Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
Have you ever finished a round of golf and wondered, was that a good golf score? As a golf teaching professional and scratch golfer, I’ll warn you that my idea of a good golf score and yours may be slightly different. Let’s face it: this subject is one that we could debate quite a bit. However, a few things stand out about any golf score we would classify as good. I’m going to break down things like course difficulty, your golf handicap, the average golf score, and more to help you determine what is a good golf score.
What Is A Good Golf Score?
A good score in golf is anything under 80. Less than 10% of males and 2% of females can shoot under 80. We can easily say that anything par or under is a good score, but I think it’s fair to go a little higher than that.
Professional golfers, the ones who typically shoot under par, spend their days dedicated to the game. Amateur golfers with families and jobs who can still shoot an 83 on the weekends are shooting great golf scores.
The average golf score for 18 holes is 95-97. Breaking 80 is at least 15 shots less than this. Although shots add up quickly on a golf course, 15 strokes is a lot.
Factors That Influence Whether You Shot A Good Score In Golf
It’s easy for mid-handicappers to call 72 a good score. However, some scratch golfers may call it an average score. Here’s a look at the factors that influence your golf score and how you can use them to determine if you are shooting good scores.
Course Rating and Slope
Playing a round at your local municipal course may not be quite the same as playing Pebble Beach. The difficulty of the course you play significantly impacts the number of strokes you take. Course ratings over par, like 73, 74, or even higher, are considered hard.
The average slope rating is 113. If you are in the 130+ range (the slope rating can go as high as 155), you are playing a challenging golf course. A lower score here is almost always considered good.
Weather Conditions
I love playing in the rain.
I developed a pre-shot routine and strategy that helped me go low in the rain. When I played in tournaments as a young golfer, I noticed that other players were likely to give up when it rains, which was the perfect time to win.
However, regarding the wind, my average score goes straight up. Weather conditions make it hard to go low. If you shoot on or near your handicap during a rough weather day, consider it a good golf score.
Handicap
It’s smart to also consider your handicap. If you are a bogey golfer, about an 18 handicap, and you shoot 79, that’s a good golf score.
However, we can’t say that if you shot a 92, it’s a bad score. Instead, it would be considered average.
Set realistic goals for yourself and lower your handicap a few shots at a time. Sometimes, all it takes is good course management and a stronger short game.
Amount of Time in The Game
This factor is a little tricky. I’ve seen golfers who have played the game of golf for 40 years and still have no problem shooting 125. I’ve also seen others who have played for 18 months and are in the high 70s already.
Time in the game is a tough factor to consider, but it does play into this. If you are a beginner golfer, don’t expect a good score to be 79; expect it to be 100.
In fact, if you are playing an 18-hole course as a beginner and shooting anywhere near 100, it’s a good golf score.
Course Length
The longer the course, the higher the course rating and slope rating will likely be. When you have 5 wood or 3 wood into every par 4, it becomes difficult to shoot a low score.
The better way to look at this is through the course rating and slope. You’ll get a more detailed look into things like tight fairways, hazards, greens, and the course’s difficulty as a whole. However, the bottom line here is the longer the course, the harder it is.
Age
The older you get, the harder it is to hit the ball far. The further you hit the ball, the easier it is to give yourself eagle and birdie opportunities. That’s why we see better scores from younger players. An 80-year-old who shoots his age shot an excellent golf score.
A 30-year-old who shot 80 had a good round, but can we say it’s as good as the senior shooting his age?
Probably not. Do you see how these good golf scores can be argued all day?
Golf Course Familiarity
I’ve gotten good at playing my home course. This isn’t uncommon, but it does impact my scoring. The first time I played the course, I shot considerably higher. If you travel to different courses often, your scoring could be impacted.
Tips For Shooting Your Best Golf Score
Shooting in the 70’s may make you universally accepted as an experienced golfer, but it’s not in the cards for everyone. If you want to shoot your best score, here are a few of my top tips to use. It won’t matter if your goal score is an 82 or a 92. These tips should help you get there.
- Being in good physical condition does matter. Spend a little time at the gym or at least stretching before a round. It can help you get a few more yards and more consistency.
- Clean your golf clubs; we did some testing recently and found it can cost you a few yards and a LOT of spin to play with dirty golf clubs.
- Think about your round ahead of time, go through each hole, and do what you can to avoid making a double bogey.
- Play with the right equipment, doesn’t need to be a $5000 set, just something built for your needs. (Shaft flex, club length, forgiveness, etc.)
- When making your club selection, make sure you are really choosing the right club, measure the yardage, and pick the golf club you can hit 8/10 times, not 1/10 times.
- Aspiring professionals don’t try to drop their scores by 5 shots overnight. They look for 1% better each day; try that mindset and see what it does for you.
FAQ
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about a good golf score.
What does 75 mean in golf?
A 75 in golf is a score that is typically about three over par. Low handicap golfers would shoot a 75 reasonably regularly.
What’s my handicap if I shoot 90?
A golfer who shoots 90 is typically around an 18 handicap. Depending on the course, the handicap index could be anywhere from a 16 to a 20.
What’s a good score for 9 holes?
Many golfers say that anything under 45 is a good 9-hole score. High handicappers may try to keep it under 50, while better players will look for 40 and below.
Is breaking 100 in golf good?
When you break 100 in golf, it’s a big accomplishment. It takes some time to learn to break 100, and the average golfer shoots right around 100. Regular practice and avoiding the double bogey will help keep your scores below 100 on a consistent basis.
What score should you shoot to be a professional golfer?
To become a professional golfer, you have to shoot below par all the time. Many professionals are able to shoot in the low 60s consistently and that is needed to win tournaments and events.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, we haven’t completely ruined your concept of a good golf score. If you shoot 90, don’t think it’s a bad golf score. The most important thing is that you are happy with what you shoot, play fast, and see improvement or at least consistency from previous scores. The more time you spend worrying about your score, the more frustrating golf gets. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to just go out and enjoy the round and see what happens.
