What Is an Albatross in Golf? The Rare Shot Explained

Ever heard someone say they got an albatross on the 17th and wondered if they were talking about the big seabird? In golf, an albatross isn’t a bird you spot on the coast-it’s one of the rarest and most impressive scores you can make on a hole. If you’ve ever watched a pro tournament and heard the crowd erupt for a shot that seems impossible, chances are they just saw an albatross.

What Exactly Is an Albatross in Golf?

An albatross in golf means scoring three strokes under par on a single hole. That’s two strokes better than an eagle and three better than a birdie. It’s also called a double eagle, though "albatross" is the more popular term outside the U.S.

Here’s how it breaks down:

• On a par-5 hole: an albatross is a hole-in-one (1 stroke)
• On a par-4 hole: an albatross is a two-stroke shot (rare, but possible with a long drive and a bounce)
• On a par-3 hole: technically impossible, since you’d need to score -2 on a one-stroke hole

Most albatrosses happen on par-5 holes. That’s because you need enough distance to reach the green in two shots, then sink the putt. It’s not just luck-it’s precision, power, and sometimes a little help from the slope of the green.

How Rare Is an Albatross?

Let’s put it this way: you’re more likely to win the lottery than to make an albatross in your lifetime. The odds for an amateur golfer are estimated at around 6 million to 1. Even on the PGA Tour, where players hit the ball over 300 yards and have flawless short games, albatrosses happen fewer than five times a year across all tournaments.

Only a handful of players in history have made more than one. Gene Sarazen famously hit one at the 1935 Masters on the 15th hole-a shot that helped him win the tournament and is still replayed in highlight reels today. More recently, Louis Oosthuizen made a stunning albatross on the second hole at the 2012 Masters, one of the most watched shots in golf history.

There are even fewer recorded albatrosses on par-4 holes. The most famous one was by Shaun Micheel at the 2003 PGA Championship. He drove the 240-yard par-4 17th hole at Oak Hill and holed the putt. That shot is still talked about because it’s so rare-par-4 albatrosses happen less than once every five years on the PGA Tour.

Why Is It Called an Albatross?

The name comes from the bird-specifically, the great albatross, which has the largest wingspan of any flying bird and can glide for thousands of miles without flapping its wings. In golf, the term was adopted in the early 20th century as a way to describe something that seemed impossibly large or rare.

It follows the bird theme in golf scoring:

• Birdie = one under par
• Eagle = two under par
• Albatross = three under par

The names started as playful slang in the U.K. and stuck because they’re vivid. A birdie sounds light and quick. An eagle is bigger and stronger. An albatross? It’s massive, majestic, and almost mythical.

How Do You Even Make an Albatross?

There’s no secret formula, but there are common patterns. Most albatrosses happen in three ways:

1. Two-shot par-5: The golfer hits a long drive, then a second shot that lands on the green and rolls in. This is the most common path. It requires distance, control, and a favorable lie.
2. Hole-in-one on a par-5: Extremely rare. You need a downhill, tailwind, firm fairway, and a perfect strike. Only a handful of these have ever been recorded in professional play.
3. Two-stroke par-4: This is the holy grail. A drive that carries 250+ yards over hazards, lands on the green, and drops in. It’s so rare that some courses don’t have a single recorded one in their history.

It helps if the hole has a slight downhill slope or a green that feeds toward the pin. Many albatrosses happen on holes where the green is elevated or has a false front-shots that land just short can roll all the way in.

Amateurs rarely attempt this shot. But if you’re playing a short par-5-say, under 450 yards-and you’re hitting it 260+ off the tee, you might get a chance. Don’t go for it blindly, though. Missing the green by 50 yards on a par-5 can turn a potential albatross into a double bogey.

Albatross vs. Eagle vs. Birdie

Understanding the difference between these terms helps you appreciate just how special an albatross is.

Even top professionals don’t expect to make an eagle on every par-5. An albatross is something you dream about. It’s the kind of shot you tell your friends about for the rest of your life.

What Happens When You Make One?

There’s no official prize, but the reaction is always the same: silence, then chaos. Crowds stop talking. Cameras swing around. Fellow players stare. Then, the roar hits.

At amateur clubs, it’s tradition to buy drinks for everyone on the course. At pro events, it often means a huge boost in confidence and media attention. Some tournaments even have unofficial "albatross clubs" or pins for players who’ve made one.

And yes, it counts the same as any other score on your card. No extra strokes. No bonus points. Just a number on the scorecard that says you did something almost no one else has.

Can You Get an Albatross on a Par-3?

No. A par-3 hole is designed to be completed in three strokes. To get an albatross, you’d need to score -3, meaning one stroke. That’s a hole-in-one. But a hole-in-one on a par-3 is called an ace, not an albatross. The term "albatross" only applies when you’re under par by three strokes on a hole that’s designed to take at least four strokes.

So while a hole-in-one on a par-3 is amazing, it’s not an albatross. You can’t have a negative par. The math doesn’t work.

Why Should You Care About Albatrosses?

You don’t need to make one to enjoy golf. But knowing what it is helps you appreciate the game’s history and its moments of pure magic. Golf isn’t just about consistency-it’s about those fleeting, impossible moments that remind you why people play.

Think of it like a perfect tennis serve, a 60-foot basketball shot, or a last-second goal in soccer. It’s not the norm. It’s the exception. And when it happens, it turns a regular round into a story you’ll tell for decades.

So next time you’re on a long par-5 and you hit a perfect drive, don’t just think "eagle." Think: "What if?" Because somewhere, on some course, someone is going to make an albatross-and it might just be you.