Eagle
An eagle in golf is a score of two strokes under par on a single hole. That means a 3 on a par-5, a 2 on a par-4, or a 1 on a par-3 (which is normally called a hole-in-one).
What is an eagle in golf?
Eagle is one of the bird-themed scoring terms golfers use to describe how a single hole was played relative to par. The hierarchy is simple. Par means level, birdie is one under, eagle is two under, albatross (or double eagle in the US) is three under, and condor is four under. An eagle sits between birdie and albatross.
The term applies to one hole at a time, not a full round. A golfer who shoots 70 on a par-72 course is two under for the round, but that isn’t an eagle. It’s just a score of 70. An eagle is always tied to a specific hole and a specific par.
On par-3 holes, an eagle works out to a hole-in-one. The math fits the definition, but golfers almost always use the older and more famous term.
How an eagle scores on each type of hole
Most eagles happen on par-5 holes, but the score is possible on any par.
| Hole type | Eagle score | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 1 stroke | Hole-in-one (also called an ace) |
| Par 4 | 2 strokes | Drive plus putt, or a holed approach |
| Par 5 | 3 strokes | Reach the green in two, then one putt |
| Par 6 | 4 strokes | Almost unheard of; par-6 holes themselves are rare |
Par-5 holes give the most realistic path to an eagle. A long drive sets up a second shot onto the green, and the eagle putt finishes it. Reaching the green in two requires both distance and accuracy, which is why par-5 eagles favour longer hitters.
On a par-4, an eagle requires either driving the green and making the putt or holing out an approach from the fairway. Both are uncommon, even for tour pros. A par-3 ace technically counts as two under par, but golfers always call it a hole-in-one.
Eagle vs. birdie vs. albatross
The three under-par bird names form a clear ladder of difficulty.
| Score | Strokes vs. par | How rare it is | Most common way it happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birdie | 1 under | Achievable for many golfers | Good approach, one-putt |
| Eagle | 2 under | Rare, even for pros | Reach par-5 in 2, then one-putt |
| Albatross (double eagle) | 3 under | Far rarer than eagle | Hole out from the fairway on a par-5 |
A birdie is a strong score on any hole. An eagle is a step above that. An albatross, called a double eagle in American golf, is rare enough that most golfers never make one in a lifetime of playing. The two names exist because British golf adopted “albatross” in the late 1920s while American golf kept the “double eagle” label.
Where the term “eagle” came from
The word “eagle” came directly from “birdie”, and both were coined at Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey in 1903. According to Scottish Golf History, golfer Abner “Ab” Smith, his brother William, and their friend George Crump were playing the par-four second hole when Ab’s second shot stopped within inches of the cup. One of them said it was “a bird of a shot”, drawing on the early-1900s American slang in which “bird” meant anything excellent. The group agreed that one under par should pay double, and from then on, they called it a “birdie”.
“Eagle” followed the same logic. Birdie meant one under. The next score down needed a bigger bird. The eagle fit the part: a larger, more impressive bird, and the national symbol of the United States. The USGA notes that “eagle” became common shortly after “birdie” by direct analogy.
The term was American at first. Scottish Golf History records that “eagle” was introduced to British golf around 1919, after H.D. Gaunt brought it back from a trip to Canada, and a 1922 issue of Golf magazine still treated the word as American slang.
How rare is an eagle?
Eagles don’t happen often, especially for amateur golfers. Shot Scope, which tracks performance data from its users, found that only 11.6% of its registered amateur golfers have ever made an eagle in their lifetime, as reported by Golf Monthly. For higher-handicap golfers, who often lack the distance to reach par-5 greens in two strokes, the chances are even lower.
Among professionals, eagles happen more often but are still uncommon. PGA Tour data from 2019, as published by GolfBit, shows Sungjae Im led the tour with 18 eagles across 2,124 holes (about 0.85%), while Martin Laird had the highest rate at 17 eagles in 1,440 holes (1.18%). Even the tour’s eagle leaders go without one in most rounds.
For amateurs, the realistic path is a short par-5 reachable in two strokes. A long drive helps. After that, an accurate second shot leaves an eagle putt. Holing out from the fairway for eagle on a par-4 is possible but usually depends on luck.
The eagle putt and how it’s marked on a scorecard
Golfers use the term “eagle putt” to describe any putt that, if made, results in an eagle. It is most often used on par-5s, where a golfer who has reached the green in two has an eagle putt for their third shot. It also describes a chip or pitch from just off the green that would result in an eagle if holed, or the second shot on a drivable par-4 close to the cup.
On a scorecard, an eagle is traditionally marked with two concentric circles drawn around the score. A birdie gets one circle. An eagle gets two. The convention isn’t required by the rules of golf, but it’s widely used and makes standout scores easy to spot when totalling a round.
Related Golf Terms
- Double eagle — A score of three under par on a single hole (also called an albatross).
- Birdie — One stroke under par on a hole.
- Condor — A score of four under par on a single hole (extremely rare).
- Ace — A hole-in-one; completing a hole in a single stroke.
- Bogey — One stroke over par on a hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an eagle the same as a hole-in-one?
Only on par-3 holes. A hole-in-one on a par-3 is mathematically two under par, which fits the definition of an eagle. Golfers always call it a hole-in-one or an ace because those terms are older and more specific.
What’s better, an eagle or a birdie?
An eagle is better. A birdie is one stroke under par on a hole. An eagle is two strokes under par. Both are good scores, but an eagle is rarer and has a bigger impact on the scorecard.
What’s three under par on a hole called?
Three under par on a single hole is called an albatross in most of the world and a double eagle in the United States. It’s far rarer than an eagle, and most golfers never make one.
How is an eagle marked on a scorecard?
The traditional convention is two concentric circles drawn around the score. Birdies get one circle. Eagles get two. The rules of golf don’t require this, but most scorecards use it.
Can an average golfer ever make an eagle?
Yes, though it’s rare. Shot Scope data shared by Golf Monthly found that 11.6% of its registered amateur users have made an eagle in their lifetime. The most common opportunity is a short par-5 that the golfer can reach in two strokes.
Sources
- Scottish Golf History. “Origin of Golf Terms: Bogey, Par, Birdie, Eagle, Albatross.” scottishgolfhistory.org. Accessed May 2026.
- USGA. “FAQ: Golf History Questions.” usga.org. Accessed May 2026.
- Wikipedia. “Par (score).” en.wikipedia.org. Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “What Percentage of Amateur Golfers Have Made an Eagle?” golfmonthly.com. Accessed May 2026.
- GolfBit. “What is an Eagle in Golf?” and “Golf Scoring Terms.” golfbit.com. Accessed May 2026.
