Shooting a score in the 50s is the ultimate dream for any golfer, a feat so rare it borders on mythical. But the official lowest round of golf ever recorded is an almost unbelievable 57, with an unofficial record standing at a mind-bending 55. This article breaks down those legendary rounds, explains what it takes to go that low, and pulls out practical lessons you can use to start shooting your own personal best scores.
On February 9th, 2024, the history books were rewritten. On the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the direct path to the PGA TOUR, Chilean golfer Cristobal Del Solar did what no one had ever done in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event: he shot a 13-under-par 57. The venue was the Pacos Course at Country Club de Bogotá in Colombia for the Astara Championship.
To be clear, this wasn’t on some pitch-and-putt. The Pacos Course is a Par 70 layout measuring over 6,200 yards. The big x-factor? Altitude. Bogotá sits at a breathtaking 8,500 feet above sea level, meaning the ball flies significantly farther. A course that plays 6,200 yards on paper might feel more like 5,500 yards. This allowed Del Solar, a powerful player, to attack the course in ways that wouldn't be possible at sea level. He could drive short par-4s and hit wedges into par-5s, giving himself a green light all day long.
But conditions are only one part of the equation, you still have to execute. And did he ever.
A look at the scorecard tells a story of pure dominance:
He shot a 27 on the front nine and a 30 on the back. Think about that for a moment - a 27. That’s eight under par through nine holes. Most of us are happy to play nine holes eight over par. His assault began immediately, with him going eagle-birdie-birdie on his first three holes to get to 4-under par. He was in that special state of flow where the hole must have looked the size of a mixing bowl. This round officially broke the previous PGA TOUR record of 58, famously shot by Jim Furyk in 2016 at the Travelers Championship.
While Cristobal Del Solar holds the official record in a major tour event, the lowest score ever recorded in any round of golf - acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records - belongs to Australian golfer Rhein Gibson. In 2012, Gibson fired an almost fictional 16-under-par 55 at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Oklahoma.
It’s important to understand the context here. This wasn't during a tournament or a qualifier, it was just a casual round with a couple of friends. This is why it’s considered "unofficial" in the world of professional tour records. The pressure is different, course setup protocols aren't in place, and the situation doesn't carry the weight of a Tour event. Still, a 55 is a 55, and it’s a number that defies comprehension.
River Oaks is a par-71 course. To get to 16-under, Gibson's scorecard had to be almost perfect. It included:
He shot a 26 on the front nine and a 29 on the back. According to his own account, it was just one of those days where everything clicked. The drives found the fairway, the iron shots were laser-accurate, and the putts just kept falling. He birdied four of the first five holes before holing out for an eagle on the 9th. It was a perfect storm of unconscious-level talent meeting ideal circumstances.
Shooting a 57 or a 55 isn't just about having a "good day." It's the flawless alignment of technical skill, mental fortitude, and a little bit of good fortune. As a coach, I see golfers work their whole lives on these components, but to have them all peak for four hours is something special. Let’s break down what it really takes.
You can't shoot scores like this if you're scrambling for par. Every aspect of the long game has to be on autopilot. From the driver to the long irons, the ball is finding the dead-center of the clubface, and more importantly, the intended target. Players in this state aren’t just hitting fairways, they are hitting the specific side of the fairway that gives them the best angle to the pin. It's chess, not checkers, and their execution is nearly perfect. Approach shots are not just hitting the green, they're settling within a makeable-putt radius time after time.
This is probably the most obvious but most important ingredient. You don't get to 13-under or 16-under by two-putting. These rounds are fueled by a putter that feels like a magic wand. Every read is correct, every stroke is pure, and balls are diving into the center of the cup from all distances. You’re not just making the tap-in birdies you set up with your great iron play, you’re also draining 20 and 30-footers that steal birdies from the golf course. The confidence builds, the mental pressure to hit it closer lessens, and it creates a feedback loop of spectacular scoring.
To shoot a historically low score, you have to play aggressively. You are hunting birdies on every hole, not just the par-5s. This means taking on tough pin locations, driving the ball into tight spots to get closer to the green, and executing high-risk, high-reward shots over water or bunkers. However, it's not reckless. It’s Mintelligent aggression. You pick your moments. You know when to fire directly at a flag and when to play to the fat part of the green. This blend of fearlessness and smart decision-making is a hallmark of every ultra-low round.
Every golfer who has gone this low talks about getting into a "zone" or a state of flow. This is a mental state where you silence the left side of your brain - the analytical, "what-if" side - and let your talent take over. You aren't adding up your score. You aren't thinking about breaking 60. You are so intensely focused on the *current shot* that nothing else exists. The result of the last shot is forgotten, and the anxiety about the next shot hasn't formed yet. It is pure presence, one shot at a time. This mental freedom is what allows a player’s full potential to be unleashed without the destructive interference of doubt or pressure.
Okay, so we can’t all expect to fire a 55 next Saturday. But the principles that build these historic rounds are the exact same ones that will help you break 100, 90, or 80. The game is scalable. Here are a few actionable lessons we can take away.
The vast majority of shots are won or lost from 100 yards and in. Guys like Del Solar turned their round from great to historic by stuffing wedges close and draining the putts. Spend 70% of your practice time on this area. Become lethal with your wedge, deadly with your chipping, and automatic from inside 6 feet on the green. This is the fastest way to slash strokes off your score.
Rhein Gibson had a day where everything worked. Most of us don't. A huge part of smarter golf is knowing what you do well and leaning on it. Maybe you have a reliable 150-yard hybrid shot. Don't be too proud to hit it twice on a par-4 instead of risking a driver into trouble. Develop a "go-to" shot you can trust under pressure and build your strategy around putting that shot in play as often as possible.
This is the most direct lesson from being "in the zone." Your last shot - good or bad - has no bearing on your next one unless you let it. A blow-up hole is rarely caused by one bad swing, it’s caused by the bad decision that follows it. Learn to hit the reset button after every shot. Take a deep breath, walk to your ball, and give the next swing 100% of your attention. This single mental skill can save you more strokes than any swing change.
Celebrating the lowest scores in golf reminds us of what’s possible when skill, strategy, and mindset perfectly align. While a 55 or a 57 might seem like they happened on a different planet, the foundations of those rounds - smart decision-making, clutch performance in the scoring zones, and a focused mind - are universal goals for every golfer looking to improve.
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