Understanding Golf Scores
In golf, players complete 18 holes and the goal is to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. Each hole has a standard number of strokes called "par" – for example, a par 4 hole means it takes 4 strokes to complete.

The score for each hole is calculated based on the actual number of strokes compared to par. If a player needs more strokes than par, it is a bogey (e.g., 5 strokes on a par 4 hole). If it takes fewer strokes than par, it is a birdie (e.g., 3 strokes on a par 4 hole). A better score on par 4 and par 5 holes can be an eagle or an albatross.

These scores are added together to form a total score for all 18 holes in the round.

Condor Is The Best Score
Condor is the lowest score that can be achieved on a golf hole, specifically when completing a par 5 hole in one shot. Since a par 5 hole typically takes five shots to complete, getting the ball into the hole in one shot is an incredibly rare feat.

Making a hole-in-one on any hole is rare, but doing so on a long par 5 is even more difficult. It requires precision and excellent distance to get the ball into the hole in a single shot.

There have only been five officially recorded condors in professional golf history. American amateur golfer Ashley Grier was the first to achieve this title in 1962.

The Origin of the Name Condor
Bogeys, birdies, eagles, and albatrosses are all named after birds, based on their rarity. The condor, a large vulture and one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, was chosen to represent the rarest score in golf. With this name, the condor surpassed eagles and albatrosses as the best golf score.

Interestingly, the origin of the term condor is still debated. Some credit American golfer Jack Nicklaus with the first use of the term, but other sources suggest it was used before his career.

Requirements for a Condor to Be Recognized
For a condor to be recognized, the hole must be a par 5 longer than 520 yards. Standard par 5 holes typically range from 490 to 520 yards. The presence of water hazards or dense rough between the tee and green makes it nearly impossible to achieve a condor. However, the layout of the hole must provide a viable, albeit very slim, chance of making a condor.

Famous Condors in Golf History
Only a handful of golfers have recorded historic condors:

• American amateur golfer Ashley Grier made a hole-in-one on the par-5 ninth hole at Northwood Club in 1962.
• Larry Bruce made condor history in 1968 at Hope Country Club, holed the ball from 243 yards on the par-5 fifth hole.
• Shaun Lynch, a teenage golfer from Australia, scored a condor in a tournament in 1979 on the par-5 ninth hole.
• Taki Inoue scored a condor in 1995 in Japan on the par-5 17th hole at Kintetsu Kashikojima Golf Course, which measures 598 yards.

On December 10, 2020, golfer Kevin Pon made history by becoming the first person in the world to score a condor on a hole with a par-6. All four previous recorded condors occurred on par-5 holes (Larry Bruce/1962, Shaun Lynch/1995, Mike Crean/2002 and Bartlett/2007).

Kevin Pon was the first to achieve a Condor on a par 6 hole

Providing Evidence for Condors to Be Recognized

For an extremely rare score, comprehensive evidence is required to confirm. Documentation should include:

Testimony from a golfing partner to corroborate the condor hole-in-one as witnessed. A signed scorecard is essential.

The length and par of the hole should be confirmed and recorded.

Photographs or video evidence of the stroke and ball in the hole if available.

The achievement must have been achieved in a sanctioned tournament or competition.

Conclusion

In the world of golf, the condor is the pinnacle of scoring achievements, requiring skill good and a little luck. Only five condors have ever been claimed in history. For most golfers, it remains a mythical score.

However, condors inspire golfers to improve their skills and enjoy overcoming the challenges of the game. That journey makes golf a fun and rewarding lifelong sport despite its difficulties. 

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