Golf is a good way for people to have fun with their friends and family. It is also an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
However, it can be difficult to determine good, bad, or average golf scores as there are many factors that come into play.
In this blog post, we will discuss what good, bad, and average golf scores are so you can see how you’re doing!
Here's What We'll Cover
What Can Impact A Golf Score?
Golf Handicap
When determining what a good, bad, and average golf score is for you, it’s important to keep your golf handicap in mind.
A golf handicap is a number that shows how good or bad you are at golf. It is determined by your average score, and the lower the number, the better!
Keeping track of your handicap will help you track your progress and see how you should do on any given course.
A scratch golfer has much different standards than an average golfer when it comes to a good, bad, or average golf score!
Course Difficulty
The more difficult a course is, the higher your golf score is likely to be.
That’s because it takes more shots to complete a hole on a difficult course than an easy one.
Therefore, if you’re playing on a difficult course, don’t be discouraged if your scores are a bit higher than normal!
Course Conditions
Course conditions can impact your golf scores greatly.
When playing on a course with fast greens or few obstacles, you might have to use fewer shots than on a course that is harder to navigate through.
On top of that, sometimes the course isn’t in the best shape due to groundskeepers or bad weather as we’ll cover shortly!
Weather Conditions
The weather can have a significant impact on your good, bad, or average score as well!
If it is windy outside, the ball will move around more which makes it harder to predict where you want to aim. In addition to this factor, playing in the rain is difficult as well.
It’s recommended to play in good weather conditions so you can play your best and have the most enjoyable experience possible.
What Is A Good Golf Score?
9 Holes
A good golf score over 9 holes would be par or a few strokes above par. If you can consistently score in the high 30s, then you’re a low handicap golfer who’s well above average.
18 Holes
A good golf score over 18 holes would be par or a few strokes above par. If you can score in the 70s to low 80s range, then you are doing well and should continue to work on your game!
What Is A Bad Golf Score?
9 Holes
A bad golf score over 9 holes would be in the high 50s or low 60s, making you a high handicap golfer. While every golfer starts in this range, you don’t want to stay here for too long!
Taking the time to practice, learn club selection, and course management can help you improve your score drastically.
18 Holes
A bad golf score over 18 holes would be in the 110+ range. If you are consistently scoring around this number and you wish to improve, it may be time to get some lessons or practice more!
Even a little bit of work on the practice green or driving range can help your confidence and results more than you may think.
What Is An Average Golf Score?
9 Holes
An average golf score over 9 holes would be right around 45. Since that’s bogey on most standard par courses, it’s good to be around this number or aim for it when playing!
If you’re consistently scoring bogeys, it’s a great sign that your golf game can continue to improve.
18 Holes
An average golf score over 18 holes would be around 90 or so. While this isn’t amazing, it’s a great feeling breaking 90 for the first time.
Most golfers hover around this number for their average score, since it’s equal to bogey golf over the entire round.
How To Improve Your Golf Score
Course Management
One of the most common mistakes among beginner golfers is their course management.
On tight courses, it’s good to lay up in certain spots where you’ll have a much lower chance of hitting the ball into a bad lie or out of play.
On wider or shorter courses, you can attempt to hit drives longer and more often.
And if you hit your driver 300 yards and there’s a bunker or water hazard at that range, maybe it’s a good idea to try your 3 wood instead.
The good news is that you can practice this on any course! So try to become a master at course management by planning each hole beforehand; this can help your game drastically.
Club Selection
Similar to course management, picking the right clubs for each shot is crucial to your golf game.
If you’re on a 450 yard par 4, you’ll probably want to use a driver or 3 wood so your approach shot isn’t from too far out.
If you’re on a 350 yard par 4, you’ll be fine hitting two iron shots and comfortably reaching the green in 2.
Take the time to learn each club and its purpose, it’ll help your situational golf game more than you’d ever think is possible.
Consistency & Limiting Bad Strokes
The biggest difference I’ve found between playing with average golfers and scratch golfers is their consistency and ability to limit bad strokes.
While the average golfer will try to take risky shots to save strokes, they’ll end up costing themselves more in the long run.
On the other hand, scratch golfers are much more likely to lose the stroke and put themselves in a position to score, instead of taking a high-risk, high-reward shot that can cost them a number of strokes.
Becoming a consistent, smart golfer can help you improve your score tremendously!
Practice Your Short Game
If you’ve ever watched professional golfers, you know they have a chance to make their putt from any range or any circumstances.
That’s because they practice their short game daily, sometimes for hours on end.
I’m sure you’ve heard the following quote:
“Drive for show, putt for dough”
It couldn’t be more true; if you want to improve your golf score, start by practicing your short game and putting.
Final Thoughts
After reading this blog post, you should have a much better understanding of what a good, bad, and average golf score is!
Remember to only compare your scores against yourself, since golf is a single-player game.
Focus on improving the aspects of your golf game we went over, and you’ll start to see your scores get better and better with time!
