What is the Average Golf Score?
A golfer’s average score is a combination of several factors.
From the course difficulty to the slope ratings of the greens, there are environmental factors each golfer must conquer to post a great final number on the scorecard.
While some golfers are happy being known as a “bogey golfer,” posting an average score around 90, many other players feel expected scores in the 80s is a good number to regularly post.
In this article about posting your best scores, we’ll take a look at what makes a good or bad score for a wide range of ages and handicaps.
What You Will Learn In This Post
CHAPTER 1
What Is The Average Golf Score For 18 Holes
One of the great things about handicaps is that they level the playing field regardless of skill level. Handicap differences allow two golfers, no matter their average score, to play a square match.
Tiger Woods and an average player at your local club can battle with realistic expectations of being competitive over 18 holes when factoring in their average handicap.
High Handicap
A high-handicap average golfer carries a handicap around 18, with regular scores over 90. While most golfers consider anything under 100 a good score, this still gives these players the designation of high handicapper.
The average player usually carries an average handicap of over 18, so by that rule, most weekend warriors that you see on the golf course are high handicappers.
Mid Handicap
A mid handicapper’s scorecard regularly posts somewhere in the 80s.
With a handicap anywhere from 10-18, a mid handicapper will find that although the course’s par is out of reach, they will post a handful of pars and birdies throughout their round.
According to the USGA, the national average score handicap is 14.2.
But most players don’t register their handicaps with governing bodies like the USGA. The average golfer who regularly records their scores is more serious about their game.
That said, mid-handicappers will struggle to find consistency in the course of a full round, with the occasional triple bogey creeping up and causing final scores to bloat on the scorecard.
Low Handicap
A low handicap is a single-digit handicap score. Any golfer who regularly shoots in the 70s is considered a low handicapper.
Golfers with sophisticated skill levels in every aspect of their game regularly shoot in the 70s at a par 72 course.
For a low handicapper, the next step in their golf game is to reach the level of a scratch golfer with scores around the course’s par.
If you don’t know your handicap yet, check out our article: What does Handicap Mean in Golf?
CHAPTER 2
What Is The Average Golf Score For 9 Holes
While the best average golf score for amateurs depends on their normal expected score, an average golfer shoots 40 to 45 strokes per nine holes.
Depending mainly on the course’s toughness and factors such as slope rating and course rating, an average nine-hole score can vary widely.
Private golf clubs with tough layouts can force a scratch golfer to consider anything under 40 a good expected score, although they might argue differently.
CHAPTER 3
What Is A Good Score In Golf
A great golf score is anything in the 70s. While that might not cut the mustard on pro tours, for regular golfers and weekend warriors, shooting around 75 is a remarkable number to place on a scorecard.
For a beginning golfer, the threshold for a good round is breaking 100. So many players find a tremendous sense of pride when they first reach a score under 100.
Of course, serious players use that first sub-100 round as a springboard to go further and reach greater heights.
A scratch golfer considers anything under par a good score, although their threshold for what constitutes a “good score” differs from the average golfer just enjoying their weekend on the links.
In the end, a good score for a golfer is any score that gets below their expectations.
CHAPTER 4
What Is A Bad Golf Score
An average golfer, whether they are female or male, should have a particular understanding of what constitutes a bad score.
For a scratch golfer, a score above 80 might be considered worse than a bogey golfer shooting around 100.
When taking a deep dive into what makes a “bad score,” it remains important to acknowledge that it could be different for each golfer based on their average baseline scorecard number.
CHAPTER 5
What Is The Average Golf Score By Age
The average golfer, regardless of age, routinely struggles with finding their groove on the course.
That’s a big reason why, to determine a golfer’s skill level, they need to average their scores and find a good program to calculate their handicap.
Depending on which of the three major age ranges they fall into, the average golfer can expect their scores to fluctuate based on age, strength, and their fundamental approach to the golf game.
Also, numbers such as the course rating play a huge role in a golfer seeking a path to becoming a scratch golfer.
10-19 Years
Beginning golfers, especially younger ones, will have average scores anywhere from the 100s to the 80s, depending on their skill level.
The biggest obstacle young golfers face at this early stage is consistency and distance.
Because their bodies aren’t fully developed, young golfers often struggle to drive the ball far enough to leave a shorter second shot that helps produce more birdies and pars.
20-49 Years
You’ll find great golfers in this age group ranging from a scratch golfer to your regular weekend warrior who loves hitting the links with their buddies.
Golfers in this age range regularly shoot in the 80s, although the difficulty of the course certainly impacts the overall score.
50-69+ Years
For golfers over the age of 50, scoring in the 80s is quite the achievement.
While senior golfers can utilize tee boxes further up than the standard tees on a course, their scores are limited by their inability to hit the ball as far as they once did in their life.
CHAPTER 6
What is the Average Golf Score for Beginners?
An average beginner should expect to shoot well into the 100s on their first trip to a par 72 course.
