Are You Better Than The Average Golfer

If you're a regular visitor to Golfshake, you'll know that we cover just about everything, but our primary function remains our hugely popular Score Tracker, in which thousands of golfers each week submit their rounds and statistics to keep a record of their game and to see where they can improve. 

The constant search for marginal gains is what drives many of us to the course and to the range, and we all have particular strengths and weaknesses that either raise our performance or exist to hold us back from reaching that next level.

But how does your game compare to the average golfer?

What is The Average Golfer?

Well, first you would have to define what that average player is, but thanks to the data within the Score Tracker, we know that the middle-of-the-road golfer plays to a handicap of approximately 15.

If you want to match or surpass that standard, then here are the targets that you probably need to reach.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Average Score

Ultimately, whatever your numbers and how you put together a round, the score on the card is the truest barometer of where you stand. The average golfer who uses the Golfshake Score Tracker will typically shoot 86. If you expand that a little bit further to encompass those with handicaps between 16 and 20, the average round to beat is 88.5.

Our stats show that the average player will routinely break 90, but taking that down below the mid-80s is a stretch and the next step for this sizeable segment of the golfing population.

Par 3 Average

Par threes come in all shapes and sizes. You have the short, tricky ones that can play havoc with your mind, while some courses prefer longer holes that could easily double as a reachable par four.

The average golfer will have an average score of 3.80 on par threes, with the expanded 15-20 handicap range being slightly higher at 3.88. Effectively playing bogey golf is a common theme with the average golfer. If you can buck that trend, then you're in a strong place to get even better.

Par 4 Average

These are the holes that dominate most courses - and they are the ones that damage the most scorecards. The average 15-handicap golfer will regularly post bogey on the majority of par fours (averaging 4.90) - which rises to 5.07 when you include those with handicaps up to 20.

If you're averaging lower than a bogey-per-hole, then when compared to the wider population, you're doing pretty well.

Par 5 Average

Finally, these longest holes present both an opportunity for birdies and the chance for disaster for the average golfer. If you're a 15-handicapper, your average score will be 5.80 with our expanded group of 15-20 handicaps averaging 5.92.

Ignoring birdies, pars are not a given on these long holes - and you're ahead of the game if you're making them often.

Number of Fairways Hit

But what about the stats? We all know that the tone for how you play starts on the tee. Hit a good drive and then you have a chance to score, while a wayward shot will leave you scrambling for survival. 

The average golfer will typically hit close to nine (8.82) fairways a round, with the overall 15-20 handicap group hitting 8.61, which is quite a significant number if you reckon that the standard golf course might have four par threes. 

Using that as the example, it means that you should be hitting around 60% of fairways to keep pace with the average golfer.

Number of Greens in Regulation

You've successfully hit the fairway, but now you need to find the green. That is easier said than done as the average drops substantially from this point. 

The everyday 15-handicap golfer will only hit 5.22 greens in regulation, with the overall 15-20 handicap group falling to 4.38 when it comes to hitting the putting surface in the required number of shots.

If you want a percentage, to compete at the level of the average player, you need to hit a minimum 27.77% of greens.

Pars-per-Round

Avoiding big numbers on the card is obviously key to scoring well, but a good target for most golfers is increasing the amount of pars they record during the typical round.

How many should you be targeting to make? The average 15-handicapper makes 6.12 pars-per-round, effectively a third of the holes played during an 18-hole round.

When you bring in those with handicaps up to 20 on average, the statistic falls to 5.04, underlining the margins that can make all the difference.

Birdies-per-Round

There are few things more fun and rewarding in golf than making a birdie - and the reality is that most of us don't make anywhere near enough of them! They will make your day, but even adding one or two a round will take you to the next level.

Your average 15-handicapper (0.90) and 15-20 handicapper (0.82) are both not guaranteed to even make one per round, with the overall scoring being slightly below one. 

When you make a birdie, as an average golfer, it's a welcome bonus, and it's an objective for all of us to add more of these to our game.

Number of Putts

Finally, when you're on the greens, it can often be frustrating to lose shots as a three-foot putt counts the same as a towering, booming drive down the middle. 

But how sharp on the greens is the average golfer? Well, according to the stats, if you're getting round in fewer than 34 putts, then you're doing pretty well. 

Our 15-handicapper averages 33.70 putts-per-round while the slightly expanded group (15-20 handicaps) are at 34.15. 

Taking one or two fewer putts a round won't be easy - but it does make a difference. Reduce those three-putts and you'll be on the right track!

The Stats You Need to Beat

Just to recap, if you want to be better than the average 15-handicapper, these are the numbers you need to surpass.

• Score: 86
• Par 3 Avg: 3.80
• Par 4 Avg: 4.90
• Par 5 Avg: 5.80
• #No. FIR: 8.82
• #No. GIR: 5.22
• Pars-per-Round: 6.12
• Birdies-per-Round: 0.99
• Putts: 33.70

We hope that you enjoyed perusing these stats and have perhaps given yourself benchmarks to work towards this season! Maybe you're better at certain things than you thought, or have you fallen short in other areas?

Regardless, keep a record of where you stand in the Golfshake Score Tracker and Play More & Play Better this year!

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