# More common in golf: holes-in-one or double eagles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731 "2004-06-16T20:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/1 "2004-06-16T20:39:24Z")
I realize that neither is particularly common. I also realize that a hole-in-one on a par-4 (exceedingly rare, IIRC) would also be a double eagle. So how often (roughly) do each occur on the PGA and LPGA tours? At least a few annually? My impression is that a hole-in-one is quite rare, but that a double eagle on a par-5 is truly a hand-of-God moment for a golfer. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/2 "2004-06-16T20:45:59Z")
I don’t have any statistics for you, but I agree with your impression that holes-in-one are far more common than double eagles. Just from watching PGA tournaments, I can recall several holes-in-one, but I don’t remember ever seeing a double eagle. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/3 "2004-06-16T20:51:01Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > So how often (roughly) do each occur on the PGA and LPGA tours? At least a few annually? My impression is that a hole-in-one is quite rare, but that a double eagle on a par-5 is truly a hand-of-God moment for a golfer. A typical 2nd shot on a par 5 is a 4-iron to 3-wood shot off an unlevel lie even in the fairway. That is much harder than you typical par 3 which might be simply a 9-iron off a perfect (teed-up) lie on a level tee box. But a better comparison might be an eagle on a par 4 with a hole-in-one (ie, an eagle) on a par 3. Neither of those are that uncomon and you might see one or two in the same tournament. Double eagles are quite rare. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/4 "2004-06-16T20:52:05Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Just from watching PGA tournaments, I can recall several holes-in-one, but I don’t remember ever seeing a double eagle. It occurred to me that perhaps double eagles would happen on par-6 holes … but I’m not sure PGA courses have very many holes (if any) greater than par-5. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/5 "2004-06-16T20:53:56Z")
All I have is anecdotal evidence, but I am a very poor golfer. I shoot over 100 every time out save one. And I have a hole-in-one. And I don’t think I’ve ever reached a par 5 in 2 shots. However, I have played with someone who scored a double eagle. We thought his ball was lost until we found it in the cup. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/6 "2004-06-16T20:55:28Z")
One way to look at it is that you are bound to have more opportunities for a hole-in-one than a double eagle. Every time you tee up on a par three, you have an opportunity for a hole-in-one. On the other hand, to have a chance to hit a double eagle, you have to first hit an excellent tee shot on a par 5. So if there are roughly the same number of par 3 and par 5 holes, the hole in one would have to be more common than the double eagle. In fact, I think that there are more par 3’s than 5’s (because some courses are par 71 or 70), so that would make the double eagle even rarer. ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/7 "2004-06-16T20:57:09Z")
A few years ago UK bookmakers got stung because they did not have the Straight Dope on the frequency of hole-in-ones. > [@](#): > > In 1991, British bookmakers found themselves in the rough with the odds they offered on golf betting. It was two industry insiders, a pair of bookmakers, who discovered that the odds offered for a hole-in-one were ridiculously high. They studied the statistics for European golf tournaments and found that holes-in-one were becoming increasingly common due to more skilful players. They expected to get odds of around 2/1 for a hole-in-one. However, when they checked the prices offered, they found that odds of around 20/1 and as high as 100/1 were quoted. Realising they were on to a winner, the pair gave up work and travelled the country placing bets. They staked around $40,000 and won over $700,000 before their coup was discovered and the bookmakers drastically reduced the odds. Golf is unlikely to provide punters with such a bonanza again but it could happen with another sport From here: [http://www.ildado.com/article14.html](http://www.ildado.com/article14.html) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/8 "2004-06-16T21:05:04Z")
You might find some statistics on [pga.com](http://pga.com), but here’s my take on the which you’d expect to see more of (in order): 1. eagle on a par 5 2. eagle on a par 3 3. eagle on a par 4 4. double eagle on a par 5 5. double eagle on a par 4 But keep in mind that a typical golf course has 4 par 5s, 4 par 3s, and 10 par 4s. And with drives typically going 300+ yds these days, it’s pretty common for the 2nd shot on a par 4 to be a short iron or wedge. So, if you don’t compensate for the greater number of par 4s in a round, it might be that you’d see more par 4 eagles than par 3 eagles. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/9 "2004-06-16T21:28:06Z")
Interestingly enough, after a little Googling, I’ve learned that double eagles and triple eagles have their own names, much like “birdie” and “eagle”. A double eagle can be called an “albatross”; a triple eagle a “condor”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/10 "2004-06-16T21:38:36Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > A double eagle can be called an “albatross”… I believe that is a British term, rarely used in the US. ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/11 "2004-06-16T21:42:34Z")
I had always wondered if there was a word for a triple eagle. A condor. Cool. I hope one day to be able to use that in a pub quiz or something. Are they ever possible? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/12 "2004-06-16T21:56:56Z")
A triple eagle would be four under par. So you could either hole out your tee shot on a Par 5 or get a 2 on one of the very few Par 6 holes that exist in the world. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/13 "2004-06-16T22:09:13Z")
> [@InvidiousCourgette](#): > > I had always wondered if there was a word for a triple eagle. A condor. Cool. I hope one day to be able to use that in a pub quiz or something. Are they ever possible? The 6th at [Bay Hill](http://www.bayhill.com) is a par 5, and I seem to remember that someone (Hank Kuehne?) had driven the green there. It’s set up as a big dogleg left, and the straight line distance tee to green is maybe 350 or so, all over water. It’s at least conceivable that one of those long drive guys could ace that hole. The Bay Hill site linked above has a course diagram which shows the layout of that hole. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/14 "2004-06-16T22:15:30Z")
I’ve driven that green on my computer! But it’s really big and I think I ended up with a birdie after all was said and done. It’s also very easy to put the ball in the water. ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/15 "2004-06-16T22:24:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The 6th at Bay Hill is a par 5 I had a look. I can see that it would be an ambitious golfer who took that on! What do you think the etiquette would be if you aced it? Drinks on me would not cover it! ---
**Author:** ![InvidiousCourgette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-common-in-golf-holes-in-one-or-double-eagles/250731/16 "2004-06-18T13:27:31Z")
Heh. Two people have scored condors on a par 5: > [@](#): > > Shaun Lynch on the 496 yard 17th at Teign Valley in July 1995 and L. Brice on the 480 yard 5th at Hope CC, Arkansas in 1962. Both holes are dog-legs. That is an exclusive club. From this site: [http://www.anyonefortee.com/Scoring/Birds.html](http://www.anyonefortee.com/Scoring/Birds.html)