Eagles

[fixyurdivot 10,603]

How frequently are you putting for them?  This past Saturday and Monday, I had attempts on par 5's and converted neither (one birdie, one par) .  It had been at least a month since the last opportunity. I figure I play about 80 rounds/year. [80 rounds/year * 4 par 5's/round] = 320 par 5's/year.    Of these, I'd estimate that I reach the green in two shots maybe 3% of the time (so ~10 putts for eagle/year).  That sounds horrid . Worse, using last year as a reference, I only made 2 eagles... and one was a long RU kidding me putt from the apron. 

Maybe for most players in my handicap and distance group that's about right... dunno? I've heard that only about 10% of amateurs can reach even the shortest regulation par 5 (471 yards) in two shots, so maybe my numbers are typical.  Anyway, watching the pros, seemingly putting for eagles 30% of the time, got me to thinking about my own game.

What are your experiences and numbers putting for the Big Bird?

  

[GolfSpy MPR 10,538]

I don't believe I've ever had an eagle putt in my life.

[fixyurdivot 10,603]

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I don't believe I've ever had an eagle putt in my life.

No way... really?

[GolfSpy MPR 10,538]

Just now, fixyurdivot said:

No way... really?

None come to mind. There's a short par 4 at our course that I've driven past the green, but that I don't ever recall driving the green. We have a short par 5 that I've also been over in two, but that is also an extreme rarity, because of the narrowness and obstacles of the hole.

I've made an eagle, but it was a wedge hole out from about 80 yards.

[00sportsman 2,376]

I had one a couple of weeks ago.  Left a 30 foot putt about 3 inches short, right on line.  I can't remember the last one I had before that.

(I proceeded to hole out a wedge from 105 on the very next hole for an eagle, but didn't putt for it.)

[fixyurdivot 10,603]

1 minute ago, 00sportsman said:

I had one a couple of weeks ago.  Left a 30 foot putt about 3 inches short, right on line.  I can't remember the last one I had before that.

(I proceeded to hole out a wedge from 105 on the very next hole for an eagle, but didn't putt for it.)

B2B Big Birds...cool.  Now that is another feather absent from my hat.  I wonder what the odds are for that (amateur golf)?

[rbsiedsc 1,980]

This past season i had two eagle opportunities but then i forgot how to hit my 3w. A season prior I had at least two because i could cut the corner and land on the green on a short par 4. That same round, i hit the pin from 165 out with my 7i on a par 5 (birdie putt ended up being 45 ft as the ball sailed after it hit the pin).

[00sportsman 2,376]

3 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

B2B Big Birds...cool.  Now that is another feather absent from my hat.  I wonder what the odds are for that (amateur golf)?

Clarification...I had an eagle putt that I left 3 inches short, didn't have the eagle.  I did have the dunk for eagle on the next hole, and a birdie on the next.  -4 over those three holes.  I should have quit the game for good right there.  It'll never happen again.

[DiscipleofPenick 2,162]

I've been putting for eagle a few times every season, I maybe make 1. It helps my home course has a 460 yard par 5. I've holed out once from about 65.

Take Dead Aim

[THEZIPR23 5,383]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

B2B Big Birds...cool.  Now that is another feather absent from my hat.  I wonder what the odds are for that (amateur golf)?

2 years ago I did this. Short par 4 that I hit to pin high and chipped in. Next hole is reachable par 5 that I chipped in from about 15 feet. Probably will never happen again. 

 

As far as eagle putts, if I play the 4 par 5's at my club and don't have an eagle putt something happened. 190ish, 250ish, and 220ish are usually the approach distances I have to 3 of them. The 4th takes an otherwordly tee shot to get within striking distance due to a severe dogleg. 

Now that conversion rate of said eagles makes me want to puke. 

[SlowNLow 380]

I get a few eagle putts over the course of a season.   Unfortunately,  I rarely make them. 

A few years ago got on a par 5 into two, had about 50' ft. downhiller for eagle that I putted off the green.   Had to walk back to the cart to get a club to chip with.   Then stubbed the chip, and whack, whack for a six.  One of my personal faves.

 

[Tom the Golf Nut 3,424]

Several a year in my younger days. But as sand flows through the hour glass of life my opportunities diminished over time. Now I look forward to birdies or the ever elusive chip or pitch in for eagle. I don't remember the last time I got one.

[tony@CIC 18,558]

I don't believe I've ever had an eagle putt in my life.

X2 - I consider myself lucky when I'm putting for par or an elusive birdie

Sent from my iPad using MyGolfSpy

[Micah T 964]

For 2020:
4/28 on eagle attempts
Of the 24 attempts I didn’t convert:
18/24 on 2 putt birdies
Of the 6 attempts not converted:
5/6 3 putt par (feels like a bogey)
1 4 putt bogey (might’ve spurred the putter fitting/ new putter purchase.

So for me, putting for eagle was in fact, more likely to lead to a 3 putt par than an eagle. Perhaps from being overly aggressive on those long eagle putts?



Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Middler 2,424]

I had 2 eagles in 2020, both on par 5’s. Not sure about denominator, I’d guess I was on in two on par 5’s at least 10 times last year (in 70 rounds or about 280 par 5’s), but just a guess. That would make my eagle attempts 3.6% and eagles 0.7% of par 5’s played - or 20% of opportunities.

I did drive the green twice on a couple short par 4's in 2020, one I 2-putted for a birdie and the other I 3-putted for a #@*! par (the green was in horrible condition but still no excuse). Is there a worse feeling than a 3-putt par?

And why is a 6 foot eagle putt > harder than a 6 foot birdie > or a 6 foot par?

[Apolloshowl 2,639]

This was from a little while ago, but it was in a tournament with my father ad my caddie who I normally see once a year due to living do far away. 

It was my hole 10 on the day and I had previously hit my tee shots OB right on practice and first rounds. So hitting the fairway really paid off! The green slopes left to right with s big ridge and I got very fortunate with a low draw (lefty) that flowed with the hole and took the ridge right down to the flag. It was as straight of a put as I could ask for. Took a quick look, marked it and looked at the ocean till it was my turn to play to not overthink the putt.

I have had a few others on par 5s at my old home course, and 2 on par 4s but this will always be my most memorable.

[russtopherb 6,239]

17 hours ago, GolfSpy MPR said:

I don't believe I've ever had an eagle putt in my life.

Same. I have one eagle and it came on a heck of a lucky bounce where my pitch hit the pin and dropped straight down. If it hadn't hit the pin I would have been 30 feet off the back of the green. 

[fixyurdivot 10,603]

8 hours ago, Micah T said:

So for me, putting for eagle was in fact, more likely to lead to a 3 putt par than an eagle. Perhaps from being overly aggressive on those long eagle putts?

I suspect this happens more than we think.  I turn quite a few into pars probably because I walk up saying to myself... "ok self, don't eff this up and get anything worse than a birdie" 

[juspoole 1,836]

I'm with many of you.  I don't have nearly as many eagle putts as I feel I should in a year.  I may have 12 looks at eagle in a year and I play round 25 times each year.  I might convert 2 of them, but when you see the pros, it seems like it should be happening once every third round.  

I did have a great 73 last year where I had 30 ft for eagle or less on all par 5's in one round.  Did not eagle any, but birdied all 4 holes.  Just a big ask when usually you still face 200+ yards on the second shot, and to have a legitimate chance, would need to be 12-15 feet or less statistically.

[Kenny B 25,090]

At my current course in over 5 years, I have never had an eagle putt.  Other than an ace, I've had two eagles from the fairway.