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Wikipedia: Par (score)
Albatross
Albatross means scoring three under par (−3) (the albatross being one of the largest birds); also called a double eagle in the U.S. This is an extremely rare score, and occurs most commonly on par-fives with a strong drive and a holed approach shot. Holes-in-one on par-four holes (generally short ones) are also albatrosses. The first famous albatross was made by Gene Sarazen in 1935 on the 15th hole at Augusta National Golf Club during the final round of the Masters Tournament. It vaulted him into a tie for first place and forced a playoff, which he won the next day. The sportswriters of the day termed it “the shot heard ‘round the world.” Albatrosses are much rarer than par-3 holes-in-one; the odds are estimated at one in 1,000,000: the odds of a hole-in-one is around one in 3,700 to one in 12,500, depending on the hole and on skill.
Between 1970 and 2003, 84 such shots (an average of fewer than three per year) were recorded on the PGA Tour.
Wikipedia: Glossary of golf
Albatross
A hole played three strokes under par. Also called a Double Eagle.
Double eagle
A hole played three strokes under par. Also called an Albatross.
18 April 1924, Boston (MA)
, pg. 13, col. 6:
Marschalk Shoots an
Albatross; Ancient
mariner has Partner
PINEHURST, N.C., April 17—Something far rarer than a hole in one, what the experts call an albatross, was made on the long eighth hole of the championship course today. H. C. Marschalk of Westchester-Biltmore sank his brassie shot for a 2 on a hole 520 yards in length, par 5. Marschalk was playing in the third division of the mid-April tournament, against P. B> O’Brien of Detroit, whom he defeated, 4 and 2. A hole one under par is a birdie, two under par is an eagle, three under par is an albatross, while a hole in one is an ace. it is impossible to score an albatross on anything but a par five hole, without getting an ace.
3 June 1928, San Diego (CA) Union, “Wearin’ Out the Green” by Walter Trumbull, Sports News (sec. 2), pg. 2, col. 8:
The Ancient Mariner had just shot the albatross,
‘Well,” he said, “I hoped for an eagle, but anyhow I got a birdie.”
30 July 1931, The Daily Independent (Murphysboro, IL), “Here and There,” pg. 2, col. 2:
We now have the nomenclature for scores below par, such as ihe birdie, the eagle, the albatross, so why not have names lor the scores above?