What Does 'Par' Mean in Golf? (And Why It Matters)
Par is the expected score for a hole. Learn how par is set, what under par and over par mean, and why par is the backbone of competitive golf.
By Marcus Bell, PGA Teaching Professional
What Does "Par" Mean in Golf? (And Why It Matters)
In golf, "par" is the number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole. Par is calculated based on the length of the hole and the assumption that a player will reach the green in regulation (one fewer stroke than par) and then two-putt. An 18-hole course typically has a total par of 70 to 72, made up of par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. Every score in golf, from birdies to bogeys, is measured against par.
Key Takeaways
- Par is the expected score for a skilled golfer on a hole.
- Par 3 holes are short (under 250 yards), par 4 holes are mid-length, par 5 holes are long.
- "Under par" is good, "over par" is not.
- Most full-length courses have a total par of 72.
- Par is the universal scoring reference in golf and the basis of the handicap system.
What Does "Par" Stand for in Golf?
Par is not an acronym. The term comes from the late 1800s and refers to the standard or normal expectation for completing something. In golf, it specifically means the number of strokes a scratch golfer (a player with a 0.0 handicap) should take on a hole, assuming two putts on the green.
The formula is simple:
Par = Number of strokes to reach the green + 2 putts
A 150-yard hole might be a par 3 because a skilled player can reach the green in one shot and then two-putt. A 550-yard hole might be a par 5 because it takes three shots to reach the green plus two putts.
How Is Par Determined for a Golf Hole?
The USGA and R&A use yardage as the primary factor in setting par. The standard guidelines are:
- Par 3: Up to 250 yards for men, up to 210 yards for women
- Par 4: 251 to 470 yards for men, 211 to 400 yards for women
- Par 5: 471 to 690 yards for men, 401 to 575 yards for women
- Par 6: 691+ yards for men, 576+ yards for women (extremely rare)
These ranges are guidelines. Course architects can also factor in elevation, wind, hazards, and green design to bump a hole up or down. A 240-yard hole over water with a tiny green might play as a par 4 even though it falls in the par 3 yardage band.
What Is a Good Par Score in Golf?
Featured snippet target: Golf Score Terms Compared to Par
| Term | Strokes vs Par | Example on Par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Albatross (Double Eagle) | 3 under | Score of 1 |
| Eagle | 2 under | Score of 2 |
| Birdie | 1 under | Score of 3 |
| Par | Even | Score of 4 |
| Bogey | 1 over | Score of 5 |
| Double Bogey | 2 over | Score of 6 |
| Triple Bogey | 3 over | Score of 7 |
| Quadruple Bogey | 4 over | Score of 8 |
Scoring at or under par is excellent. The average male golfer scores around 14 over par for an 18-hole round (handicap index of approximately 14.0). The average female golfer scores around 28 over par. Anything under par for the round puts you in the top 5% of all golfers.
What Is Par for an 18-Hole Course?
A standard 18-hole course has a par of 72, made up of:
- 4 par-3 holes (12 strokes total)
- 10 par-4 holes (40 strokes total)
- 4 par-5 holes (20 strokes total)
Total: 72 strokes
Some courses vary from this layout. Executive courses (shorter courses with fewer par 5s) might have a par of 60 or 65. Championship courses with multiple long par 4s might have a par of 70. Augusta National, home of the Masters, plays as a par 72 with four par 5s.
What Is Par for 9 Holes?
For a standard 9-hole course or the front/back nine of an 18-hole course, par is typically 35 or 36. A par 36 nine usually contains:
- 2 par-3 holes
- 5 par-4 holes
- 2 par-5 holes
A par 35 nine has one fewer par 5 and one more par 4.
Why Does Par Matter in Golf?
Par is the foundation of the entire scoring system. Without par, scores would be meaningless. Three reasons par matters:
1. Universal Reference
A 75 means nothing without context. A 75 on a par 72 (3 over) is good. A 75 on a par 70 (5 over) is less impressive. Par lets golfers compare scores across courses and rounds.
2. Handicap Calculation
The World Handicap System uses score differentials based on course rating, which is closely tied to par. Without par, the handicap system would not exist. See [LINK: How to Calculate Your Golf Handicap] for the full breakdown.
3. Competitive Scoring
Stroke play, match play, Stableford, and Modified Stableford all rely on par as the benchmark for scoring. Tournaments report scores as "5 under par" or "3 over par" because the raw number matters less than the relationship to par.
What Is the Difference Between Par and Course Rating?
Par is the expected score for a scratch golfer based on yardage and hole design. Course rating is the actual score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot on a specific course from specific tees, accounting for all the course's difficulty factors.
For example, a course might have a par of 72 but a course rating of 73.4 from the back tees. This means a scratch golfer should average about 73.4 on that course, even though par is 72. The 1.4-stroke gap reflects added difficulty from wind, terrain, narrow fairways, or fast greens.
Where Do the Names "Birdie," "Eagle," and "Bogey" Come From?
Birdie
The term originated in 1899 at the Atlantic City Country Club. A player named Ab Smith hit a great approach to inches from the hole and called it "a bird of a shot." The score (one under par) became known as a birdie.
Eagle
Eagle followed birdie as a logical extension. If a great shot was a bird, an even better shot deserved a bigger bird. Two under par became an eagle.
Albatross
Even rarer than eagle, the albatross (three under par) is the largest bird in golf vocabulary. It is sometimes called a double eagle in the United States.
Bogey
Originally, bogey meant the expected score for a good amateur, which was usually one stroke higher than what would later become par. As the game evolved, par replaced bogey as the standard and bogey became "one over par."
How Do I Improve My Score Against Par?
Most amateurs lose strokes against par in two areas: short game and course management. If you currently shoot in the 90s and want to shoot in the 80s, focus your practice on:
- Wedge shots inside 100 yards
- Putting from inside 10 feet
- Smart decisions on trouble shots
See [LINK: How to Break 90 in Golf] for a complete plan.
FAQ: Par in Golf
Q: Is par the same on every course? A: No. Total course par varies by design, typically between 70 and 72 for full-length 18-hole courses. The par of each individual hole is set by the architect based on yardage and difficulty.
Q: What is "par for the course"? A: The total par for an 18-hole round. On a course where each hole sums to par 72, "par for the course" is 72.
Q: Can par change over time? A: Rarely. A hole can be re-rated if it is significantly lengthened or shortened, but most pars stay the same for decades.
Q: What is a "par save"? A: Making par after missing the green in regulation. For example, hitting your second shot into a bunker on a par 4, then chipping out and making the putt for 4.
Q: What does "even par" mean? A: Your score equals the par of the course. If you shoot 72 on a par 72, you are even par.
Q: Are par 6 holes real? A: Yes, but extremely rare. A few courses around the world have par 6 holes, usually over 700 yards. The longest par 6 in major championships history was a Whistling Straits hole that played at 643 yards.
Join Flighting to track your rounds and unlock rewards.