If you’ve stood on the first tee at Genoa Golf Club and heard someone say “this is a par 4,” you know the word matters. Par shapes how you score, how you strategize, and how you measure a good round against a great one.
Yet for newer players, the concept can feel slippery. Let’s clear it up in plain language so you can step onto the Lakes Course or the Ranch Course knowing exactly what you’re chasing.
What Is Par in Golf? The Simple Definition
So, what is par in golf? It is the number of strokes an expert golfer should need to finish a hole or a full round. It assumes two putts on the green plus the right number of shots to reach it. A par 3 expects one shot to the green and two putts. A par 4 expects two shots to the green and two putts. A par 5 expects three shots and two putts.
That’s the whole idea behind what a par score is. It’s a benchmark, not a rule. You don’t have to match it. You’re measured against it. Every birdie, bogey, or eagle you celebrate exists because par gave it meaning.
Why is It Called Par in Golf?
Why is it called par in golf? The word comes from the stock market, of all places. In the late 1800s, “par” referred to the standard or face value of a stock. British golf writers borrowed the term in the 1870s to describe the score a flawless player would shoot on a given course. The label stuck, traveled across the Atlantic, and became the foundation of golf scoring as we know it.
How it Works on Each Hole
Par on each hole comes from yardage and design. Course raters from the USGA and R&A look at distance first, then factor in elevation, wind, and obstacles.
| Hole Type | Men’s Yardage | Women’s Yardage | Expected Strokes |
| Par 3 | Up to 260 yards | Up to 220 yards | 1 shot + 2 putts |
| Par 4 | 240 to 490 yards | 200 to 420 yards | 2 shots + 2 putts |
| Par 5 | 450 to 710 yards | 370 to 600 yards | 3 shots + 2 putts |
| Par 6 | 670+ yards | 570+ yards | 4 shots + 2 putts |
Notice the overlap. A 250-yard hole could be a par 3 or a par 4 depending on elevation, wind, and course difficulty. That’s why two courses with similar total yardage can play very differently.
The shortest par 4 you’ll usually see on a regulation course sits around 240 yards from the back tees, and from forward tees you might find a shortest par 4 closer to 270 to 290 yards.
These short holes are some of the most strategic on any layout. Long hitters can try to drive the green. Conservative players lay up and rely on a sharp wedge. Both approaches can produce birdie. Both can produce trouble.
What Is Par on 18 Holes of Golf?
So what is par on 18 holes of golf? The standard answer is 72. Most championship layouts feature four par 3s, ten par 4s, and four par 5s, which adds up to 72 strokes. Both the Lakes Course and the Ranch Course at Genoa Golf Club play to a par of 72 from most tee boxes, with the Ranch tipping out at par 73 from the back tees.
The average golf course par across the United States falls between 70 and 72. Executive courses and shorter municipal layouts can come in lower.
A par-70 course usually trades two of the par 5s for additional par 4s. A par-71 course splits the difference.
Here’s a quick look at how par totals usually works.
- Par 70: Two par 3s and two par 5s replaced with par 4s.
- Par 71: Three par 5s and three par 3s, plus twelve par 4s.
- Par 72: The classic balance of four par 3s, four par 5s, and ten par 4s.
- Par 73: Five par 5s, common on resort courses with extra room.
How Par Drives Golf Scoring
Now to the fun part. Golf scoring revolves entirely around par. Every term you’ve heard a commentator use ties back to it. Score one stroke under par on a hole and you’ve made a birdie. Two under is an eagle. Three under, on a par 5, is the rare albatross. Go one over and you’ve carded a bogey. Two over is a double bogey, and so on.
| Score | Name | Example on Par 4 |
| -3 | Albatross | 1 (only possible on par 4 or higher) |
| -2 | Eagle | 2 |
| -1 | Birdie | 3 |
| 0 | Par | 4 |
| +1 | Bogey | 5 |
| +2 | Double bogey | 6 |
| +3 | Triple bogey | 7 |
At the end of your round, you tally your strokes and compare them to course par. Shoot 76 on a par-72 layout and you’ve gone four over. Shoot 70 and you’re two under. Pros measure entire careers in this comparison. Most amateurs are thrilled to break 90, which still puts them well over par. That gap is part of what makes the game so honest.
Why Par Matters for Your Game
- You can focus on smart golf scoring instead of attacking every flag.
- On a difficult par 4, two solid shots and a two-putt give you a strong result.
- On a par 5, you can weigh the risk of reaching the green in two against laying up for a shorter approach shot.
- Handicap indexes compare your scores to par while factoring in course difficulty.
- Lower handicaps show scoring closer to par across multiple rounds.
- Knowing what is a par score for each hole helps you set realistic scoring goals.
- Course conditions like wind in Carson Valley can change how you play toward par.
Par at Genoa Golf Club
Both courses at Genoa Golf Club give you a real test of what is par in golf in a high-desert setting. The Lakes Course plays to par 72 over 7,263 yards from the championship tees. Water comes into play on most holes, so par here rewards smart positioning over raw power.
The Ranch Course also plays to par 72 (par 73 from the tips) across 7,358 yards, with over 300 feet of elevation change and more than 100 bunkers waiting to test your scorecard.
If you want to lower your scores, start by setting par as your target on the holes where it’s earned and accept bogey on the holes that fight back.
Final Thoughts
What is par in golf in the end? It’s the standard you measure yourself against, the language every golfer speaks, and the structure that turns 18 separate holes into one connected round. Once you understand what par in golf is and how it shapes golf scoring, the game opens up. You stop guessing and start playing with purpose.
Book your next round at Genoa Golf Club and put your knowledge of par to the test on two of Nevada’s most scenic championship courses.
FAQs
What does par mean in golf?
Par is the predetermined number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to take to complete a hole, including reaching the green and two putts.
Is it better to be over or under par?
Under par is better. A score below par means you used fewer strokes than expected, while over par means you took more strokes than the standard.
What is a good score for beginners?
Most beginners aim to break 100 on an 18-hole par-72 course. Shooting around 90 to 100 is considered solid progress for new golfers.
Can you make par without hitting the green?
Yes. Skilled players often save par through chip-ins, sand saves, or accurate pitches followed by a one-putt instead of reaching the green in regulation.
