The typical total par for a standard 18-hole championship golf course is 72.
That figure usually comes from a mixture of par-3, par-4, and par-5 holes. A common layout has four par-3s, ten par-4s, and four par-5s, which adds up to 72 strokes. The exact design can vary, however, because par is assigned according to hole length, terrain, obstacles, and the level of players the course is intended to challenge.
Par is the score a proficient golfer is expected to need under normal conditions. A round of 72 on a par-72 course is even par; a score of 70 is two under par, while 74 is two over par. Championship courses are not required to total exactly 72, but 72 is the standard reference point for an 18-hole course. A four-round tournament on such a course has a cumulative par of 288.