What does 'Par for the Course' mean?

Question

Does it mean 'normal'? Where does the saying come from?

Answer 1

When someone says "par for the course", they typically mean that they are even. It originates from golfing as many other posters have said, but they are wrong in telling you it means normal or average.

Par for the course means even. If you left the golf course shooting par, you would be even. If you shoot a 72, you did no better than you were supposed to, but no worse than you were supposed to. You are effectively even.

Answer 2

Yes. It means normal or average. It comes from golf. "Par" on any given hole on the golf course is the average number of strokes it takes a scratch golfer (one with no handicap) to get the ball in that hole. There is also a "par" number for the course as a whole (calculated by adding together the par numbers for each of the 9 or 18 holes).

Answer 3

Par is the number of shots in golf it should take to get the ball in the whole. For example, in a par three, it should take the golfer no more than three hits of the ball to get it in the cup. The saying "par for the course" means that it is not unexpected and normal considering the situation.

Answer 4

It means 'as expected'. It comes from golf, where each hole is given a 'par' or number of shots for you to putt the ball into the whole from the tee. So a good golfer (playing off scratch) would complete a par 4 hole in 4 shots.

Answer 5

It is a golfing term. Par being the normal amount of shots it should take to sink the ball into the hole

Answer 6

Esentailly, it means "typical". Like saying that a politcian was involved in a bribery scandal.