For a golfer with limited experience, their score will reflect the difficulty of finding consistency while trying to reach even par on a hole.
Frankly, any double bogey on a hole should be considered a major success for many golfers just starting their golfing journey.
Most beginner golfers should focus on playing nine holes at the start of their golfing career, instead of spending most of their time off the course learning how to hit the ball.
One point for a beginning amateur golfer: ignore early scores, because they will dramatically lower your average and handicap once you play more efficiently.
Playing golf can be frustrating enough on its own, let alone worrying about course ratings, average scores, and unrealistic expectations like playing bogey golf.
CHAPTER 7
Average Female Golf Score: Is There A Difference?
According to USGA statistics, the average female golfer has a handicap of 27.5.
With a regular scoring average over 100, the definition of a bad golf score needs to be recalibrated for women golfers compared with male players.
Golfers on the LPGA Tour post scores much like the men on the PGA Tour, with the best posting below-par scores that amateur players can only dream about posting on their favorite one course near their home.
CHAPTER 8
Average Pro Golf Score
The average PGA Tour golfer has a handicap below zero and is considered to be much better than your run-of-the-mill scratch golfer.
If you were to take the worst PGA Tour golfer to your local course, they have a decent chance to shoot the course record with ease.
Each amazing golfer on the tour has a golf swing that can control the ball and post a low score no matter the course rating, slope rating, or overall condition of the par 72 course.
On tour, pro golfers must post scores in the 60s while keeping their worst rounds in the very low 70s to win championships.
While most scratch golfers can hit a golf ball as well as a tour pro, the pro’s ability to keep their scores consistently low is the reason they maintain a career on the course.
CHAPTER 9
Factors to Consider When Calculating Average Score
When looking at the factors to consider when calculating average golf score, you need to seek out a course’s slope rating, course rating, and how a score utilizes the line passing through the scale of the expected average scores.
Every golf club, as well as standalone golf courses, has its own standards for what constitutes a good golf score.
Even someone considered a bogey golfer at their home course might find themselves posting better than expected scores at a different course.
The only way to normalize scores across different places is through handicaps, total par, and average scoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 77 a good golf score?
A score of 77 is an excellent golf score that puts you in the top 10% of all golfers worldwide. Shooting a 77 on a standard par-72 course means you finished just five strokes over par, demonstrating exceptional consistency and control.
For beginner and intermediate players, breaking 80 is a major milestone that requires solid tee shots, precise iron play, and minimal putting errors.
Statistically, the average recreational golfer shoots around 100, making 77 a score typical of single-digit handicappers. Scoring in the 70s requires avoiding double bogeys and limiting penalty shots throughout the round.
If you can consistently shoot a 77, you possess advanced course management skills and high-level technique. Consistently achieving this score reflects years of practice and a well-rounded game.
How many people break 90 in golf?
Approximately 25% to 30% of all recreational golfers regularly break 90 on an 18-hole course. Shooting an 89 or lower means averaging less than one bogey per hole, which requires avoiding major blow-up holes and lost balls.
According to data from handicap-tracking systems, most casual players average scores between 90 and 108. Breaking 90 is a key barrier that separates casual players from dedicated, intermediate golfers.
Reaching this scoring milestone usually comes down to eliminating double bogeys, making solid contact on approach shots, and avoiding three-putts.
Golfers who work on their short game and tee shot accuracy reach this milestone much faster. Regularly breaking 90 shows you have developed a dependable swing and a smart course-management strategy.
Is 50 a good score for 9 holes of golf?
A score of 50 for 9 holes is solid and respectable for beginner and high-handicap golfers. On a standard 9-hole course with a par of 36, a score of 50 means averaging slightly under double bogey per hole (+14 overall).
Doubling that pace translates to a 100 for 18 holes, which aligns almost exactly with the national average for casual golfers.
While experienced players aim for scores in the upper 30s or low 40s, a 50 represents great progress for developing players.
Reaching this benchmark shows you are making clean contact, keeping the ball in play, and minimizing major mistakes.
To push your 9-hole score down into the 40s, focus on improving chip shots and avoiding unnecessary penalty strokes.
Is 200 a bad golf score?
A score of 200 is extremely high for 18 holes, averaging over 11 strokes per hole on a standard par-72 course.
For reference, even brand-new golfers typically shoot between 110 and 130 during their first few rounds on a full-size course.
A score of 200 usually indicates significant difficulty with basic ball contact, frequent lost balls, or a misunderstanding of basic golf rules and scoring.
Rather than playing a full-length championship course, golfers at this level will benefit much more from practicing on driving ranges or playing shorter par-3 executive courses.
Focus on mastering foundational mechanics like stance, grip, and eye contact with the ball. With basic instruction and dedicated practice, players can easily drop their scores closer to the average 100 mark.
Conclusion
Even a scratch golfer who regularly shoots par loves to work on their average score with their clubs and golf accessories.
Although everyday golfers will never reach that level of success, attempting to lower their scoring average through practice and play is the main joy of playing the sport.