An eagle is a score of two strokes under par on a single hole. That means a 3 on a par 5, a 2 on a par 4, or a hole-in-one on a par 3.
How eagles happen
- Par 5 in two, one putt: the most common way. A long drive and a strong second shot reach the green, then you hole the putt.
- Holing out on a par 4: knocking your approach shot in from the fairway.
- Driving a short par 4: reaching the green off the tee and making the putt.
- Ace on a par 3: a hole-in-one on a par 3 is technically an eagle too.
For most recreational golfers, an eagle is a once-in-a-season or once-in-a-lifetime score. Tour players make them regularly on reachable par 5s.
Where the word eagle comes from
Eagle grew straight out of birdie, which was coined in Atlantic City around 1899. If one under par was a "bird," a score two under deserved a bigger, grander bird, and the eagle is a fitting symbol for an American coinage. Ab Smith's group in Atlantic City is credited with using it in the early 1900s. The term spread through American golf and reached Britain by around 1919, reportedly via Canada.
Common questions
Is a hole-in-one an eagle?
On a par 3, yes. On a par 4 it's an albatross.
What is a double eagle?
Three under par on a hole, also called an albatross.
Most eagles start with a good drive. Browse used drivers, or see all scoring terms in what is par and the golf terms glossary.
