What is an Albatross in Golf Terms
An albatross in golf refers to scoring three strokes under par on a single hole. It is an extremely rare feat in the sport and is considered one of the best scores a golfer can achieve. The term albatross comes from the similarity to the large seabird which is known for its impressive wingspan and ability to fly long distances with minimal effort.
How an Albatross Differs from Other Golf Scores
The most common scores in golf are par, birdie, eagle, bogey, and double bogey. Par refers to the number of strokes a professional is expected to take on a given hole based on its length and difficulty. Scoring under par is considered good, while over par is seen as worse than expected.
A birdie is one stroke under par, while an eagle is two strokes under. These are both excellent scores for a hole and demonstrate strong play. Bogey is one over par, and double bogey is two over. These indicate the golfer took more strokes than what a scratch golfer would be expected to take.
The albatross stands out as three strokes under par for a hole. It bests both the birdie and eagle for being furthest under par. It is extremely rare during professional play and happens only a handful of times per year across all tournaments. Due to its rarity and the remarkable ability required to score so far under par, the albatross holds a special distinction in golf as one of the top achievements on a hole.
How an Albatross Can Happen
For an albatross to happen, a few factors need to align. First, the hole has to be a par 5. This is the only hole type where three strokes under par is possible. Par 5 holes are long, ranging from 460 to over 600 yards on average. They are designed to require three shots to reach the green and two putts to finish.
The golfer then needs to reach the green with their tee shot on this long hole. This is only realistically possible if the hole is downhill significantly, reducing the effective yardage. The green must also be reachable within the golfer’s driving distance, which averages 280 yards for professional male players.
Once on the green with their first shot, the golfer then must sink their putt from that long range for an eagle. If the long putt goes in for a hole in one, they achieve the highest score, a condor. But an eagle putt is much more likely on a long par 5. The final stroke comes from a simple tap-in to finish the albatross.
So in summary, an albatross requires an extremely long drive, an accurate long iron or wood approach, and solid putting all to come together on a par 5. This perfect combination is why the score is so unique.
Famous Albatross Moments
Some of golf’s most famous shots ever have been albatrosses during major tournaments. One of the most famous came from Gene Sarazen in 1935 at Augusta during the Masters. His “shot heard round the world” on the par-5 15th hole vaulted him to victory and put the Masters tournament on the worldwide map.
Another famous albatross happened at the 1994 Masters, when Jeff Maggert scored a two on the par-5 13th hole. His 5-wood from 222 yards out perfectly reached the green and rolled right into the hole for one of the rarest feats in golf.
More recently, Louis Oosthuizen scored an albatross on the par-5 2nd hole during the final round of the 2012 Masters. His 4-iron shot landed on the front of the green and rolled perfectly into the cup for the ultra-rare score. He became only the fourth golfer ever to score an albatross at the Masters.
These moments highlight the legendary status of the albatross in golf. Any time one happens on the sport’s biggest stages, it becomes etched in history and adds to the allure of the game. For a golfer, the albatross represents one of the pinnacles of achievement.
