What Does Condor Mean In Golf?

Definition

In golf, a condor is when a player scores four shots under the projected par. A condor is one of the rarest scoring feats in the history of golf, with very few accomplishing it ever.

On a par 5 hole, this would mean that the ball goes in the hole in one shot. A condor is one of the rarest shots in golf. In the recorded history of golf, only five condors have ever been recorded and four of them were hole-in-ones on par 5 holes. There has only been one “2” shot recorded on a par 6 hole. The condor requires a golfer to make a perfect shot on a hole that is very long. Due to its difficulty and rarity, golf bookkeepers do not know the odds of a condor occurring in a round of golf.

The name condor comes from the large vulture. Many other golf terms reference birds, so the condor is a continuation of the tradition. Other examples include birdie (1-under par), eagle (2-under par), and albatross (3-under par).

Instances of a Condor

There are only five known instances of a condor being scored on the golf course. Two condors have been scored on par 5s in the United States, in Arkansas and Denver, respectively. Another was scored in Australia, and the final known condor was scored in England. In at least two of these instances, the individual “cut the corner,” while in one known instance, a lucky individual ran their ball all the way down a fairway and into the hole. The only condor on a par 6 hole was scored in Oakland, California. All in all, this is one of the rarest feats in golf and seldom happens.

The most recent record of a condor occurred in 2020 at the Lake Chabot Golf Course in Oakland, California. The feat was accomplished by Kevin Pon on a 667-yard par 6 hole, which he completed in two strokes. This is the only recorded instance of a condor happening on a par 6 hole in golf history.