Yes, par-twos are PDGA-legal (and why you don’t see them)

You don’t see the par-two all that often on disc golf courses. There might be a pitch-and-putt near your house with some par-two signage, but that’s about it. From where I’m sitting, it’s understandable, as the whole par-two vibe feels the tiniest bit putt-putt-ish. Almost like something you’d encounter at a three-year-old’s birthday party – hardly professional.

Believe it or not, though, the par-two IS an actual thing in disc golf.

It’s backed by the PDGA.

If you’re looking for proof of this, check out the PDGA’s Par Guidelines. A scan will do, but if you’ve got too much time on your hands, the entire document is a good read. You’ll see par-two verbiage all over the place. In it, you’ll also find the PDGA’s definition of what “par” is …

Commit this to memory:

“Par is the score that an expert disc golfer would be expected to make on a given hole with errorless play under ordinary weather conditions.”

Naturally, for each division, what constitutes an “expert” will change. Regardless, amongst others, here are a few different ways the PDGA recommends par be set for sanctioned gigs:

• Tradition. 
• Expert opinion. 
• Scoring distribution. 
• Adjusted by round ratings.

Oddly enough, you’ll notice there’s no “on the green, plus two strokes” formula for setting par, as outlined by the PDGA. Furthermore, the PDGA notes a few possible factors that introduce the par-two as a legitimate option on the right course and for the right field: hole length, density of foliage, the difficulty of the layout and the average score the hole produces, of course.

Ultimately, what the tournament director decides is an appropriate par for each hole is final.

And not subject to appeal, either.

But back to the par-two …

Sure, in a technical sense, it exists. But has it ever made a meaningful appearance in an event that mattered? As far as my research is concerned, no – not really. I did, however, discover that the second hole at the 2014 PDGA Amateur Disc Golf World Championships in St. Paul was a 120-foot par-two dubbed “Teardrop Island.” Seriously, check out the caddie book for yourself.

Yes, it’s an amateur-level tournament, but Am. Worlds is a BIG deal …

And a par-two took center stage.

But that’s merely one instance. And even with a hypothetical team of disc golf researchers by my side, I’m not confident they would’ve found many more – there are a number of reasons for this.

First, there simply aren’t many ultra-short holes in disc golf. Two-hundred feet is a short hole, but not short enough for the “par-two” label. I’m talking sub-150 feet – you don’t see this much.

Next, for as easy as the par-two appears on paper, it’s nearly impossible to score on them. Remember: You’ll need a full-blown ace to (likely) nab a stroke on your cardmates.

Also, though the main purpose of par is to give disc golfers a consistent measuring stick by which to analyze their performance, golf in ANY form is a matter of total strokes. So while it’s fun to know how far under or over par you are, all that matters is that final throws tally of yours.

At the top of the list, though?

The par-two is gimmicky.

Disc golf is serious business, but most of the world doesn’t recognize it as such – people giggle. Let’s avoid introducing the “windmill” or “clown’s mouth” that is the par-two into the mix.

Don’t expect the par-two to become a mainstay of the competitive disc golf experience anytime soon. But if you’re putting on an event, even if it’s sanctioned, throw one in there for funsies.

Worth it.

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