What Is An Eagle In Golf?

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If you have been newly introduced to watching or playing golf, it’s understandable to be confused by the weird words used to describe different shots and positions. And to be quite frank, they are confusing to a limit that sometimes you just can’t make sense of what they are saying; the game just has a vocabulary of its own. 

The thing gets even more frustrating when a newbie enters the golf course, not able to get a grip of just the vocabulary, let alone e the game.

As someone who has been all through the weird stuff (that’s what I like to call it), I would love to tell you some tidbits about what is an albatross, par, and birdie, and what is an eagle in golf; simply every unusual thing you can name. 

What Is An Eagle In Golf?

Here, we will make sure that next time you enter the golf course or watch Tiger Woods on TV, you don’t lose concentration by hearing words completely strange to your ears!

So let’s get into it! 

  • Par

The first words you are going to hear just at the time when you begin your game is the “Par”. As unusual as the name seems, as much is it easy. It is simply the limited number of strokes you are given to get the ball in a particular hole. For example, suppose you are playing at a par-3 hole, the maximum number of shots you should be putting the ball in is 3. Anything above that will decide your handicap number! 

  • Birdie

It’s a term that refers to if a player succeeds to putt the ball in one 1-shot below par. For example, if a player is playing on a par-4 hole and he gets the ball inside it in 3 strokes, it’s a birdie. Amidst the game, any player who succeeds to play a birdie remains on top of the game as compared to his competitor, it counts in the end. Moreover, you should know that a birdie isn’t specific to a particular hole. It is possible at any point in the game. 

  • Eagle

For those who don’t know what is an eagle in golf, it is a term given when the player succeeds to finish the round with 2 shots under par. For example, if you finish a 3-hole in 1 shot, you’ve done an eagle, or in other words “ace”.

  • Hole-in-one

Hole-in-one is to hit the ball to the hole in one shot off the tee. It is in fact, the biggest achievement a player can possibly come across in the game. Just like an eagle, it is also termed as “ace”. The hole-in-one is typically accomplished on par-3 holes, where it is easier to reach. For an amateur, accomplishing it is a pure moment of joy. 

  • Albatross

Albatross is the equivalent of two eagles, particularly a rare score when compared to the previous ones. For example, it can be regarded as a hole-in-one of the par-4. 

  • Bogey 

Among the many weird words you will hear in a golf match, the bogey has the most peculiar status. However, it’s in no way an achievement. A body is referred to when a player ends up playing 1 shot over par. 2 shots over par will be regarded as a double-bogey, and will add up to your handicap number. 

  • Chip

A relatively small shot on the greens to get the ball at the nearest point beside the hole is called a chip. 

  • Drive

A long tee shot is usually played with a driver. However, in certain circumstances, it is also played with wood. 

  • Fairway

It is a short-grassed point between the tee and the putting green. Gofers usually aim for this area the most. 

  • Pitch

A short shot played by a relatively high-numbered for the sake of accuracy; it stands between the chip and the drive. 

  • Putt

A slow, grounded shot played on the green with a putter to get the ball inside the hole.

  • Rough

It is the long grass on either side of the fairway which the golfers try to avoid the most. If the ball lands here, the game can get a bit messy. 

  • Tee

Refers to the part of the course where the game starts, or simply, where you start each of your holes. 

  • Flag

It’s a flag marker. In other words, the whole game depends upon getting near this place. The nearer the flag, the easier the putt. 

Conclusion

Well, those were the most common names you often hear on the golf course as you watch or play the game. Other terminologies include sweet spot, sand wedges, etc, but they are the names of clubs and one with even the slightest knowledge of the game will know it. Therefore, I excluded those to keep the article short and helpful. 

And that was pretty much it. Now you rest assured that you won’t feel any confusion next time you watch Tiger Woods making those “eagles”, or “birdies”, or who knows an “albatross”, because “Bogies” isn’t something you are going to hear so often when watching a world champion. 

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