What is an Eagle in Golf?
It’s hard to argue that the eagle is the most exciting score in all of golf. Not only does an eagle mean you’ve carded a 3 on a par 5, but it also represents a hole-in-one or the score of 2 on a par 4.
Regardless of how you post an eagle in golf, chances are you’ve done something special to get there.
Whether you hit an incredible drive, a dart of a second shot, or just gotten lucky and dunked one on a par 3, getting an eagle takes skill and a whole lot of luck.
The eagle represents a golfer’s most significant chance to close the gap when they’re behind in stroke play. That’s why the eagle remains the most impressive achievement professional players can achieve when playing in a tournament.
In this article, we’ll look at why the eagle in golf is what we’re all chasing and a few tips to help you increase your career total.
What is an eagle in golf terms?
An eagle is two strokes below par on a hole in golf scoring terms. So, anytime you post a 3 on a par 5, a 2 on a par 4, or a 1 on a par 3, you’ve carded an eagle on any particular hole.
If you are a beginning or casual golfer, learning these golfing terms can help you better communicate with your playing partners and help you set goals to achieve on the links.
What is a birdie and bogey in golf?
A birdie in golf is one stroke under par, while a bogey is one stroke over par on a hole.
Although we all strive for the eagle because it helps on the scorecard, piling up birdies can dramatically reduce the number of strokes you eventually tally on golf courses.
If you experience a double bogey, or God forbid, the dreaded triple bogey, making birdies can help your “ground score.” A term used at the Great Yarmouth Club.
Must read: What is a Birdie in Golf
What is an eagle when you’re playing golf?
An eagle is any score of two strokes under par on a hole.
The term “eagle” originated in the late 19th century, following the term “birdie” which came before it. Since equipment began to improve around this time, occasionally seeing an eagle on the golf course wasn’t uncommon.
Since two strokes below par is better than one stroke under par, golfers chose the eagle as the catchphrase since it is a larger bird.
What is an ostrich in golf?
An ostrich in golf is five strokes under par on a hole. If you think an eagle is rare, it takes a truckload of special circumstances to begin considering what a hole-in-one on a par 6 or posting two strokes on a par 7 looks like.
First, you have to find a golf course that offers either a par 6 or par 7 hole, and then those holes must offer a path to pull off this impossible feat.
This outlandish scenario is one of the big reasons why an ostrich is more fantasy than reality in the real world.
What are the different ways to score an eagle?
You can score an eagle in various ways on the course. The most common is the eagle on a par 5. This score entails posting a 3 on a par 5 hole.
A great drive, accurate second shot, and successful putt make the score of 3 the easiest way to post an eagle on the course.
Another popular and exciting way to post an eagle is by making a hole-in-one on a par 3. Putting down a 1 on your scorecard is the most invigorating feeling in golf. To card a 1, you need accuracy, spin, and a little bit of luck.
Finally, posting a 2 on a par 4 can also achieve an eagle in golf.
The most common way to card a 2 on the links is by knocking in your second shot from the fairway, taking advantage of a short par 4, putting your drive onto the green, and then making the putt.
How does scoring an eagle impact a golfer’s overall score?
Scoring an eagle helps a golfer’s scorecard in huge ways, mainly by covering up many mistakes on the course, such as bogeys and other high scores on a hole.
Since most golfers just want to play even golf, an eagle allows them to card two bogeys on the course and still sit at even par.
When looking at the opposite end of the scale from an eagle, a double bogey is essentially a negative eagle, which means you went two strokes over par on a given hole.
How do eagles compare to other rare golf achievements like albatrosses and hole-in-ones?
A hole-in-one actually occurs quite often, especially in comparison to albatrosses. Typically, it happens roughly every other year in a four-day major tournament.
Eagles are plentiful in major tournaments, with anywhere from 6 to 10 occurring per day of a major four-day tournament. In the 2006 Open Championship, a whopping 81 eagles were carded over the tournament’s four days.
In comparison, an albatross is a remarkable, extremely rare achievement that means you went three strokes under par on a hole.
Because it is three strokes under par, an albatross can happen only on par 4s and par 5s. Since you can’t score a zero on a par 3, it is ineligible for an albatross.
And if you are wondering how many albatrosses, otherwise known as a double eagle, have been scored in major tournaments all time: four in the Masters, three in the US Open, 8 in The Open Championship, and just three in the PGA Championship all time for a total of 18.
And if you are wondering how much luck is involved in carding an albatross, Tiger Woods has never carded one in over 24,000 PGA Tour holes.
What strategies can golfers employ to increase their chances of scoring an eagle?
Adding length to your game is one of the biggest ways to increase your chance of scoring an eagle.
Hitting a 300-yard tee shot coupled with an accurately long second shot is essential to put yourself in position to card an eagle on a par 5 hole.
Even if you are a regular bogeyman or woman or a relatively good golfer, anyone can card an eagle on any golf course due to the nature of luck involved with this great game.