The Rarest Score In Golf Is The “Condor”

It is true that the rarest score in golf is the “condor,” which is achieved when a golfer makes a hole-in-one on a par-5 hole. While there are no official statistics on the frequency of condors, only a handful have been recorded in golf history.

Why Is It Rare?

The reason for the rarity of the condor is that par-5 holes are typically much longer and more difficult than par-3 or par-4 holes. This means it is more challenging for a golfer to reach the green in one shot. Additionally, many par-5 holes have hazards, such as bunkers or water hazards. These hazards make it even more difficult to achieve a hole-in-one.

That being said, it is not impossible to achieve a condor, though it is close to it. Condors can be achieved with the right combination of skill, course conditions, and a whole lot of luck. Some golfers have achieved condors by hitting their tee shot over a hill and onto a downhill fairway. Others have taken advantage of strong tailwinds to hit their ball a great distance. However achieved, a condor is never conventional.

Because the condor is the rarest score in golf it is also the most impressive. Achieving a condor is a remarkable feat that few golfers will ever experience.

California Condor Painting by Sonja Guard.

Why Call it a Condor???

One of the most magnificent feats in golf is described by the term “condor”. A golfer can achieve this feat by making a hole-in-one on a par-5 hole. But why do we call it a “condor”? The origin of the term is a matter of debate, but it is believed to have originated around the 1930s in California.

One theory is that the term “condor” was chosen because the California condor is one of the largest and rarest birds in North America, with a wingspan of up to 10 feet. Just as the California condor is a rare and impressive bird, scoring a condor in golf is a rare and impressive feat.

Bob Hopper Achieved The Rarest Score In Golf

Another theory is that Bob Hopper coined the term “condor” after he reportedly achieved the score himself in the 1960s. According to this theory, Hopper chose the name “condor” because it was a play on the words “eagle,” “birdie,” and “albatross,” which are other terms for when one shoots under par on a hole.

Regardless of its origins, the term “condor” has become widely recognized in the golfing world as a term used to describe the rarest and most impressive score in the sport.

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