Understanding Par: How It’s Calculated on a Golf Course
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Quick Answer
- Par is the target score for a skilled golfer on a hole or an entire course.
- It’s calculated based on hole length, with longer holes generally having higher pars.
- A standard 18-hole course usually has a par between 70 and 72.
To keep track of your scores and understand your progress against par, a good set of golf scorecards is essential.
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Who This Is For
- New golfers just getting their heads around the lingo and how the game is scored.
- Casual players who want to dig a little deeper into why courses are laid out the way they are and how to score better.
- Anyone curious about the strategy behind course design and how it
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.