Editor’s note: This article is in collaboration with Shot Scope. 

You might find that you ask yourself if you are better or worse than the average golfer? Well this article outlines a variety of statistics which will help you pinpoint which areas of the game you are above or below average.

What does the “average golfer look like?” We’ll break down what the average golfer (male golfer) looks like and offers data that can be used to benchmark your game against. All data in this article is gathered from Shot Scope’s database of over 140,000 golfers and in excess of 250 million shots recorded using performance tracking products such as the unique PRO LX+ laser rangefinder.

Average handicap index = 13.6

What does the average golfer look like?

Key Statistics

• Par 3 Scoring = 3.72
• Par 4 Scoring = 4.98
• Par 5 Scoring = 5.81

The Good vs. The Bad

• Birdies = 0.6 per round
• Doubles or Worse = 3.3 per round
• Penalties = 1.98 per round

Often, golfers think they need to make more birdies in order to score better or become a better golfer, when in reality it is minimizing the bad shots and bad holes that can have more impact.

Taking the destructive shot out of your game is key. This will reduce any penalty shots and subsequently the number of doubles-or-worse in your round.

The Average Golfer: Club Distances 

*Performance average removes all outliers good and bad, to give a distance based on how far a well struck shot will go.

Fairway Hit Percentage

This is a statistic that is fairly consistent across all abilities of amateur golfers with only a five percent difference across all golfers. The average golfer hits 48 percent of fairways.

Approach Play

Approaches from 100 yards

Approaches from 150 yards

Approaches from 200 yards

Approach play is the area of the game that leaves a lot to be desired amongst all levels of amateur golfers. 

Here are the facts:

• The average golfer hits a 7-iron to around 30 yards from the pin. 
• The average golfer leaves 65 percent of all approach shots short of the green.

Here’s what you can do:

• Manage your expectations, don’t expect to hit every shot close
• Learn your average club distances
• Make smarter club choices based off the above
• Be sensible: The middle of the green is a GREAT place to be

Short Game

Up & down percentage based on lie type

The facts:

• The average golfer will get up and down from a bunker, 1 out of 5 times
• The average golfer manages to get up and down around 1 in 3 times
• Short game shots from the fairway have the highest success rate

Putting

The speed of putts is crucial. See below the make percentage for an average golfer from varying distances.

Make %

Getting your first putt inside three feet will greatly improve your score. The drop off in make percentage from 3-6 feet and 6-9 feet is huge.

There you can see exactly what it takes to be an average amateur golfer. Are you above or below average for some or all of these statistics?