The term PAR NUMBER is a golfing term that refers to the number of strokes a golfer should take to complete a hole. The PAR NUMBER is determined by the length and difficulty of the hole, and is usually indicated on the scorecard. A PAR NUMBER of 3 means that a golfer should be able to complete the hole in three strokes. STROKES is the correct answer for the crossword puzzle, as it is the number of shots taken by a golfer to complete a hole.