Condor
A condor is a score of four strokes under par on a single hole. It is the rarest score in golf, achieved either by a hole-in-one on a par-5 or by holing out in two strokes on a par-6.
What is a condor in golf?
The condor sits at the bottom of the scoring scale in golf, four shots better than par on a single hole. It is the deepest under-par score recognised by the sport, and most golfers will never see one in their lifetime. Just six condors have been verified in the recorded history of the game.
The name follows the avian convention used for other under-par scores. A birdie is one under par, an eagle is two under, an albatross is three under, and a condor is four under. The pattern uses progressively larger birds as the score gets lower, and the condor (one of the largest flying birds in the world) fits the role at the bottom of the chart.
The term “condor” is unofficial. The USGA and R&A do not codify it in the Rules of Golf, but the golfing world treats it as the standard name for a four-under score. Some sources call a condor a “triple eagle” or a “double albatross”, though those names are mathematically loose and rarely used.
How a condor works
Because a condor is four shots under par, it is mathematically possible only on holes with a par of 5 or higher. On a par-3 or par-4, a four-under score would be a zero or a negative number, so neither qualifies.
The table below shows what scoring a condor looks like across each par.
| Par of the hole | Score required for a condor |
|---|---|
| Par 3 | Not possible |
| Par 4 | Not possible |
| Par 5 | 1 stroke (hole-in-one) |
| Par 6 | 2 strokes |
| Par 7 | 3 strokes (never recorded) |
In practice, almost every condor on record has come from a hole-in-one on a par-5. Par-6 and par-7 holes are vanishingly rare; few exist in the world, and most courses do not have one at all. The par-5 ace is the only realistic route.
How a condor compares to other golf scores
Every score in golf has a name relative to par. The condor sits at the deep end of the under-par range, but it helps to see it next to its neighbours.
| Score relative to par | Common name | Common example |
|---|---|---|
| +1 | Bogey | 5 on a par-4 |
| Even | Par | 4 on a par-4 |
| -1 | Birdie | 3 on a par-4 |
| -2 | Eagle | 3 on a par-5 |
| -3 | Albatross (double eagle) | 2 on a par-5 |
| -4 | Condor | 1 on a par-5 |
| -5 | Ostrich (theoretical) | 1 on a par-6 |
| -6 | Phoenix (theoretical) | 1 on a par-7 |
The ostrich and phoenix are not officially recognised. Neither has ever been verified anywhere in golf’s recorded history, and most golfers and writers stop counting after the condor.
In Stableford scoring, where points are awarded based on score relative to par, a condor is generally worth around 6 points depending on the version of the system used.
Has anyone scored a condor?
Yes. Six condors have been verified in the recorded history of golf. Five came from hole-in-ones on par-5 holes, and one came from a two on a par-6. None has ever been recorded in a professional tournament.
| Golfer | Year | Course | Hole length | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Bruce | 1962 | Hope Country Club, Arkansas | 480-yard par-5 | USA |
| Dick Hogan | 1973 | Piedmont Crescent, North Carolina | 456-yard par-5 | USA |
| Shaun Lynch | 1995 | Teign Valley, Devon | 496-yard par-5 | UK |
| Mike Crean | 2002 | Green Valley Ranch, Denver | 517-yard par-5 | USA |
| Jack Bartlett | 2007 | Wentworth Falls, NSW | 511-yard par-5 | Australia |
| Kevin Pon | 2020 | Lake Chabot, California | 649-yard par-6 | USA |
Each of the par-5 condors involved either a sharp dogleg that allowed the golfer to cut over trees and reach the green directly, or unusually favourable conditions such as high altitude or hard, dry fairways that gave the ball extra roll. Mike Crean’s drive at Green Valley Ranch is recognised by the US Golf Register as the longest hole-in-one in recorded golf history, and was helped by Denver’s mile-high elevation and a 30 mph following wind, according to Scottish Golf History. Kevin Pon’s 2020 ace at Lake Chabot is the only verified condor on a par-6 anywhere in the world, with multiple independent witnesses including the course marshal (CBS San Francisco).
