July 1, 2011MIKE PEREZ, RENWOOD GOLF COURSE
A double eagle, also known as an albatross, is a rare bird on the golf course - much rarer than the hole-in-one on a par 3. To make a double-eagle requires acing a par-4 hole or scoring 2 on a par-5 hole, it is a score of 3-under par on an individual hole.
Consider the Odds of Making a Double Eagle and then... consider the odds of making a double eagle at 74 years old? And yet, on July 1, 2011, Mike Perez stepped onto the tee box of hole number three. The par four hole that normally plays further back, measured 247 yards on this day to accommodate ongoing fairway renovations and with one swing the 2010 Hall Of Fame Inductee put the ball in the hole.
So just what are the Odds of Making a Double Eagle?
Answer: Double-eagle odds are not definitively known, and different sources give different numbers. The figure of 6-million-to-1 is commonly quoted on the Web and in some print articles. The problem with this figure is that no source is given for it. A 2004 article in Golf World magazine quoted Dean Knuth, inventor of the USGA's slope rating system for golf courses and handicaps, as saying the 6-million-to-1 figure was a little too high. Knuth put the odds at 1-million-to-1. Knuth is such a smart guy, we're inclined to go with his figure. But it should be noted that Knuth's figure is a guesstimate, and that it applies to recreational golfers (the figure for teaching pros would naturally be lower).
Regardless, it's clear that the double-eagle is a very rare feat on the golf course, one that Mike can be proud to add to his list of many life accomplishments.
Way to go Mike. An albatross is a rare bird and so are you. All the best...Wes
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