The Dream Level-Par Round – 18 Pars Or Equal Mix of Birdies, Pars And Bogeys?

The dream level-par round – 18 straight pars or an equal mix of birdies, pars and bogeys?

Dream level-par round - 18 straight pars

says Jeremy Ellwood

Looking back, I reckon I’ve parred entire front nines or back nines in my time, maybe even tiptoed up to 10 or 11 consecutive pars. 

But never all 18, and it’s something I would like to achieve even if my chances are now slim as my golfing ability wanes.

I guess it’s all about consistency versus inconsistency, and while I suspect I make at least one birdie in more rounds than I don’t, I fear that my game and swing will never be consistent enough to get me through 18 holes unscathed. 

That would be the dream – to survive a whole round without one single shot-dropping mistake. Wouldn’t that be satisfying?

But isn’t that also a bit negative, I hear you say – focusing on eliminating mistakes rather than making gains. 

Maybe, and I guess you don’t get the same highs and lows of the more mixed route to a level-par round. 

But such a round will inevitably still bring the ups and downs that go into making golf such an enthralling game - the disappointment of not birdieing that eminently reachable par 5 can still be countered by the gratifying, hard-fought par on that testing 462-yard uphill two-shotter you rarely reach.

The most famous round of 18 straight pars is Nick Faldo’s to clinch The Open at Muirfield in 1987. 

That was anything but plain-sailing in tough conditions, right down to the final five-footer he left himself to retain his blemish-free scorecard. 

But I don't think Sir Nick will have been too bothered about how his score was compiled as he knocked it in to secure the 18th consecutive par that would see him home by one from Paul Azinger and Rodger Davis to get his hands on the Claret Jug for the first time.

The dream level-par round – 18 straight pars or an equal mix of birdies, pars and bogeys?

Birdies and Bogeys

says Fergus Bisset

A round of level par containing six birdies requires exceptional golfing prowess and performance. 

It also demonstrates incredible potential for even lower scoring. 

To birdie six holes out of 18 a player must possess power, precision, and a great putting touch. 

One of every three holes completed under par is quite something.

It’s thrilling to make birdies. 

There are few better golfing feelings than sinking a putt to get one over on the course. Do it six times in a round, endorphin levels will be off the chart. 

But what about those six bogeys? Well therein lies the essence of golf’s compelling nature - The thought that, next time, something truly special could happen.

A bogey is a minor blip, a small correctable error caused by a narrowly missed fairway or an unfortunate three-putt. With practice those minor mistakes can be limited. 

That’s surely an achievable objective for a golfer capable of six birdies in a round. If they can eliminate 50% of the mistakes, they’ll be shooting under par.

A level par round is the preserve of the elite golfer, but the principle is the same for handicap players.

If you’re posting scores containing several nett birdies, it’s clear you have the capability to improve your scoring by cutting out mistakes.

If you’re steady on the pars or nett pars, there’s not a great deal you can do to shoot lower, save for taking more risks and bringing nett bogeys and worse into the equation.

18 straight pars may sound cool, but a level par round featuring six birdies, six bogeys and six pars wins. 

All golfers must be optimists and, with the mixed round of level par (or nett par,) there’s real hope to go out next time and replicate the good whilst eliminating the bad. 

The quest for golfing perfection is futile, but it’s also compulsive.