Golf Basics: What is Par?

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Quick Answer

• Par is the target number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to complete a hole.
• It’s primarily determined by the length of the hole, with a little nod to its difficulty.
• Understanding par is your secret handshake for understanding golf scores.

Who This Is For

• Newbies hitting the links for the first time and trying to make sense of it all.
• Anyone who watches golf on TV and wonders what all the “under par” chatter is about.

What to Check First

• The scorecard: This is your cheat sheet. It tells you the par for each hole.
• The course’s total par: It’s the sum of all the individual hole pars. Think of it as the course’s overall challenge rating.
• Hole yardage: This is crucial. It dictates whether a hole is a par 3, par 4, or par 5.
• The definition of “scratch golfer”: This is the imaginary player par is designed for – someone with no handicap.

To get started, grab a golf scorecard. This handy item will be your cheat sheet, clearly showing the par for each hole on the course.

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Understanding What’s a Par in Golf

Step-by-Step Plan: Getting a Handle on Par

1. Action: Grab a scorecard.

What to look for: The number printed next to each hole’s name or number. This is the par. It’s usually a 3, 4, or 5.
Mistake to avoid: Assuming every hole is a par 4. They’re definitely not, and that’s part of the fun.

2. Action: Examine the yardage for each hole.

What to look for: The distance from the tee box to the green. You’ll see that shorter holes are typically par 3s, medium-length holes are par 4s, and the longest ones are par 5s.
Mistake to avoid: Just looking at the par number without considering the yardage. The length is the main driver.

3. Action: Sum up the pars for all the holes.

What to look for: The total par listed for the entire course. This gives you a benchmark for your entire round.
Mistake to avoid: Only focusing on individual holes and forgetting the overall course par. It’s like looking at individual trees and missing the forest.

4. Action: Familiarize yourself with the scoring terms relative to par.

What to look for: Terms like “birdie” (one stroke under par), “bogey” (one stroke over par), “eagle” (two strokes under par), and “double bogey” (two strokes over par).
Mistake to avoid: Getting these terms mixed up. A birdie is good, a bogey is less good. Simple as that.

5. Action: Understand the typical number of shots for each par.

What to look for: For a par 3, you’re expected to hit the green in one shot and take two putts. For a par 4, you aim for the green in two shots and two putts. For a par 5, it’s three shots to the green and two putts.
Mistake to avoid: Thinking you have to make a birdie on every hole. Par is the standard, not the minimum.

Decoding Golf Scoring: What’s a Par?

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Confusing your actual score with the par for the hole.

Why it matters: This is the most basic scoring error. You’ll think you’re doing great when you’re actually well over par, or vice-versa. It’s like measuring your hike by how many steps you could have taken.
Fix: Keep a clear mental or physical tally of your strokes for each hole, and then compare that to the scorecard’s par.

• Mistake: Not understanding the yardage guidelines for different par holes.

Why it matters: You won’t know if shooting a 5 on a par 5 is a good score (even par) or a bad one. It disconnects you from the game’s objective.
Fix: Memorize the general yardage ranges: Par 3s are typically under 250 yards for men (shorter for women), Par 4s are between 251-470 yards (men), and Par 5s are over 471 yards (men). Check your local course for exact numbers.

• Mistake: Assuming par is an easy target for every golfer.

Why it matters: Par is set for a “scratch golfer,” meaning someone with a 0 handicap. For most amateurs, hitting par consistently is a serious challenge. This can lead to frustration and discouragement.
Fix: Understand that par is a benchmark of excellence. Focus on your own progress and enjoy the game, rather than solely chasing par.

• Mistake: Forgetting that par is just a guideline, not the only way to play.

Why it matters: You might get so fixated on hitting par that you take unnecessary risks or play shots that aren’t suited to your game, leading to more strokes.
Fix: Use par as a reference, but play smart golf. Sometimes taking a bogey on a tough hole is better than risking a quadruple bogey by going for a hero shot.

• Mistake: Not realizing that par can vary between different tees on the same hole.

Why it matters: Many courses have multiple tee boxes (e.g., gold, blue, white, red). The yardage, and therefore the par, can change depending on which tees you play from.
Fix: Always check the scorecard or tee markers to confirm the par for the specific tees you are playing from.

FAQ

• What is the definition of par in golf?

Par is the predetermined number of strokes that a highly skilled golfer (a “scratch golfer”) is expected to take to complete a given golf hole. It serves as the standard for scoring.

• How is par determined for a golf hole?

Par is primarily determined by the length of the hole from the tee box to the green. Governing bodies like the USGA provide guidelines for yardage ranges that correspond to par 3, par 4, and par 5 holes. Difficulty, such as hazards or elevation changes, can also be a minor factor.

• What are the different types of par (par 3, par 4, par 5)?
• Par 3: These are the shortest holes, typically under 250 yards for men. The expectation is to reach the green in one shot and take two putts.
• Par 4: These are medium-length holes, usually between 251 and 470 yards for men. The expectation is to reach the green in two shots and take two putts.
• Par 5: These are the longest holes, generally over 471 yards for men. The expectation is to reach the green in three shots and take two putts.
• Is par the same for every golf course?

No. While the definition of par is universal, the actual par assigned to each hole, and therefore the total par for the course, varies significantly. A course’s par is the sum of the pars of its individual holes. A typical 18-hole course usually has a total par between 69 and 73.

• What’s a score of “even par” mean?

A score of “even par” means you took exactly the number of strokes designated as par for that hole or for the entire course. For example, if a hole is a par 4 and you finish it in 4 strokes, you shot even par on that hole. If you finish an 18-hole course with a total score equal to the course’s total par, you shot even par for the round.

• What is a “birdie” in golf?

A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a hole. So, if a hole is a par 4 and you complete it in 3 strokes, that’s a birdie. It’s a common and desirable score.

• What is a “bogey” in golf?

A bogey is a score of one stroke over par on a hole. If a hole is a par 4 and you take 5 strokes to finish it, that’s a bogey. It’s a common score for many amateur golfers.