What Is a Condor in Golf And Why it is Not Common?

A Condor in golf is the term used when a golfer finishes a particular hole with a shot count that is 4 fewer shots than the Par of the hole. One of the rarest occurrences in golf. For example, if the hole is a par 5, a player can score a condor by getting the ball in the hole in 1 shot. 

The feat of a condor is only possible on par 5’s or higher. Although, any holes higher than a par 5 are rare, some do exist in the world.   With most par 5s being 500+ yards and the average professional driving length is only around 300 yards. This makes Condors a very rare occurrence.

How Golf Scoring Works (And Where the Condor Fits In)

What is A Condor in Golf?

The term Condor is used to describe the score a player would achieve if they finished a hole 4 shots under par. For example, If a player hits a hole-in-one (finishing the hole by only hitting one shot) on a par 5, that would be a Condor.

The Meaning of Par and “Under Par” Scores

Each hole in golf will receive a par number. This will be how many shots a scratch golfer will be expected to hit before putting the ball into the hole. If it takes a player more shots than the par to put the ball into the hole, let’s say 5 on a par 4, he will shoot one shot over par. If he does it in three, this is consider one under par.

One shot under par on a given hole is a birdie, two shots under par is an eagle, three shots under par is an albatross, and finally, four shots under par is a condor. All named after birds. the condor being the heaviest one.

Why the Condor Is So Rare in Real Play

A condor in golf is extremely rare. Only 6 people have ever recorded one and none of them have been on camera doing so. No professional gofer has ever accomplished this. And the reason is quite simple, most golf course have about four par 5s on the property and most of them are over 500 yards. With average driving distance of a professional golfer being about 300 yards, the green and hole are just not reachable with any club in a golfing bag.

Famous Condors in golf

Unfortunately, we do not have any footage of a Condor in golf. 

However, a real estate professor from the University of Denver, Mike Crean, made a hole in one on a 517 yard par 5. A world record!

If you know anything about high altitude golf, you know that it makes you hit the ball a lot further. Since the air is very thin, the ball is held up a lot less. Allowing for it to travel further. This assisted Mike in making one the craziest feats in all of golf as Colorado is a mile above sea level.

There have been only 5 other recorded Condors EVER! Here’s the list of golfers that are immortalized in history:

Larry Bruce 1962 – Hole in one – Par 5 – 452 Yards – Hope Country Club
Dick Hogan – 1973 – Hole in one – Par 5 – 456 Yards – Piedmont Crescent
Shaun Lynch – 1995 – Hole in one – Par 5 – 496 Yards – Teign Valley
Jack Bartlett – 2007 – Hole in One – Par 5 – 511 Yards – Wentworth falls CC
Kevin Pon (Photographed below) – 2020 – 2 strokes – Par 6 – 649 Yards – Lake Chabot

What Would It Take to Score a Condor in Golf?

Conditions That Make a Condor Possible

Although a condor in golf is the rarest of all feats, there are condition that make a condor possible.

• High altitude courses: when golf is played at higer at altitudes, the air is substantially thiner. This makes the ball cut the air much easier causing the ball to travels significantly further. This can help a condor in golf be more achievable as on a short, down hill par 5 in high altitude, the green may be reachable in one.
• Extreme dogleg par 5s: Doglegs are when a hole doesn’t go just straight. It turns to the left or right. In some wild cases course can have holes almost shaped like a U outlined by trees. This makes the tee box and the green close in yardage but almost impossible to reach due the the obstruction of the trees. One may be able to make a crazy shot and reach the green in one shot. However, as lucky as that would be, the player would still need to have the ball land in the hole which is even harder.
• Shortened course setups: A course may be under repair and have moved the tee boxes making a condor possible. However, under the USGA rules of golf, I am not quite sure this would even count.

Skills and Strategy That Could Enable It

If you’re new to golf, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no amount of skill that can enable you to make a condor in golf. Instead focus on getting comfortable with your game and have par as your target score always. Condors are for dreams.

What Can Golfers Learn from the Idea of a Condor?

Distance Isn’t Everything — Course Strategy Matters

Look, there’s a 99.99% chance you’ll never make a condor. Not only because of luck but because of distance. If there’s anything to take away from the condor examples given above, is that on certain holes, different lines will be possible. When this is the case, we need to look at the reality of each line and what is most likely to happen. Is the risk worth the reward?

Another take away would be elevation change. In different climates balls travel further. Be aware of where you are playing and what that specific elevation compared to sea level does to your shots. Strategy will always be king in golf. Weather you’re going for a par or an eagle, you need to choose the best shot possible.

Not sure how to determine what’s the best shot? Read our section on shot selection here

Improve Your Long Game to Lower Scores

A great takeaway from all low scores on par 5 holes, is how much distance helps you on the golf course. Although distance without control will never lower your score, there is a great benefit to having an excellent long game off the tee and afterwards.

Players who hit the ball long off the tee will always have less yardage for the approach shot. This means they will use higher lofted clubs for their second shots. Clubs with higher lofts are easier to hit and be accurate with. This will allow them to get closer to the pin on their second shots leading to lower scores.

if you struggle with hitting your driver far, consider working on it with intent. Below are 5 drills and tips from Chris Ryan that can have a major impact on distance and control.

Conclusion: Should You Try for a Condor?

A condor is one of golf’s most fascinating ideas because it shows the outer limits of what is possible in the game. While almost every golfer will go their entire life without seeing one, understanding what it represents puts scoring, distance, and strategy into perspective. Golf is not about chasing impossible outcomes, but about making smart decisions and playing each hole realistically. If a condor ever happens, it becomes history. Until then, focusing on solid strategy, controlled distance, and steady improvement is what actually leads to lower scores.

Check out the history of “Eagle” in golf.