noun
albatross
A score of three strokes under par on one golf hole.
She scores an albatross by finishing the par-five hole in two strokes.
Etymology
Portuguese alcatraz named a seabird. Golf uses albatross alongside birdie and eagle in its bird-based scoring vocabulary, assigning this large bird’s name to the rare score of three under par.
More examples
- An albatross is a rare achievement even among professional golfers.
- He came close to an albatross when his second shot struck the flag.
- The tournament recorded two albatrosses in the same week.
Forms
albatross · albatrosses
Similar words
- double eagle
- Is another golf name for the same three-under-par score.
- eagle
- Means two strokes under par rather than three.