WHAT IS AN ALBATROSS IN GOLF?
WHAT IS AN ALBATROSS IN GOLF?
What is an albatross in golf? There are few things as sweet in the game of golf as an albatross. This is because a rare bird like an albatross comes along so rarely. While a double-eagle can technically occur on any hole. Only one out of every 1,000 holes played results in an albatross. The word “albatross” itself comes from the ancient seafaring superstition; about bad luck coming when an albatross or other large seabird crosses your path. Making it a particularly appropriate term for this surprisingly rare feat of golfing prowess.
What Is Albatross In golf?
An albatross is a score of three under par on a single hole in golf. The term comes from an old superstition. One of many in golf, that an albatross or other large seabird is a sign of bad luck. The PGA does not even keep statistics for them.
Albatrosses are the rarest of golf’s scoring events, so rare that the PGA does not even keep statistics for them, according to a USA Today report.
For all their relative rarity, albatrosses are the most celebrated moments in golf. The term is derived from Old English and means “giant bird”. So named because of its supposed ability to carry a man on its back across countries. But though it does not carry you across countries or even continents (not anymore); an albatross can still make you feel like you can fly.
The term comes from an old superstition, one of many in golf, that an albatross or other large seabird is a sign of bad luck.
The term comes from an old superstition. One of many in golf, that an albatross or other large seabird is a sign of bad luck. The word itself is derived from the Latin name for the sea eagle, which was believed to be a bad omen by sailors. This belief carried over into golf and became associated with any bird that flew overhead while a player was attempting to make par or better on their hole. If the golfer made par after being interrupted by an albatross, it was considered good luck for them but bad luck for everyone else who had not yet finished their round (and therefore hadn’t been interrupted).
An albatross means good luck in golf!
An albatross doesn’t mean good luck for everyone. In fact, it’s bad luck for some people. But in golf, an albatross is a good thing to have happen.
An albatross is a score of three strokes under par on a hole (as in birdie). The term was coined by golf legend Bernard Darwin in his book Golf: Its Origins and Its Great Players, published in 1908. He wrote “The term ‘Albatross’ has been applied to that wonderful feat which only the very greatest players can achieve — three strokes under par on any given hole.”
Here’s why this happened: A few years earlier, a golfer named James Paxton scored an ace or hole-in-one on the tenth hole at Prestwick Golf
Club in Scotland with his second shot—a mighty long drive that flew over 250 yards (about 230 meters) before hitting the green and rolling around 20 feet from the pin!
Conclusion
This article should’ve given you a better idea of what an albatross is. An albatross is the lowest score that can be achieved on any individual hole in golf. A golfer achieves this by hitting the ball into the hole in three strokes. This is a rare occurrence and happens less often than an eagle (two under par for one hole). If you are interested in learning more about other terms used in golf, check out our article on What Is A Bogey In Golf?