Why a condor is so rare
The numbers behind the condor explain why it almost never happens. A typical par-5 measures 500 yards or more, while the average drive on the PGA Tour sits at roughly 300 yards. Without a dogleg to cut over or environmental help such as thin air at altitude, the green is out of reach in a single swing.
For context, the National Hole-in-One Registry estimates the odds of an average golfer making a hole-in-one on a par-3 at 12,500 to 1, according to PGA.com. The odds of an albatross are estimated at around 6,000,000 to 1 by Bill Fields writing for the Double Eagle Club registry. For a condor, the odds are simply not calculated. Per CBS San Francisco, no mathematician has bothered to estimate them.
Course design is the other limiting factor. Par-6 holes are scarce; Lake Chabot’s 18th is one of the few in the United States. Par-7 holes are rarer still, with notable examples including the 1,097-yard 3rd hole at Gunsan Country Club in South Korea, the longest hole on a regulation course in the world.
Condor vs. albatross: what’s the difference?
Most golfers who learn about the condor have just learned about the albatross. The two scores are similar in name but worlds apart in scarcity.
| Albatross | Condor | |
|---|---|---|
| Score vs. par | 3 under (-3) | 4 under (-4) |
| Most common way to score | 2 on a par-5 | Hole-in-one on a par-5 |
| Also possible by | Hole-in-one on a par-4 | 2 on a par-6 |
| US alternate name | Double eagle | Triple eagle (rarely used) |
| Approximate odds | ~6,000,000 to 1 | Not calculated |
| Pro tournament records | Multiple per year | None ever |
The difference comes down to one stroke and roughly an order of magnitude in rarity. Albatrosses happen on tour several times a year. A well-known example is Louis Oosthuizen’s albatross on the par-5 second hole at the 2012 Masters, the first televised in the tournament’s history. Condors do not happen on tour at all.
Related Golf Terms
- Collar — The grass immediately surrounding the putting green, also called the fringe.
- Concession — In match play, allowing an opponent’s putt without requiring them to hole out.
- Coil — The rotation of the upper body during the backswing that creates power.
- Compression — A measurement of how much a golf ball deforms at impact.
- Concede — In match play, giving an opponent a putt, hole, or the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has there ever been a condor on the PGA Tour?
No verified condor has been recorded in any major professional tournament, including the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, the DP World Tour, or any of the four men’s majors, per Wikipedia (last verified through May 2024). All six recorded condors come from amateur or club play.
What is five under par on a hole called?
Five under par on a single hole is called an ostrich. Six under is called a phoenix. Both are theoretical names, and neither has ever been verified in golf’s recorded history.
Can you score a condor on a par-3?
No. Four shots better than a par-3 would be a score of negative one, which is mathematically impossible. The same applies to a par-4. A condor can only happen on a hole rated par-5 or longer.
What is the difference between a condor and an albatross?
An albatross is three strokes under par; a condor is four. An albatross usually comes from a 2 on a par-5 or a hole-in-one on a par-4. A condor almost always comes from a hole-in-one on a par-5. Albatrosses happen multiple times per year on professional tours; condors have never happened in pro play.
What are the odds of scoring a condor?
There are no calculated odds. Golf’s governing bodies do not publish a probability for the score because the data set is too small to model. Six recorded events across more than a century of golf are the only reference points available.
Sources
- Wikipedia. “Par (score).”
- Scottish Golf History. “Flight of the Condor.” 18 July 2023.
- PGA of America. “Odds of a Hole-in-One, Albatross, Condor and Golf’s Other Unlikely Shots.”
- CBS San Francisco / KPIX. “Oakland Golf Course Buzzing About Rare ‘Condor’ Score.” 2021.
- LiveAbout. “Explaining the Golf Score Called a Condor.”
- Golf Today. “The Condor – Golf A-Z.”
