What 'Level Par' and 'Even Par' Mean in Golf
"Even par" and "level par" mean exactly the same thing and many golfers use them both. Most golfers, however, use only one or the other. "Even par" is more likely to be used in North America, "level par" in the U.K. and other parts of the golf world governed by the R&A.
The definition of these terms necessarily requires a refresher on what "par" means in golf. "Par" is a numerical rating of a hole or the full golf course that represents the number of a strokes an expert golfer who is playing well is expected to need.
What does a score of even par/level par look like on an individual hole? Like this:
- Completing a hole even par on a par-3 means scoring 3.
- Completing a hole even par on a par-4 means scoring 4.
- Completing a hole even par on a par-5 means scoring 5.
- Completing a round in level par on a par-70 course means scoring 70.
- Completing a round in level par on a par-71 course means scoring 71.
- Completing a round in level par on a par-72 course means scoring 72.
Very few of us qualify as experts at playing golf, of course, so most of us will never get close to scoring even-par for a full round of golf. (Although using net scores rather than gross scores does make that possible.) Most golfers will, at least every once in a while, play an individual hole in level par.
Level par/even par can also be referred to as making par, matching par, or scoring par. Using fewer strokes than par is under par; using more strokes than par is over par.
More golf terms:
