An albatross is a score of three under par on a single hole: holing out in two on a par 5, or making a hole-in-one on a par 4. A condor is four under par, and almost every recorded condor has been a hole-in-one on a par 5. Both are far rarer than an ordinary hole-in-one. In the United States an albatross is usually called a double eagle.
Golf score names at a glance
The name of a score on a hole depends on how many strokes it is above or below par. The table shows what each score is called on a par 3, par 4 and par 5.
| Score vs. par | Name | Par 3 | Par 4 | Par 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −4 | Condor | ― | ― | 1 stroke |
| −3 | Albatross (double eagle) | ― | 1 stroke | 2 strokes |
| −2 | Eagle | 1 stroke | 2 strokes | 3 strokes |
| −1 | Birdie | 2 strokes | 3 strokes | 4 strokes |
| 0 | Par | 3 strokes | 4 strokes | 5 strokes |
| +1 | Bogey | 4 strokes | 5 strokes | 6 strokes |
| +2 | Double bogey | 5 strokes | 6 strokes | 7 strokes |
| +3 | Triple bogey | 6 strokes | 7 strokes | 8 strokes |
As the table shows, a hole-in-one is an eagle on a par 3, an albatross on a par 4 and a condor on a par 5. An albatross on a par 3 is impossible, because it would mean finishing the hole in zero strokes.
On the course, golfers often shorten double bogey and triple bogey to simply “a double” and “a triple”.
Why golf scores are named after birds
The tradition of naming under-par scores after birds is generally traced to the United States in the late 19th century, when “bird” was slang for something excellent and a good hole became a “birdie”. From there, two under par took the name of a bigger bird, the eagle; three under par became the albatross, a large seabird; and four under par became the condor, another very large bird.
The name for three under par depends on where you play.
- Albatross: used in Britain and in most of the countries where golf is played under the R&A.
- Double eagle: used mainly in the United States. Thanks to American TV coverage, you hear it more and more around the world.
Both terms appear in newspapers as far back as the 1920s. Some people point out that three under par is not really “double” an eagle (two under), but double eagle remains the standard term in America.
How rare is an albatross?
To make an albatross you have to hole your second shot on a par 5, or hole your tee shot on a par 4. Length alone is not enough; the ball also has to find the cup, which takes a large slice of luck.
- At the Masters, first played in 1934, only four albatrosses had been recorded up to and including Louis Oosthuizen’s in 2012.
- A hole-in-one on a par 4 is only possible on short par 4s. On the PGA Tour, the only par-4 ace on record is generally given as Andrew Magee’s at the 2001 Phoenix Open.
Condors are rarer still: only a handful have been verified worldwide, with sources counting either five or six. Almost all of them were par-5 holes-in-one, usually the result of cutting a dogleg over the trees, or of a ball running a long way on hard ground or with a strong following wind.
Famous albatrosses and condors
- 1935 Masters (Gene Sarazen): on the par-5 15th, he holed his second shot with a fairway wood. The shot wiped out his deficit to the leader, and he went on to win in a playoff. It became known as “the shot heard round the world”.
- 2012 Masters (Louis Oosthuizen): on the par-5 2nd, his second shot rolled across the green and into the hole. It was the fourth albatross in Masters history and the first on the 2nd hole. He lost that year’s playoff to Bubba Watson.
- 2001 Phoenix Open (Andrew Magee): his tee shot on the par-4 17th ran onto the green, struck the putter of a player in the group ahead, changed direction and dropped into the cup. A par-4 hole-in-one, and so an albatross.
- 1962, Arkansas, USA (Larry Bruce): on a dogleg par 5, he cut the corner over the trees and holed his tee shot. It is generally regarded as the first recorded condor.
- 2020, California, USA (Kevin Pon): on a rare par-6 hole, he holed his second shot to finish in two strokes. Four under par, so a condor.
If you make an albatross as an amateur
Albatrosses and even condors do occasionally happen in amateur rounds. To make sure yours is properly recorded:
- Have your playing partners confirm with you that the ball is in the hole.
- Write the correct number of strokes on your scorecard and have your partners sign it.
- Tell the golf course staff. Some clubs will keep a record of it.
Telling the story is simple: “I made an albatross on the 15th.” With American playing partners, “double eagle” may be the word they recognise straight away. For a par-4 ace, say “a hole-in-one on a par 4” or “an ace on a par 4”.
Frequently asked questions
Is an albatross the same as a double eagle?
Can you make an albatross on a par 3?
How many condors have ever been recorded?
Which is rarer, a hole-in-one or an albatross?
Related articles
- What is a birdie? Meaning, origin and how to make more
- What is an eagle in golf?
- What is a hole-in-one? Meaning, odds and how to celebrate
- What is par in golf? Par 3, 4 and 5 and how to count your score
- What is a double bogey in golf?
- Green in regulation (GIR): meaning, the fringe rule and typical GIR stats