Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
As a former golf professional, I still play a lot of golf. My average golf score is par. However, having taught hundreds, if not thousands of golfers, to play the game of golf, I can tell you that the average score for 18 holes of golf is not par. Whether you are a beginner golfer trying to scope out what it takes to get “good” or simply curious about the average score for 18 holes, I’ll break it down for you. All amateur golfers should understand that this process is not just about the number. It’s about the type of golfer that you are.
What Is The Average Score for 18 Holes of Golf?
The average score for 18 holes of golf is about 95. The range is anywhere from 95 to 100, but around 95 is what you see as the average score for 18 holes. If you are shooting in the 80s, you should feel pretty good about your golf game right now. Golfers who shoot par (scratch golfers) likely aren’t overly concerned about the average score. Instead, they want to know what it takes to shoot lower.
Average Golf Score By Category
Having played the game of golf for nearly 30 years, I can tell you that the average score for 18 holes needs to be broken down into categories. W
e can’t say that the average score from a 50-year-old male is the same as an average score of an 18-year-old male or a 70-year-old female.
Here are some of the categories we need to break average score down to fully understand whether you are shooting a good golf score or if your game has some progress to make.
Average Golf Score for 18 Holes by Age
The first time you play a golf course, your score will be higher. However, new golfers who are younger in age, in the 20-50 year age range, have a much easier time shooting lower scores. Having the right equipment, a lot of instruction, and some athletic ability also play into this. Here are some estimates of the average score by age group.
Please don’t fool yourself, though; I have had several members of a club I worked at shoot their age well into their 80s. I guess at that point, you should be considered an above-average golfer.
- 10-15 years: 100
- 15-20 years: 95
- 20-30 years: 90
- 30-40 years: 92
- 40-50 years: 92
- 50-60 years: 91
- 60-70 years: 91
- 70+ years: 94
- 80+ years: 95+
Skill Level
The higher your skill level, the lower your golf scores will be. Even when the course’s difficulty increases, those with more skill shoot better scores. Here are some average scores for an 18-hole course based on skill level.
- Beginner: Above 100
- Intermediate: 90 – 100
- Average: 80 – 90
- Advanced: 70 – 79
- Professional: Below 70
The handicap usually measures a golfer’s skill level. However, many golfers don’t have a handicap, and they simply play golf for fun or to shoot a decent score without really keeping track of it.
Gender
Male players and female players shoot different scores. On average, women shoot higher scores simply because there aren’t as many women players. Some professional women players shoot in the 60s consistently, but there aren’t enough of them to even out the beginner golf scores.
In addition, female golfers tend to struggle to get as much distance as the male player. With more distance, you’ll take fewer strokes to get to the green.
| Skill Level | Male Average Score | Female Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Above 100 | Above 108 |
| Intermediate | 87 – 100 | 93 – 103 |
| Advanced | 76 – 84 | 84 – 90 |
| Professional | Under 70 | Around 70 |
Average Golf Score For Juniors
I have many parents asking me what the average golf score is for juniors. It’s tough to detail an average for the junior player because of the different levels of players that you are dealing with. You can have a child that hasn’t hit a growth spurt yet in the 11-12 age division that hits their drive 60 yards shorter than other kids.
That’s going to play into the scoring. High school athletes who go on to play college golf are almost always capable of shooting in the low 70s. Some college coaches want consistency in scoring; others look for golfers who can go low.
Check the local results of junior golf tournaments in your area to see if your child is in the range of “average” scores. Also, make sure that you check the average course length that these kids play. Chances are they are playing from shorter distances to make it fair.
In addition, remember that at the junior level, the majority of golfers will shoot a few shots higher simply because they are still learning to control nerves.
What Factors Play Into The Average Score Players Shoot?
Now that you have a better idea of the average golf score for 18 holes keep in mind how this number can fluctuate.
Type of Golf Course
When considering average golf score and scoring average make sure to take into account the type of course. Shooting a 75 at a par 60 executive course differs from shooting a 75 at a Championship level par 72 golf course. In addition, golf course conditions can play into your round. When courses have fast greens, severe slopes, and long distances, scores will be higher.
Course Conditions
Weather conditions and golf course conditions also have an impact on the total score for a round. If your average round is 94 and you play a round in the rain, be happy with shooting a 94 or 95. It says something about your ability when course difficulty increases, but your scores do not.
Tournament vs. Recreational Round
Golf tournament rounds almost always have higher scores than recreational rounds. Even for golfers who are very strict about counting every shot, there are no real nerves in recreational golf.
If you want to know what professional golfers face as they try to make a cut or qualify for a big event, play in your local club championship. Putting some pressure on your game is a good learning experience.
What Is A Bad Golf Score?
Except for beginner golfers and those who genuinely play just for fun, a score of over 110 for a male golfer is not considered a good round. At this point, you have made mostly double bogey on each hole. Bogey golfers are more highly regarded as being average or better players. Let’s face it: even the pros make bogeys. Here are a few tips to use to help shoot fewer bad scores. (P.S. Even though I’m now a professional player, at times in my life, I had golf rounds over 100, so I know exactly what this process is like.)
- Try to eliminate all three putts; it’s one of the easiest ways to lower scores and get out of the “bad round” range.
- Learn to play with more than one club off the tee (if you need a 4 hybrid to save your day, go ahead and use it!).
- Implement a pre-shot routine that makes you think about what you are doing before doing it so your round will be more intentional.
- Watch experienced golfers and how they approach the round (if they aren’t hitting over a pound to go for a green in two, why are you?)
Final Thoughts
We could talk a lot more about an average golf score for 18 holes. I’ll be doing more articles about how to shoot your lowest score in golf and some strategies you can use to get there. For now, try to take this information about the average score, or what we consider a good score, and look at how this plays into your game. If you aren’t at your best level, it’s time to start investing a little time into learning new skills. When you go out and shoot a lower score, you will be glad you did.
