the hole.

Is technology helping golfers?

That certainly was before the invention of technology that helps many golfers make greater lengths with their drives. While golfers have a history of blaming their equipment, this is an instance where their equipment is working entirely too well. While technology and even the golf course par may change in the future, ...

So what is par on a golf course?

This is a common question that can have several answers, depending on the intent of the person asking.

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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.

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 .

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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 co…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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