Jackson Reid
In golf, a condor is a score of four under par. This can be achieved by making a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. Due to the rarity of par-6 holes, most recorded condors have been on par-5 holes. As of 2024, there have been six recorded condors in history, making it one of golf's rarest feats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Holing out in four shots under par |
| Other names | Hole-in-one on a par-five, two on a par-six, or three on a par-seven |
| Probability | Very low, governing bodies don't carry odds of it happening |
| Number of times achieved | 6 |
| People who achieved it | Larry Bruce, Dick Hogan, Shaun Lynch, Mike Crean, Jack Bartlett, Kevin Pon |
| Year achieved | 1962, 1973, 1995, 2002, 2007, 2020 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
What is a condor in golf?
A condor in golf is a score of four under par. This could be a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. It is considered one of the rarest feats in golf, with only six recorded condors in history.
The first condor was recorded in 1962 when Larry Bruce scored a hole-in-one on a 480-yard par-5 at Hope Country Club in Arkansas, USA. The most recent recorded condor was in December 2020 by Kevin Pon at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. Pon scored a two on the 649-yard par-6 18th hole, making him the only player to achieve a condor on a par-6.
The other four recorded condors were all achieved on par-5 holes. In 1973, Dick Hogan scored a hole-in-one on a 456-yard par-5 at Piedmont Crescent in North Carolina. In 1995, Shaun Lynch also scored a hole-in-one on a 496-yard par-5 at Teign Valley in Christow, UK. In 2002, Mike Crean scored a hole-in-one on a 517-yard par-5 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colorado. The youngest person to score a condor was 16-year-old Jack Bartlett in 2007 on a 467-yard par-5 at Royal Wentworth Falls Country Club in New South Wales, Australia.
Due to the rarity of condors, governing bodies do not carry odds of it happening. However, the odds of achieving a hole-in-one on a par-3 are 12,500-1, while the odds of an albatross are estimated to be six million to one.
Golf: Breaking 100 - The Ultimate Guide to Lower Scores
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![INNOVA DX Condor Specialty Competition Golf Disc [Colors May Vary] - 140-150g](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/614Hp3Ol-JL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
How rare is a condor?
A condor in golf is a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. It is considered the rarest shot in golf.
The odds of a hole-in-one on a par-3 are 12,500-1, while the odds of holing an albatross move into six figures. The chances of a condor are so slim that governing bodies don't even carry odds for it.
There have only been six recorded condors in history. The first occurred in 1962 when Larry Bruce drove into the hole over a stand of trees on a 480-yard dogleg right par-5 at Hope Country Club in Arkansas, USA. The second was in 1973 when Dick Hogan aced a 456-yard par-5 8th at Piedmont Crescent in North Carolina, although he later expressed doubts about the legitimacy of this feat. The third condor was in 1995 when Shaun Lynch "cut the corner" on a 496-yard 17th dogleg par-5 at Teign Valley Golf Club in Christow, England. The fourth was in 2002 when Mike Crean holed his 517-yard par-5 9th at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colorado. The fifth was in 2007 when 16-year-old Jack Bartlett aced a 467-yard par-5 17th at Royal Wentworth Falls Country Club in New South Wales, Australia, becoming the youngest recorded person to score a condor. The sixth and most recent condor was in 2020 when Kevin Pon scored a three on the 649-yard par-6 18th hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. This is the only recorded condor on a par-6.
Golf Drivers: Hollow Truths and Secrets
You may want to see also
Explore related products
How many condors have been scored in golf?
A condor in golf is a score of four under par. This can be achieved by making a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. Due to the rarity of par-six holes, most condors are scored on par-five holes.
Condors are extremely rare in golf, and bookmakers do not offer odds on them occurring. The probability of a hole-in-one on the PGA Tour is 1 in 12,500, and the probability of a condor is even lower. It is estimated that only about 10% of golfers can reach a par-5 in two shots, which means 90% of golfers have no chance of making a condor.
