Par is the number of strokes a top-class golfer is expected to take to play any given hole based on its length and difficulty.

It also refers to an expected total for the whole round of 18 holes.

Most golfers never match par.

Only one golfer out of every one thousand ever plays an entire course in par.

And only two or three in a hundred ever take five or more above par.

Par for a hole is usually between three and five - though there a couple of par sixes in America.

And par for a course usually ranges between 70 and 72.

What is par?

Par 3

Par 4

Par 5

Golf terms explained

Birdie: One under par (eg. four on a par five) Eagle: Two under par (eg. three on a par five) Albatross: Three under par (eg. two on a par five) Bogey: One over par (eg. six on a par five) Double Bogey: two over par (eg. seven on a par five)