What Is Par in Golf?
Deer Creek Golf Club is one of the best championship golf courses in South Florida, not only can guests enjoy the game in a tropical setting, but they can also take advantage of learning from our experts at our golf school. One of the many things that are taught in our lessons is the basis of the basics, for example, what is par in golf? What does it mean and how do you keep score?
Par in golf means the number of strokes set to get the ball in the hole. It is a standard score that is established for each hole depending on its length. The par score is the average number of strokes it takes to complete the hole from the tee box. This is then calculated into the total score for each golfer for the entire course.
Different Types of Golf Course Par
On a regulation golf course, there are typically three types of holes:
- Par 3
- Par 4
- Par 5
A Par 3 means that the golfer is expected to reach the green in one stroke, then get the ball into the hole in two putts for three shots. This type of par is the shortest hole on the course but that doesn’t mean it is the easiest.
Par 4 holes, expect each golfer to reach the green in two strokes and get the ball in the hole with another 2 putts. Par 4s can often have wide variations of distances including over 500 yards for professional golfers.
On a Par 5 hole, golfers are expected to take three strokes to hit the green due to it typically being the longest hole on any golf course. Players often try to take advantage of the par 5 and hit the green in 2 strokes, still 2 putts to get the ball into the hole. Which means they completed the hole in 4 instead of 5.
How to Keep Par Score?
Golfer’s scores are in relation to the par, especially in more professional games of golf. Some of you may have heard terms like “Bogey” or “Birdie” used when talking about a player’s score. However, one means one worse than par while the other is one better. Here are a few other par score terms players would know when learning what is par in golf;
Good Terms:
- Birdie – This is one shot less than the par set on a single hole. A par score of 3 on a par 4 hole is called a birdie.
- Eagle – This indicates two less than par on a single hole. Completing a par 5 in three strokes is an eagle.
- Albatross/ Double Eagle – Albatross means three less than a set par. Finishing a par 5 in two strokes is called an Albatross or Double Eagle.
- Condor – This means a hole-in-one on a Par 5. This is the rarest of all golf scores. As of recently, there are only five recorded condors in history.
Bad Terms:
- Bogey – This means one shot more than par.
- Double Bogey – Two shots more than par is called a double bogey.
- Triple Bogey – This is three shots over par on a single hole.
- Quadruple Bogey – This means four shots more than par on a single hole. This is the last specific name for any score over par.
Contact Deer Creek Golf Club!
If there are any further questions, contact Deer Creek today! You can also check out our tee times to come to test out your new knowledge on our course.