As of 2024, there have been six recorded condors in history, with five of them being hole-in-ones on par-5 holes. The first recorded condor was made by Larry Bruce in 1962, who drove the ball 480 yards into the hole on a par-5 hole at Hope Country Club in Arkansas, USA. The second recorded condor was made by Dick Hogan in 1973 on a 456-yard par-5 hole at Piedmont Crescent in North Carolina. However, Hogan later expressed doubts about the legitimacy of this condor, suspecting that someone may have played a practical joke on him.
The third recorded condor was made by Shaun Lynch in 1995 on a 496-yard par-5 hole at Teign Valley in Christow, UK. The fourth condor was made by Mike Crean in 2002 on a 517-yard par-5 hole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colorado. The fifth condor was made by Jack Bartlett in 2007 on a 467-yard par-5 hole at Royal Wentworth Falls Country Club in New South Wales, Australia, making him the youngest person to score a condor.
The sixth and most recent recorded condor was achieved by Kevin Pon in 2020 on a 667-yard par-6 hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. This is the only recorded condor on a par-6 hole and one of only a handful of par-6 holes in the United States.
Golf Caddies: Who They Are and What They Do
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Who has scored a condor?
A condor in golf is a score of four under par. This can be achieved by scoring a hole-in-one on a par-5 hole, a two on a par-6 hole, or a three on a par-7 hole. It is an extremely rare feat, with only six recorded condors in the history of golf.
The first known 'condor' in golf was achieved by Larry Bruce in 1962 at the Hope Country Club in Arkansas. The hole was a 480-yard par-5, but as a dogleg, the actual distance to the hole was shorter. Bruce's drive cut the corner and his ball kept rolling, ending up at the green.
In 1973, scratch golfer Dick Hogan scored a condor on the 8th hole at Piedmont Crescent in North Carolina. This hole was a 456-yard par-5 and Hogan's ball also kept rolling, likely aided by hard and dry ground conditions.
In 1995, Shaun Lynch joined the elite club of golfers who have scored a condor. He achieved this on the 496-yard 17th hole at Teign Valley in Christow, UK. Like the previous two golfers, Lynch cut the corner and his ball "must have bounced on the hard ground and run and run".
The most recent recorded condor came in 2020 when 54-year-old Kevin Pon scored a two on the 649-yard par-6 18th hole at Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. This is the only recorded condor on a par-6 hole in US golf history.
Golf Gloves: Essential or Unnecessary?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
What are the odds of scoring a condor?
A condor in golf is a score of four under par. In other words, a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. As of 2024, there have been six recorded condors in the history of the sport. Given the rarity of the feat, bookmakers don't offer odds on a condor happening.
To put the odds of scoring a condor into perspective, consider the odds of achieving a hole-in-one, which is far more likely. According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, the odds of the average golfer making a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1. Each year, there are approximately 25,000 to 30,000 rounds played per course in the US, and each course reports between 10 and 15 aces per year. This means a hole-in-one is scored once in every 3,500 rounds, and only 1-2% of golfers score an ace annually.
The odds of achieving an albatross, the next most difficult score after a hole-in-one, are estimated to be six million to one, according to the Double Eagle Club. Dean Knuth, a former senior director of the handicap department at the USGA, places the odds at about a million to one.
Given that the odds of a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1, and an albatross is several magnitudes rarer still, it is clear that the odds of a condor are exceptionally low. The rarity of condors is also due to the scarcity of suitable par-5 and par-6 holes. Very few courses have par-5 holes that are long enough, and par-6 holes are even rarer.
While the exact odds of a condor are not known, it is clear that it is an extremely rare occurrence in golf, far rarer than a hole-in-one or albatross.
Golf Olympics: When Does It Happen?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There have been six condors in golf history.
A condor is a hole-in-one on a par-five, a two on a par-six, or a three on a par-seven. It is four under par.
The odds of a condor happening are so slim that governing bodies don't carry odds for it.
The six golfers who have achieved a condor are Larry Bruce, Dick Hogan, Shaun Lynch, Mike Crean, Jack Bartlett, and Kevin Pon.
