The term COURSE BENCHMARK can be broken down into two parts: PAR (3 letters) and Course Benchmark. PAR stands for 'Playing Ability Rating' and is a numerical score assigned to a golf course based on the difficulty of the course. Course Benchmark is a term used to describe the standard of excellence that a golf course should strive to achieve. It is a measure of the quality of the course, taking into account factors such as the condition of the greens, the layout of the course, and the overall challenge it presents to players.