Hole-in-one, albatross and condor: the rare scores explained
Everyone knows birdie and eagle, but what comes next? The complete ladder of golf scores up to the near-mythical condor, how rare each truly is, and the tradition around a hole-in-one.
In this article
Every golfer learns the words birdie and eagle early on, but what lies above them, and how rare is it really? The names of the special scores form a small aviary of their own, from the everyday birdie to the near-mythical condor, recorded only a handful of times in the entire history of the sport.
In short: the scores under par are birdie (minus 1), eagle (minus 2), albatross (minus 3) and condor (minus 4). A hole-in-one is usually an eagle or a birdie, depending on the hole's par. And yes, whoever makes one traditionally buys a round in the clubhouse.
The complete ladder
Scores are expressed relative to par, the strokes a good player needs for a hole.
|
Score |
Name |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Par minus 4 |
Condor |
4 under par, near-mythical |
|
Par minus 3 |
Albatross (double eagle) |
3 under par, extremely rare |
|
Par minus 2 |
Eagle |
2 under par |
|
Par minus 1 |
Birdie |
1 under par |
|
Par |
Par |
Exactly the standard |
|
Par plus 1 |
Bogey |
1 over par |
|
Par plus 2 |
Double bogey |
2 over par |
|
Par plus 3 |
Triple bogey |
3 over par |
Where the bird names come from
Around 1900, "bird" was American slang for something excellent. An outstanding shot leading to one under par became a "birdie", and once that was a bird, the rest followed the logic of the ladder: a rarer score became a bigger bird. The eagle at two under, the albatross at three under, the condor at four under. In the United States the albatross is also called a "double eagle", which confuses because it means three under par, not four; in Europe, albatross is the common term.
How rare is each score?
Birdie: routine for better players, a highlight for the average amateur. Eagle: rare and memorable, usually on a par 5 reached in two. Hole-in-one: the best-known rare event; an often-quoted estimate for an average player is around 1 in 12,500 per par 3. Albatross: far rarer than a hole-in-one, usually requiring a par 5 holed in two; many lifelong golfers never make one. Condor: near-mythical, four under par, in practice a hole-in-one on a par 5, documented only a handful of times.
The hole-in-one: par decides the name
A hole-in-one is not one fixed score; it depends on the par. On a par 3 the ball in one is two under, technically an eagle. On a par 4, three under, an albatross, possible only on short, drivable holes. On a par 5 it would be a condor. In everyday speech we simply say hole-in-one.
The tradition: whoever makes one, buys
Perhaps the best-known unwritten rule of the sport: make a hole-in-one and you traditionally buy a round in the clubhouse. It is not compulsory, but it belongs to the game. Because the bill can mount, hole-in-one insurance exists. For validity, as with any score, it needs a witness or a rules-compliant record on the card. And if you make one, keep the ball, but mark it before lifting it from the hole.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, an albatross or a hole-in-one? It depends on the hole. An albatross (minus 3) is rarer than an average hole-in-one on a par 3 (minus 2). A hole-in-one on a par 4 is an albatross.
Is there anything below a condor? In theory five under par (an "ostrich") on a par 6. Never seriously documented and more a mythical creature.
Does a hole-in-one on the practice course count? For the stories yes, for your handicap no: only qualifying rounds count.
At Zalm Golf we lay the foundation so that birdies come within reach more and more often, during the Handicap 54 course and beyond.