What is Par
in Golf?
Par is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take on a hole or course. It's the baseline everything else in golf scoring is measured against — from birdies to bogeys to your handicap.
Definition
Par is the number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to take on a hole or course under normal conditions. Each hole has its own par (3, 4, or 5). The course par is the total of all 18 holes — typically 70, 71, 72, or 73.
Par per hole
Each hole is assigned a par based primarily on its measured length from the tee to the green, using standard distance ranges set by the R&A and USGA. Par accounts for the expected number of shots to reach the green, plus two putts to finish.
One shot to the green, two putts. The green is reachable in a single shot for a scratch golfer.
Up to 210 yards (women)
Drive, approach shot, two putts. A scratch golfer expects to reach the green in two shots.
211–400 yards (women)
Drive, two further shots to reach the green, two putts. Too long to reach in two for most scratch golfers.
401+ yards (women)
Par always assumes the golfer needs two putts once on the green. A par-4 hole is: 1 tee shot + 1 approach + 2 putts = 4 strokes. A par-5 is: 1 tee shot + 2 shots to the green + 2 putts = 5. That's why a short par 3 played in two strokes (1 shot to green, 1 putt) counts as a birdie — one under the two-putt expectation.
Scoring terms relative to par
All golf scoring is expressed relative to par. Whether you're talking about a single hole or a full round, the same terms apply.
| Score vs par | Term | Example on a par 4 |
|---|---|---|
| −2 | Eagle | 2 strokes on a par 4 |
| −1 | Birdie | 3 strokes on a par 4 |
| E (even) | Par | 4 strokes on a par 4 |
| +1 | Bogey | 5 strokes on a par 4 |
| +2 | Double bogey | 6 strokes on a par 4 |
| +3 | Triple bogey | 7 strokes on a par 4 |
Par vs Course Rating — what's the difference?
Par and Course Rating are related but not the same. This distinction matters for your handicap.
Par is set by the golf club and is always a whole number. It is not independently verified and does not directly reflect how the course plays in practice.
Course Rating is measured by the national golf body and expressed as a decimal. It is the independently assessed expected score for a scratch golfer — and may be above or below par.
Par 72, Course Rating 74.2. The course genuinely plays harder than par suggests for a scratch golfer. In the Course Handicap formula, the +2.2 adjustment means everyone receives slightly more shots than their Handicap Index alone would give them.
Par 71, Course Rating 70.1. The course plays slightly easier than par. The −0.9 adjustment in the Course Handicap formula means everyone receives slightly fewer shots — because even a scratch golfer is expected to beat par on this layout.
How par is used in your handicap
Par appears in the Course Handicap formula as part of the Course Rating − Par adjustment. Without it, two courses with the same Slope Rating but different pars would give you the same shots — even if one genuinely plays much harder for a scratch golfer.
(Handicap Index × Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)
Golfer with Handicap Index 14.0, Slope Rating 125. Same Slope on two courses, but different par and Course Rating:
= 15.5 + 1.5 → Course Handicap 17
= 15.5 + (−1.5) → Course Handicap 14
Same Slope Rating, same Course Rating — but Course B has a par-73 layout, so the CR falls well below par. Even with identical course measurements, Course B is expected to play well within a scratch golfer's ability.
Playing to par with a handicap
In golf, "playing to your handicap" means returning a net score of par — your gross score minus your handicap strokes equals the course par. A Course Handicap is specifically calculated to represent the number of strokes you need to achieve a net par score.
A player with a Course Handicap of 18 on a par-72 course needs to shoot 90 gross to "play to their handicap" — because 90 − 18 = 72, which is par. In matchplay, their Playing Handicap determines how many shots they receive and on which holes, based on the course's Stroke Index.
This is why handicap allowances in different formats are applied as a percentage of Course Handicap — the system is designed so a 100% allowance means both players should theoretically be level on net par.
Common questions
What does par mean in golf?
Par is the number of strokes a scratch golfer is expected to take to complete a hole or course. Each hole has a par of 3, 4, or 5 depending on its length. A full 18-hole course par is the total of all 18 holes, usually 70, 71, 72, or 73. Scores are described relative to par — one under par is a birdie, one over is a bogey.
What's the difference between par and Course Rating?
Par is set by the golf club and is a whole number. Course Rating is independently measured by the national golf body and expressed as a decimal. A par-72 course might have a Course Rating of 74.2 (playing harder than par) or 70.8 (playing easier than par). The WHS Course Handicap formula uses Course Rating minus Par as an adjustment — so your shots for the day reflect the actual measured difficulty, not just the par number on the card.
What is a par 3, par 4, par 5?
Par 3 holes are short — up to 250 yards for men — and a scratch golfer is expected to reach the green in one shot and two-putt. Par 4 holes are medium length (251–470 yards for men), reached in two shots and two putts. Par 5 holes are long (471+ yards for men), typically requiring three shots to reach the green and two putts. All par values assume two putts once on the green.
What is a typical course par?
Most 18-hole courses have a par of 70, 71, 72, or 73. Par 72 is the most common, typically made up of 4 par-3 holes, 10 par-4 holes, and 4 par-5 holes. Par 70 courses tend to have fewer or shorter par-5 holes. Par 73 or higher courses usually have extra par-5s or unusually long par-4s set as par 5s.
Does par affect how many handicap shots I get?
Yes. Par appears in the Course Handicap formula as part of the Course Rating minus Par adjustment. A course with a Course Rating above its par gives everyone extra shots — because even a scratch golfer is expected to score above par there. A course with a Course Rating below its par reduces everyone's shots slightly. The adjustment is the same for all players regardless of handicap level.
Related guides
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