Par
Par is the predetermined number of strokes for a hole or the entire course.
Par is the basic unit of golf. Every hole has a par value, usually 3, 4 or 5. It is based on the length of the hole plus two putts on the green. So ideally you reach a par 3 with your tee shot, then two putts. A par 4 requires a tee shot and an approach shot, a par 5 adds a third stroke. Some courses have a par 6, but that remains the exception. Adding up all 18 holes gives you the course par. Values between 70 and 72 are common. Short courses and executive courses sit well below that.
On the scorecard the par of each hole is listed right next to its length. It serves as a reference for your score. If you play a par 4 in four strokes, you write down "par". Five strokes are a bogey, three strokes a birdie. In stroke play the absolute strokes count; par is only a guide there. In Stableford, by contrast, it directly determines your points.
A common misconception: par is not a personal target for every golfer. It describes the performance of a scratch player, that is, a golfer with a handicap of 0. For most amateurs, par per hole is a very good result. Your personal benchmark results from your handicap index and the handicap strokes allocated to you. With a handicap of 24 you are entitled to around 24 additional strokes over 18 holes. Your personal par on a par 4 is then often five. Those who understand this play more relaxed and make better decisions.
How high the par of a facility is, you can see in the details of the golf courses in the directory.
FAQ
How is the par value of a hole determined?
It is based on the length of the hole plus two putts on the green. Ideally you reach a par 3 with your tee shot, a par 4 requires a tee shot and an approach shot, a par 5 adds a third stroke. On the scorecard, the par of each hole is listed right next to its length.
Is par a realistic goal for me as a recreational golfer?
Only to a limited extent, because par describes the performance of a scratch player with a handicap of zero, not the average. Your personal benchmark results from your handicap index and the strokes allocated to you — with a handicap of 24, your personal par on a par 4 is often five. Those who understand this play more relaxed and make better decisions.
What do birdie and bogey mean in relation to par?
Both describe your result on a hole compared with par. A birdie is one stroke under par, for example three strokes on a par 4; a bogey is one over par. In stroke play these terms help you classify your result; in Stableford the deviation from par directly determines your points.