Albatross

Golf Glossary

Albatross

In short

An albatross in golf is a score of three strokes under par on a single hole. Typically that means a par 5 in just two strokes or a hole in one on a par 4. In the USA it is usually called a double eagle. It is generally regarded as much rarer than a hole in one.

Albatross in golf: the meaning explained

Every hole has a par, the number of strokes a very good player is expected to need. An albatross means you need three strokes fewer. The calculation is par minus three:

German spells it ‘Albatros’ with one s, English ‘albatross’ with two. In the USA the term ‘double eagle’ is common, meaning a score one stroke better than an eagle.

On leaderboards an albatross appears as ‘−3’ for that hole. In Stableford it earns five gross points.

How an albatross happens

There are two typical routes to an albatross, and both require very long and very accurate shots.

The most common route is on a par 5. First comes a long drive onto the fairway. The second shot, usually with a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron, flies towards the green and goes straight in. Often the ball lands short of the green and rolls the last few metres into the hole.

The second route is a hole in one on a par 4. That only works on short par 4s that can be reached from the tee, which golfers call ‘drivable’.

Because so much distance is needed, albatrosses are made mainly by professionals and very strong amateurs. For club golfers a gross albatross remains a rare exception, while a net albatross with handicap strokes is more within reach.

Practical example: an albatross on a par 5

A par 5 measures 470 metres. Your drive travels 250 metres and stops in the middle of the fairway, leaving 220 metres to the flag. You take a fairway wood. The ball lands just short of the green, bounces, rolls towards the flag and drops. Two strokes on a par 5: an albatross.

In Stableford that earns five gross points. If you also receive a handicap stroke on the hole, your net score is four under par, worth six net points.

The net albatross is more realistic for club golfers. For example, you receive one stroke on a par 4 and play the hole in two. Gross that is an eagle, net it is three under par: a net albatross worth five points.

Famous albatrosses

The most famous albatross in golf history was made by Gene Sarazen at the 1935 Masters in Augusta. On the 15th hole, a par 5, he holed his second shot with a 4-wood from around 235 yards. In one stroke he made up the three shots he trailed Craig Wood by, and he won the 36-hole play-off the following day. In the USA it is still known as the ‘shot heard round the world’.

There have been occasional albatrosses at later majors too, and each one is celebrated widely precisely because it is so rare.

There are no exact figures for how often they happen, as not every albatross is recorded. Golfers agree, though, that an albatross is much rarer than a hole in one. Many players never see one in a lifetime of golf.

Origin of the name albatross

The name continues the series of bird terms in golf. It started with the birdie for one under par, from the American slang word ‘bird’, which around 1900 meant something excellent. The eagle followed for two under par, a bigger and more powerful bird.

For an even rarer score, golfers chose the albatross, one of the largest seabirds and one that most people rarely see. That suits a score hardly anyone experiences. The term is used mainly in British and European golf, while ‘double eagle’ became established in the USA.

When and where the word albatross was first used in golf is not reliably documented.

Common misunderstandings about the albatross

A few misunderstandings about the albatross come up regularly.

Albatross, eagle, condor and hole in one compared

The bird terms always refer to the par of a single hole:

A hole in one is not a separate step in this series. It simply means the first stroke finishes in the hole. On a par 3 it is an eagle, on a par 4 an albatross.

You cannot practise an albatross as such. What you can practise is a long and accurate game. If you know your distances with woods and hybrids, you will reach par-5 greens in two more often. Eagle chances then become realistic, and very occasionally the ball drops.

Try it at Golf Lounge

The Golf Lounge’s 9-hole ‘Black’ course is a par 33 and, according to the course guide, has six par 4s and three par 3s. There is no par 5, so an albatross is only possible here as a hole in one on a par 4. The par-4 holes measure between just over 220 and 300 metres according to the course guide. The course is open from April to December for players with the DGV Platzreife, with up to four players per tee time.

View the 9-hole course

Frequently asked questions

What is an albatross in golf?

An albatross is a score of three strokes under par on a single hole. On a par 5 you need two strokes, on a par 4 one stroke, which is a hole in one. An albatross is impossible on a par 3. In the USA the score is called a double eagle.

Is it albatross or double eagle?

Both terms mean the same thing: three strokes under par on one hole. ‘Albatross’ is the usual term in Britain, Europe and most of the golfing world, while ‘double eagle’ is more common in the USA. In German the word is spelt ‘Albatros’ with one s.

Which is rarer, an albatross or a hole in one?

An albatross is generally regarded as much rarer. A hole in one usually happens on a par 3, which many players can reach from the tee. An albatross requires two very long, accurate shots on a par 5 or a hole in one on a par 4. There are no exact statistics, because not every score is recorded.

How many Stableford points is an albatross worth?

An albatross earns five Stableford points. For comparison, an eagle earns four, a birdie three and a par two. In net scoring your handicap counts: with one handicap stroke on the hole, a gross eagle becomes a net albatross worth five points.

As of: October 2026

Back to the Golf Glossary