Albatross is a term used in the sport of golf – specifically, in reference to a score or accomplishment that is exceptionally good. The term has its origins from the nautical definition of an albatross (a large seabird), meaning it metaphorically refers to “a burden” to golfers who make exceptionally long putts and other noteworthy accomplishments
For example, when Dan McLaughlin would make a SportsCenter “Top 10 Plays,” he’d say: “This is the Top 10 albatross!” when referring to his longest hit shots in football, basketball and baseball before turning pro.
The term originated in golf during the 19th-century, when players using featherie balls were said to have “killed the albatross”. The term came about when a player scored an albatross by holing out two drives with one swing of his club, resulting in a total score of 4 (below).
Albatross: A score of four on a hole; hitting each shot – from tee ball to green and vice versa – at least 226 yards. To accomplish this feat, the golfer would hit two consecutive shots onto or over par-3 holes and make par on both; i.e., he’d drive the green of one hole and then hit his second shot close enough to putt it into that same cup.
Though there is no official definition for an Albatross in golf, the definition is generally agreed upon by many to mean a rare score consisting of three under par on a hole. An albatross is referred to as a double eagle in the United States and an eagle-three (3) in Europe.
To get an idea of how amazing this 4-stroke swing would be, imagine what it’s like going from being +6 to being -2 after holing out two shots with one swing. It’s extremely difficult! Not only must you have perfect length off the tee but your second shot has to fly straight and land on or near the green that’s 230 yards away from you just so that you can putt it into that same hole from 70 feet away!
Table of Contents
Is a double eagle and an albatross the same thing?
An albatross and a double eagle are basically the same golfing terms, however they tend to be used differently by different people.
What happens is that an albatross gets shortened down to “eagle” quite often, so it’s best not to assume which term was said unless you hear both of them being said at the same time.
Is albatross better than hole-in-one?
An albatross is just as good as a hole in one since it is also three under par on a single hole. The only difference would be that an albatross takes two strokes to accomplish while a hole in one takes just one stroke. So if somebody makes an albatross, they’ll have the same score of 3-under par but will have added another shot before making their way to the green so they can putt their ball for birdie or eagle.
What is an ostrich in golf?
An ostrich is a score of five on a hole. To do this, the golfer must hit his tee shot over par-5 hole and then get up and down from 140 yards or closer. This happens when a golfer leaves himself a very difficult chip shot that he has to try to make from far away so as not to have it roll down the steep hill onto the green with no safety zone in front of it. An example of an ostrich would be if you leave your chip shot at least 40 feet away from you and past the pin but within 20 feet for birdie.
What is the rarest shot in golf?
A hole-in-one is the rarest shot in golf, but to answer the question directly, the one-shot albatross is by far the rarest shot. There are many reasons why it’s considered so rare since you have to drive the green twice just to pull it off – not to mention that you have to hit both your shots perfectly! Also, there are less than 20 holes on a typical course where you could even attempt an albatross because of how difficult they are.
Conclusion
An albatross is a golfing term used to refer to a shot which the player scores three under par on a hole. This is usually referred to as ‘an Eagle’ in some countries so it’s important not to assume what the person means by their phrase unless you hear both of them together. An ostrich score of five is also another rare score in golf, but an albatross takes two strokes while an ostrich only takes one stroke – that being said, they are basically the same thing and can be considered interchangeable. A hole-in-one is a rare shot in golf since a golfer has to hit it straight into the cup from more than 200 yards away without any other or obstacles. The one-shot albatross is by far and wide the rarest shot in golf since it requires two perfect tee shots that fly towards the green and then land on or near it so that you can get your ball into that same hole from 70 feet away!
Now you know. 🙂
