Anyone getting into the game of golf for the first time is understandably puzzled by some of the terminologies that are referenced on the golf course. Trying to understand why some of the rules that have evolved over the years are still in place can leave a beginner wondering what he’s getting himself into. However, after doing some research and networking with other golfers, the terms and reasons will fall into place and allow you to become fully involved in this wonderful sport.

An albatross is a very rare bird.

A golf course is made up of a variety of holes of different lengths. A par three is generally a shorter hole and, as the name implies, three shots is the target for a zero handicap player to complete. Similarly, a par four or a par five are longer holes with a target of four or five shots. A player’s handicap is taken into account to balance the skills of fellow players.

Over the years, a terminology has evolved and is now globally accepted to describe the ups and downs of golf scoring. If a player completes a hole one shot under par, they are referred to as a ‘Birdie’, and a score of two under par is an ‘Eagle’. A very rare occurrence of three under par is hailed as an Albatross or more in American golf as a ‘Double Eagle’.

There is much conjecture as to why the names of our feathered friends are so highly regarded. Understandably, a player is charmed by a low Birdie shot, a larger, more elusive bird like the eagle is harder to pull off, and the very rarely seen albatross that spends months at sea flying is even rarer, as is three shots under .

How did the term Birdie originate?

It seems that the honor of the birth of the term ‘Birdie’ for one low on the golf course has been claimed by Atlantic City Golf Club in New Jersey, USA. A game played in 1903 mentioned by the USGA museum cites a golfer named Abner Smith hitting his ball six inches from the par-three hole his group was playing. He is quoted as saying, “That was a bird shot.” This seems to be a slang word at the time meaning a big shot, and the word Birdie is now widely accepted as a low by

The Atlantic City Country Club commemorated this event with a plaque placed on a granite rock near the twelfth hole where the historic event took place. The word Birdie quickly became the norm among the members and gradually caught on with the clubs during the competition. It appears that Ab Smith also claimed the word Eagle for two bass por, but this could not be corroborated.

The first written record of an albatross was from a newspaper in South Africa in 1931. The shot was a hole-in-one on a par four which was the eighteenth at the Durban Country Club and was attributed to Mr. E Wooler. As anyone can imagine, an Albatross is a very rare occurrence, but this memorable event occurred in Augusta at the Masters in 1935 when Gene Sarazen managed to land the incredible shot that put him into a playoff which he won.