Seeing a player finish a round at 5 under par is incredible, but what does that score actually mean? Beyond just being a fantastic number on a leaderboard, understanding a score like 5 under gives you a deeper appreciation for the skill involved in playing golf at a high level. This article will break down exactly what 5 under means, how it's calculated, and what it really takes to shoot a score that good.
To understand what "under par" means, you first have to understand the concept of par. Simply put, par is the predetermined number of strokes a highly skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole, or an entire course.
Think of it as the standard, the target number you're aiming for on every hole. If you match that number, you've "made par." The par for any golf hole is primarily determined by its length, based on the assumption that an expert golfer needs two putts on the green and a certain number of shots to get there.
Here’s the typical breakdown:
The par for the entire course is just the sum of the pars of all 18 holes. Most standard golf courses are par 72, usually made up of four par 3s, ten par 4s, and four par 5s. Some courses might be a par 70 or 71, but 72 is the most common benchmark.
Now for the fun part. "Under par" is the term for scoring better than the standard. When you take fewer strokes than the par designation, you are under par for that hole or for the round. While a bogey (one over par) or double bogey (two over par) moves your score in the wrong direction, scoring under par gets you into red numbers on the leaderboard - a very good thing.
Here are the special names for under-par scores on a single hole:
"5 under par," often written as "-5," mean's a player's final score for the 18-hole round was five strokes better than the course's par. So, on a par 72 course, a score of 5 under is a round of 67 (calculation: 72 - 5 = 67). A 5 under round on a par 70 course would be a 65.
There isn’t just one way to shoot 5 under. A player's scorecard can be a rollercoaster or a model of consistency. Here are a few ways a golfer could get to a final score of -5:
This is a common path for professional golfers. It’s an aggressive round with lots of birdies, but maybe a few mistakes along the way.
This shows incredible consistency. No mistakes, just steady, under-par golf.
This scenario shows how a single, spectacular hole (an eagle) can propel a round to another level.
As you can see, the final cumulative score is what matters. A high-risk, high-reward day and a steady, controlled round can both end up at the same excellent score.
Context is everything. The meaning of shooting 5 under changes dramatically based on who is holding the scorecard.
On the PGA Tour or other professional circuits, a score of -5 (like a 67 on a par 72) is a very good round. On any given day in a tournament, a 5-under-par round will almost always move a player up the leaderboard and often put them inside the top 10 for the day. While not unheard of, it’s a sign of a player who is firing on all cylinders.
A score like this on a tougher course, perhaps a major championship venue like Winged Foot or Oakmont, would be considered phenomenal. On an easier, "birdiefest" type of course, it might be what’s required just to keep pace. For a pro, shooting 5 under is an excellent day at the office that sets them up for a potential victory.
For the everyday golfer - the club champion, the weekend warrior, even the scratch player - shooting 5 under par is the stuff of legend. This is the "round of your life" that you talk about for years. It represents a level of scoring that most amateurs only dream of. To put it in perspective, the average male golfer’s handicap is around 14, meaning their typical score is about 86 on a par 72 course (14 over par).
Shooting 5 under requires near-perfect course management, excellent ball-striking, sharp short-game skills, and calm nerves. Amateurs often lack the recovery skills of a pro. where a professional might save par from a tough spot, an amateur is more likely to make a double bogey, which erases two hard-earned birdies in an instant. Maintaining focus for four hours and avoiding costly mental errors is an immense challenge, which makes a 5-under round a truly special accomplishment for an amateur.
While shooting 5 under is a tall order, every golfer can take steps to lower their scores and eventually get into under-par territory. It begins by changing your focus from just hitting the ball to playing the game strategically.
The vast majority of birdie opportunities are created from 125 yards and in. Get really good with your wedges and short irons. If you can consistently hit these approach shots onto the green and inside 15 feet of the hole, you'll give yourself many more realistic birdie putts. Spending 70% of your practice time on your short game and putting is a game-changer.
Low scores aren't just about great shots, they're about avoiding terrible ones. Don't automatically pull the driver on every par 4 or par 5. Think about the smartest way to play a hole. Where is the trouble? Which side of the fairway gives you the best angle to the green? Playing to the middle of the green instead of hunting for a "sucker pin" tucked behind a bunker will save you countless strokes.
Everyone hits bad shots. Even pros miss greens. What separates good players from average a is their ability to "scramble" or "get up and down" - to chip or pitch the ball close and make the putt to save par. Practicing your chipping and putting from awkward lies around the green will give you the confidence to know that a missed green doesn't have to lead to a bogey.
You don't need a picture-perfect swing to score well. You just need a swing you can rely on. Fous on fundamentals like a sound grip, a balanced setup and a motion powered by the rotation of your body, not just your arms. A consistent, simple action that produces a predictable ball flight is far more valuable than a complicated swing that falls apart under pressure.
Shooting 5 under par means finishing a round with a total score of five strokes below the course's par, a remarkable accomplishment achieved through birdies and the occasional eagle. It signifies top-tier play for a professional and is often a personal-best, legendary round for an amateur.
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