In golf, a par is a predetermined number of strokes that a golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the total pars of the played holes, also called the course rating), or a tournament (the sum of the total pars of each round). Pars are the central component of stroke play, the most common kind of play in professional golf tournaments.

The length of each hole from the tee placement to the pin determines par values for each hole primarily, though not exclusively. Traditionally, holes are assigned par values between three and five strokes. For a casual player from the middle tees, an average par-three hole will range between 100 to 250 yards from the tee to the pin. Average par-four holes range between 251 and 450 yards, although tournament players will often encounter par-four holes as long as 500 yards as it is not uncommon for short par-five holes for normal play turned into par-four holes in championship play. Average par-five holes are between 451 and 600 yards, but in the 21st century holes of over 600 yards are becoming more common in championship play. Other considered factors include terrain and objects that may require a golfer to take fewer or more shots to overcome (such as trees, water, hills, or buildings). Some golf courses offer par-twos and par-sixes as well.

Typically, championship golf courses have par values of 72, with four par-threes, ten par-fours, and four par-fives. Some championship courses have par values of 71, 70 or 69. Courses not designed for championships may have lower pars, but nonetheless most 18 hole courses have a par close to 72. Courses with pars above 72 are extremely rare.

Course and tournament scores

A golfer's score is determined by how many shots have been taken by the golfer relative to par. If a course has a par of 72 and a golfer takes 75 strokes to complete the course, the golfer's reported score is +3, or "three-over-par". This means that the golfer has taken three shots more than par to complete the course. If a golfer takes 70 strokes, their reported score is -2, or "two-under-par".

Tournament scores are calculated by totaling the golfer's score relative to par in each round (there are four rounds in professional tournaments). If each of the four rounds of a tournament has a par of 72, the tournament par would be 288 and the golfer's score would be recorded relative to the tournament par. 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. This would give the golfer a tournament score of 284, or four-under-par.

Hole scores

Scores on each hole are reported in the same way that course scores are given. Nicknames are given to scores on holes ranging from five-under-par to five-over-par.

Bogey

One-over-par (+1). "Going round in Bogey" originally meant an overall par score, starting at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in 1890, and based on a popular music hall song "Here Comes the Bogey Man". Nationally players competed against "Colonel Bogey" and this in turn gave the title to a 1914 marching tune.

As golf became more standardized in the United States, par scores were tightened and recreational golfers found themselves scoring over par, with bogey changing meaning to one over par. In professional play, bogeys usually result either when a player's ball lands in a hazard (such as a bunker, rough or water hazard) that makes it difficult or impossible to reach the putting surface in the 'regulation' number of strokes - or when a player takes one more putt than would be expected, having reached the green in regulation. Bogeys are relatively common, even in professional play - so much so that it is considered somewhat noteworthy if a player manages to complete a 'bogey-free' round - and they are standard for most casual and club players. A player with a handicap of eighteen would be playing to his or her handicap if they scored a bogey on every hole.

Two or more shots 'dropped' to par result in scores known as a Double-Bogey (two shots over par), Triple-Bogey (three over par) and so on. However, because of the obscurity of higher tuple names, it is more common to hear very high scores referred to by the number of strokes rather than by name. For example, a player having taken 12 shots to negotiate a tough par-three would be far more likely to say "I took a 12" than "I shot a nonuple bogey."

Par

Even (E). The golfer has taken as many strokes as the hole's par number. In theory, pars are achieved by two putts, with the remaining shots being used to reach the green. For example, on a par-five hole, a player would be expected to take three shots to reach the green and two shots to putt the ball into the hole.

Birdie

One-under-par (-1). These most commonly occur when a player's approach shot lands sufficiently close to the hole that he or she requires only one putt to hole out. The term is believed to have originated during a game at the Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, NJ in either 1899 or 1903. It seems that one day, three golfers - William Poultney Smith, founding member of Pine Valley, his brother Ab Smith, and George Crump (who was later to build Pine Valley, about 45 miles away) - were playing together when Crump hit his second shot only inches from the cup on a par-four hole after his first shot had struck a bird in flight. Simultaneously, the Smith brothers exclaimed that Crump's shot was "a bird." Crump's short putt left him one under par for the hole, and from that day the three of them referred to such a score as a "birdie." In short order, the entire membership of the club began using the term and, since as a resort the club had a lot of out-of-town visitors, the expression spread and caught the fancy of all American golfers. The Perfect Round (score of 54 on a par 72 course) is most commonly described as scoring a birdie on all 18 holes.

Eagle

Two-under-par (-2). Eagles most commonly occur on par-fives, when golfers with enough strength can drive to the green in two strokes rather than the expected three, and then hole out with just a single putt. Such also occasionally takes place on short par-fours where a strong golfer drives the tee shot to the green. Less commonly, a player will hole his or her approach shot (either the second shot on a par-four or the third shot on a par-five) to achieve an eagle. Naturally enough, a hole-in-one on a par-three hole also results in an eagle.

Albatross

Three-under-par (-3) which is also sometimes called a double eagle despite the fact that it's technically an eagle and a half. These are extremely rare, and most commonly occur on par-fives with a strong drive and a holed approach shot. Holes-in-one on par-four holes (generally short ones) are also albatrosses. The most famous albatross was made by Gene Sarazen in 1935, which propelled him into a tie for first at The Masters Tournament. He won the playoff the next day. The sportswriters of the day termed it "the shot heard 'round the world". Chip Beck, a more recent touring pro, made an albatross hole-in-one on the par-four ninth hole at the Omaha Classic, a Nationwide Tour event, in 2003. The Players Championship at Sawgrass in May 2007 saw USA's Hunter Mahan making an albatross, followed with another albatross the next day by Australia's Peter Lonard. 16-year old Tadd Fujikawa from Hawaii made one at the Omega European Masters in September 2007, on a long 628 yard par five.[1]

Condor

Four-under-par (-4). Also known as a vulture, triple-eagle or a double-albatross. Scored by hitting a hole-in-one on a par-five or getting the ball in the cup in two strokes on a par 6, (there are no par-6s in the professional game). A condor was scored by Mike Crean on hole 9 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver in 2002. The hole was a par-five at 517 yards. Crean, helped by the high altitude, scored an ace.[2]

Another source suggests that another five are recorded: Shaun Lynch on the 496 yard 17th at Teign Valley in July 1995 and Larry Brice on the 480 yard 5th at Hope CC, Arkansas in 1962. [3][4]