Last Updated on January 9, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Even if you aren’t a golfer, chances are you have heard the word, par. The par golf meaning, how it impacts your scoring and its role in the game are all critical factors for golfers to understand. As a former Class A PGA Professional and golf course membership director, I’ve had a lot of experience with the term par and its meaning. I’ll show you everything you need to know so you can sound like a golf expert and understand the game.
Par Golf Meaning
Par in golf applies to both individual holes and entire rounds. It represents the pre-determined number of shots, as per the scorecard, needed to get the ball in the hole.
A par is set based on the hole’s length, typically determined by course designers. For example, a par-5 hole allows 5 shots for par, a par-4 allows 4, and a par-3 hole allows 3 shots.
When a golfer says they played ‘par golf’ for a round, their total strokes equaled the course’s standard par, usually 72.
This standard includes two par 3s and two par 5s per nine holes, with the rest being par 4s. Even with variations in their play, such as bogeys and birdies, finishing with a score that matches the course par is called playing ‘par golf.'”
How is Par Determined For an Individual Golf Hole?
As a golfer, you will never have to decide what par should be for a hole. The total number of strokes that you are expected to use to get the ball in the hole is permanently printed on a scorecard. Par is determined by the length of a hole, with a par 5 being the longest. The average lengths for par 3, 4, and 5 holes are as follows:
| Hole Type | Average Length for Women | Average Length for Men |
| Par 3 | 120 to 190 yards | 130 to 230 yards |
| Par 4 | 250 to 400 yards | 300 to 450 yards |
| Par 5 | 400 to 550 yards | 450 to 600 yards |
What Is A Par Golfer?
A par golfer is considered to be an expert golfer. They can get the ball in an individual hole within the par range. A par golfer is often referred to as a scratch golfer. Par golfers shoot right around 70-74 for a round of golf, with their average being an even par 72.
The average golfer can make a par from time to time. However, they are also somewhat likely to double bogey on the next hole. Finishing with a total round score of par or having your average stroke play round to be even par is a sign of an excellent player.
Is It Good to Make a Par?
A par is an excellent score on a hole, especially for recreational golfers. As a professional, I’m happy to make a par unless I miss an easy opportunity for a birdie. Some golf holes are so tricky that making a par feels like a win, even for professional golfers.
However, shooting par at a par-72 course will not be enough to be a professional golfer.
You will need to be under par. Look at any PGA Tour event and see the final scores on a day or at the end of the event; most of the time, it requires scores in the mid-60s to win an event. Well below the par level.
One of the exceptions for this can be major championships like U.S. Opens, where golf course conditions are so hard that making a par is more like making a birdie. As an amateur player, chances are you won’t run into this situation all that much. A regulation golf course for amateur play is set up much more fairly.
What Is The Easiest Hole To Par?
Many amateur players find that par 5 and par 3 are the most accessible holes to par.
The par 3 only allows one shot to get the ball on the green, so the first shot must be good. However, the par 3 hole is considerably shorter and can allow amateurs to use a short iron to approach the green. Once on the green, two putts will help you finish at level par.
Par 5 can also be a more accessible to par as you have options for how you plan to play the hole.
You will need a solid tee shot and a second shot, but your approach to the green should not be as long.
The par-4 hole tends to be the trickiest to par because it needs a great tee shot, and the second shot into the green is usually a little longer, in the 130-210-yard range. Hitting accurate shots from this distance into a green becomes challenging for players. If you are interested in how GIR (Greens in Regulation) in golf comes into play with par and scoring, take a look at my complete guide.
| Term | Description | Par 4 Example |
| Par | The expected number of strokes to complete a hole | 4 strokes |
| Birdie | One stroke under par | 3 strokes |
| Eagle | Two strokes under par | 2 strokes |
| Double Eagle | Three strokes under par (also called an Albatross) | 1 stroke |
| Bogey | One stroke over par | 5 strokes |
| Double Bogey | Two strokes over par | 6 strokes |
| Triple Bogey | Three strokes over par | 7 strokes |
| Quadruple Bogey | Four strokes over par | 8 strokes |
History of the Term Par in Golf
Most golf words originated in Scotland and England with the start of the game. The term “par” in golf comes from the stock exchange term meaning “equal” or “average.” In the late 19th century, golfers considered a “bogey” the standard or ideal score for a skilled golfer on a hole.
As golf evolved, the term “par” was introduced. Over time, par became the standard term used to describe this benchmark score, and the concept of bogey was adjusted to mean one over par.
The system of using par to rate holes and courses became widely adopted and remained a central aspect of scoring in golf.
Frequently Asked Questions
The par golf meaning doesn’t need to be complicated. Once you understand golf scoring, you start to see how total par and average score work. Here are a few questions that you may still have lingering.
What does par mean in golf?
Par is the number of strokes a player is allotted to get the golf ball in the hole. The ideal score for any amateur golfer is par, but birdies and eagles are what the professionals will seek.
What is par 3 in golf?
A par 3 is a golf hole requiring three strokes to get the ball in. The first shot should land on the green. At that point a golfer has two putts to get the ball in the hole. Anything over or above this would not be considered par.
What does the par number mean in golf?
The par number in golf is essentially your goal for the hole. On a par 4 hole you will want to get the ball in the hole with four shots or less. Taking fewer strokes would be a birdie or eagle. An expert player is typically capable of making a par on almost all or most holes on the entire course.
What is 6 over par called?
A 6 over par is called a sextuple bogey. For golfers with a handicap following the World Golf Handicap system, the ball would be picked up before reaching the level of 6 over par on a particular hole.
What is par for 18 holes?
Par for 18 holes is usually 72. Executive courses can have par ratings from 60 to 70, but most championship golf courses have a par of 72.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the par golf’s meaning is one thing. Making a par on a given hole is another. Check a hole’s par rating to get a good idea of how far it is, what your strategy should be, and how you can optimize your golf score. As any seasoned golfer will tell you, making a par is great.
