Scoring an eagle in golf is an incredible feeling, marking a moment of pure ball-striking and strategy. But what happens on that exceedingly rare day when you do even better? This article breaks down the scoring terms for scores below an eagle, explaining what an Albatross and a Condor are, and providing practical coaching advice on how to put yourself in a position to make these once-in-a-lifetime shots.
Before we can talk about eagles and albatrosses, we have to start with the concept of "Par." Par is the standard. It's the pre-determined number of strokes an expert golfer should take to complete a hole. Every hole on a golf course has a par rating, most commonly Par-3, Par-4, or Par-5.
Your score on every hole is described in relation to its par. Firing a 4 on a Par-4 is a "par." A 5 on a Par-4 is "one-over-par." This terminology is the language of golf scoring.
Let's quickly run through the most common scoring hierarchy. Understanding this progression helps put the rarer scores into context. Scores are named after birds, getting progressively bigger and grander as the score gets better.
Now we arrive at the question that brought you here. A score that is one stroke better than an eagle is called an Albatross, or a Double Eagle. It means finishing the hole 3-under-par.
Both terms are correct, but "Albatross" is more common globally, especially in Europe and Australia, while "Double Eagle" is primarily used in the United States. Just like the bird it's named after, the albatross is exceptionally rare and majestic - far rarer than a hole-in-one.
There are only two ways to score an albatross:
The PGA Tour has officially recorded far more holes-in-one than albatrosses. It’s the ultimate "hero shot" - a moment that is often told and retold for years. Perhaps the most famous albatross in golf history was Gene Sarazen's "shot heard 'round the world" at the 1935 Masters. He holed a 4-wood from 235 yards on the Par-5 15th hole, tying the lead and ultimately forcing a playoff that he won.
Let's be clear: you can't "plan" for an albatross. It requires a perfect shot colliding with a healthy dose of good fortune. However, you can create the opportunity. As a coach, I'd never tell a student to try for an albatross, but I'd absolutely teach them the skills needed to give themselves a chance - however slim - on a Par-5.
There is no chance for an albatross without a fantastic drive. You need a combination of distance and accuracy. A regular drive won't cut it. You need to hit one of your longest, straightest drives of the day to leave yourself with a manageable second shot into the green. The goal is to get into a distance range where you can realistically reach the green with a fairway wood or hybrid.
This is where it all happens. You're standing quite a distance from the hole, and your task is not just to hit the green, but to get the ball in the cup. Every element has to be perfect.
And then… you just hope. You hope it takes the right bounce, finds the right line, and rolls directly into the hole. To chase the albatross is to accept that the odds are profoundly against you, but to swing with the belief that today might just be your day.
Believe it or not, there is one more scoring term that goes even deeper. A Condor is a score of 4-under-par on a single hole. This means making a hole-in-one on a Par-5.
A condor is the rarest shot in all of golf. It’s so rare that it's practically theoretical. For it to happen, the layout of the hole would need to be very specific, such as a severe dogleg where a player could shortcut across trees, or a hole with a tremendous elevation drop where the ball could roll for an extraordinary length of time. There are only a handful of rumored and poorly documented cases in history. It's the ultimate golf unicorn, a score that exists more in legend than in reality.
While dreaming of albatrosses and condors is fun, the path to a lower score for the everyday golfer is built on a foundation of smart, sound strategy - not moonshots. Your focus should be on creating reasonable scoring opportunities and avoiding big numbers.
Instead of trying to eagle every Par-5, a much more achievable and productive mindset is to get good at making birdies. Here’s how you apply course management to do that:
Understanding these scoring terms helps you appreciate the incredible skill at the highest levels of the game. For your own rounds, focus on what's controllable: smart decisions, solid execution, and putting yourself in position for your best, most realistic score on every hole screamed the coach.
In summary, the scoring hierarchy plunges into spectacular rarity below the already impressive eagle. An albatross, or double eagle, is 3-under-par and is a golfing achievement talked about for a lifetime, while the condor at 4-under-par is a shot of pure legend. While it’s fun to know these terms, a great score card is filled with more pars and birdies than it is with anything else.
To consistently put yourself in these better scoring positions you need a great game plan for every hole. This is where getting objective help makes a huge difference. Using a tool like Caddie AI lets you get strategic advice on command. Next time you're on a Par-5 wondering if you should lay up or risk going for the green in two, you can get an instant, smart recommendation. You can even snap a photo of a tricky lie to get an expert opinion on the best way to play it, helping you turn potential scorecard disasters into smart, simple pars - which is how you really lower your scores.
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