Whether you like playing many different courses or prefer the comfort of your home course, you have probably wondered just how high a par can go. While some lucky golfers have played the elusive par 6 holes, some golfers still wonder just how high they can go.
As of now, there is no par 8 golf hole out there. There are some rare par 6 holes that you can find if you travel to the right courses. Currently, there is only one known par 7 golf hole located in South Korea.
Let’s talk more about high-par golf holes.
What Is a Par 8 Golf Hole?
The par of a golf hole determines how many strokes you will need to complete the hole. So, a par 8 golf hole would take an estimated 8 strokes to complete. This would be a very long hole, as golf clubs can cover many yards simultaneously. Currently, no such hole exists.
Why a Par 8 Golf Hole Doesn’t Yet Exist
With only one par 7 hole out there, you may wonder why a par 8 golf hole doesn’t exist.
There are a few different possible reasons for this.
First, there is the length to consider. A par 8 hole would have to be very long and cover a lot of yards. Most golf courses don’t have that kind of space available.
Golfers can cover a lot of land in just one shot. So, one long hole that spans enough yards to be a par 8 would cover way too much land for most golf courses to accommodate. This would force a lot of golf courses to expand their land or remove other holes to make room.
Another factor to consider with a par 8 golf hole is the flow of golfers through the course. If you have ever gone to your local golf course and had to wait behind a large party taking their time through the course, you know how frustrating a long wait can be. A par 8 can really slow down gameplay and cause a longer wait for golfers trying to finish their game.
Additionally, a par 8 golf hole would raise the overall course par. Golf courses typically try to balance the front and back nine holes as much as possible. So, a par 8 hole would throw off the par for the entire course. This could mean that most of the remaining holes are par 3 holes.
Unfortunately, this means that we probably won’t see a par 8 any time soon. As the science behind golf improves, golfers’ distances will also continue to improve. This means that even if there was a course that wanted to make a par 8 hole, golfers might be able to cover it in just five or six strokes.
Final Thoughts
While a par 8 golf hole may sound cool, there is only one par 7 hole in the world. Many obstacles stand in the way of a par 8 golf hole, such as the amount of space required and the accommodations that might need to be made for it. As golfer’s distances improve, a par 8 golf hole may also become obsolete very quickly, so no one is trying to develop one just yet.