You’ve probably heard of the term “par” used in golf, but did you know, it’s also a key part of the drinking game, Pub Golf?
Playing Pub Golf requires a few different holes (or drinks), all of which have their own par.
So what does it actually mean? Let’s find out.
What is Par in Pub Golf?
In traditional golf, “par” refers to the number of strokes a golfer is expected to take to complete a hole or course.
Similarly, in Pub Golf, par represents the ideal number of sips or drinks a player should take to finish their beverage at each pub or bar, effectively setting a standard or goal for participants to achieve or beat.
Par varies from hole to hole, depending on the difficulty assigned to each drink or the rules set by the game’s organisers.
Usually, it’s a good idea to have a few different pars per round, so players can try a few different types of drinks.
Setting the Par
The organisers of the Pub Golf event determine the par for each hole, taking into account factors such as the type of drink, its volume, and the intended challenge level.
For example, a pint of beer might be set as a par 4, meaning the player should aim to finish it in four sips.
Whereas a shot of spirit might be a par 2, meaning that players should be drinking it in no more than two sips.
The par number represents the same for all players so, whilst it does set a number for players to follow, it’s not really that important in the final result.
Pub Golf Par Scoring System
Scoring in Pub Golf is straightforward: the number of sips a player takes to finish their drink is their score for that hole.
If a player finishes their drink in fewer sips than the designated par, they are “under par,” which is desirable.
Matching the par results in a “par” score, while taking more sips than the par leads to being “over par,” which players generally aim to avoid.
The player with the lowest total score to par at the end of the course wins the game.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hoping to win at Pub Golf or even just make it through the event, it’s a good idea to understand what the meaning of par is.
It’ll give you a far better chance of winning and help make it an awesome few hours of fun.