[Ads-l] Par as in Golf

Mon Dec 14 20:29:48 UTC 2015

 a. Golf. The number of strokes which a scratch player should need for a hole or for a course (freq. with that number as postmodifier). Also: (as a count noun) a score of this number of stokes at a hole.In early use chiefly in par of the green.
1887   W. G. Simpson Art of Golf 8   He easily recalls how often he has done each hole in par figures.
1891   Golf 10 June 291   The par of the green for gentlemen..was nearly attained.
1900   Westm. Gaz. 9 Mar. 3/2   The professionals went round in the par of the green—74.
1924   J. Braid Golf Guide 164   Par Play, perfect golf without flukes. Thus, if a green can be reached in two strokes, the hole is a Par four; two putts being allowed on each green.
1935   N.Y. Times 9 Apr. 26/1   Sinking a 220-yard spoon wallop for a ‘double eagle’ deuce on the 485-yard, par 5 fifteenth hole.
1973   A. MacVicar Painted Doll Affair viii. 96   Let's see if you can still keep shooting all these pars and birdies.
2000   Times 7 Aug. (Sport Monday section) 9/1   Westwood's closing 71 took him to a total of 270, 14 under par.

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of David Daniel <dad at COARSECOURSES.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2015 3:21 PM
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Subject: Par as in Golf

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Poster:       David Daniel <dad at COARSECOURSES.COM>
Subject:      Par as in Golf
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Could someone with access to the OED please post or send me its entry for
"par" in the golf sense? I'm especially interested in origins of use of the=

term which (if memory serves - the "if" being the reason for this request)
was first used by the USGA in 1911, and is considered an Americanism that
ultimately forced the Brits to stop using their chaotic "bogey" system.
(I've been all over the internet and have lots of answers to this, but woul=
d
like some OED backup if possible). Many thanks in advance.
DAD

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