In the golfing community, every golfer has a dream of hitting an eagle to prove themselves. But what if you found out that you do even better? Could you really make the hole in fewer shots and get one of the rarest scores, the Albatross?
Few people have achieved this impressive feat. And if you have been playing golf for a while, you could hope to join the ranks of golfers who have achieved this.
So let’s explore further how you can achieve this dream. We’ll discuss what an Albatross in golf means, a brief history of it, and how you can increase your chances of getting one.
Here’s what you will learn in this article:
What Golf Score Counts as an Albatross
We also know an albatross in golf scoring as a ‘double eagle’. To get one, you need to hit 3 strokes under Par of a single golf hole. To achieve this is nothing short of challenging, but not entirely impossible.
Most golfers get an albatross in a Par 5 hole since it will be easier to get the ball on the green and then do the albatross putt. Normally, Par 5 holes are designed so that you need to get the ball on the green in 3 strokes, and then 2 putts to get the ball in the hole. So if you can hit the golf ball in 2 shots to get it on the green, and then putt the ball into the hole, you’ve got yourself an albatross!
On Par-3 holes you would need to get a hole in one to make an albatross, and on Par 4 holes you need to get a hole in two. Statistically, albatrosses are rarer on these holes than they are on a Par-5 hole.
How To Achieve an Albatross
So how do you achieve one? To start, you would need to hit the ball far with precision off the tee with a driver. So you should master your golf shots to get the ball as far as you can down the fairway. Investing in good golf clubs that aid long distance shots can help you here.
Once you’re down the fairway enough, it’s all about making an incredible approach shot to get you onto the green. Now you’d need to make an inch perfect putt down the green to get the ball into the hole.
Sounds easier said than done, right? Well, that’s because it definitely is! Getting an Albatross is incredibly difficult and most golf players that get it are PGA Championship golfers.
Following the tips above will help you increase your chances of scoring that Double Eagle. But don’t get too caught up with it, just play golf and have fun! Enjoy the beautiful game that is golf and get better every day.
A Brief History of the Golf Term Albatross in Golf
The history of the Albatross golf scoring term in golf has an interesting history. Although there is no single claim for the original source, the term is widely thought to originate in the United States in the early 1920s or 1930s.
The first major PGA golfer to hit the coveted Albatross golf score was Gene Sarazen at the 1935 Masters Tournament. Here he hit a shot from 235 years out on a Par-5 hole, which went directly into the hole for his Double Eagle. Gene would go on to win the Masters Tournament the next day!
Is an Albatross the Same As a Double Eagle?
Many may have heard people refer to Double Eagles and Albatrosses and thought they are different scores. The truth is, they are the same score and people use them interchangeably.
Both terms are common in golfing terms, but the most widely accepted term across the world is the Albatross.
Odds of Making an Albatross
Now that we know what an Albatross is in golf, and the history of it, you may wonder what are the odds of scoring an Albatross? According to the PGA the chances of scoring one is around 6 million to 1. Those that have achieved it did so on a Par 5 hole with a three under par score.
In comparison, according to the PGA, getting a hole in one has a 12,500 to 1 chance of scoring one. This makes getting an Albatross score a rare feat to achieve and why it’s celebrated so much when someone achieves it!
Notable Albatrosses in Golf
Tom Morris
The first player to official record a score equivalent to an Albatross before it was known as this, was “Young” Tim Morris. It was during the 1870 Open Championship at Prestwick, Scotland, on the first hole he got an Albatross.
Gene Sarazen
The most notable Albatross in golf known as the “Shot Heard round the World” was Gene Sarazen at the 1935 Masters Tournament. He was the first to score an Albatross in a major when the term was known as an Albatross.
Louis Oosthuizen
Louis Oosthuizen scored another widely known Albatross at the 2012 Masters. He managed the feat after hitting the ball with a 4-Iron 253 yards towards the second hole which bounced onto the green and went into the hole. This was the first ever recorded Albatross at the second hole of the Augusta National Golf Club.
Has Tiger Woods Ever Hit an Albatross?
Despite what you may think, Tiger Woods has achieved an Albatross in his long history of playing golf. He was extremely close to one during the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open where he was just inches away from an Albatross.
So if he hasn’t hit the Albatross yet, one can imagine the odds of scoring one themselves and joining the Double Eagle club is likely to be very low.
Final Thoughts on an Albatross
Hitting an Albatross, or three strokes under par as it’s scored as, is the pinnacle of every golfer’s golfing achievement. Many consider this to be a bigger achievement than hitting a hole-in-one as an Albatross is rarer.
Most are happy to get a Birdie, and even better, an Eagle. So getting an Albatross is an incredibly rare & prestigious achievement.
Even though we all hope to get one, the main thing to remember at the golf course is to just have fun. Play consistently to improve, and eventually you may get that coveted Albatross.
