SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/golf-par-definition
What does the golf term par mean?
Par is the expected score for an expert player on a hole.
- Expected score for an expert player ✔
- Average score for all players
- Highest score without a penalty
Why: Par is the score a scratch golfer would generally be expected to make on a hole in normal conditions, allowing for two putts.
Huh, didn't know that: Current R&A guidance includes par 6 for sufficiently long holes, so par is not limited to 3, 4, or 5.
I'm feeling a bit under par today, which on a golf course is great news.
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References
Answer: Expected score for an expert player. Par is the score a scratch golfer would generally be expected to make on a hole in normal conditions, allowing for two putts.
- The R&A, Rules of Handicapping, Definitions www.randa.org/en/roh/definitions
The score that a scratch player would generally be expected to achieve on a hole under normal course and weather conditions
Checked 2026-10-12.
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