What Is a 70 in Golf?

Shooting a score in the 70s is one of the most respected milestones in amateur golf, a clear signal that you’ve moved from simply playing the game to truly managing your way around the course. This article breaks down what shooting a 70 actually represents, from the score itself to the skills and strategies required. We'll give you a practical, no-nonsense roadmap designed for regular golfers who want to reach this goal.

What a "70" in Golf Really Means

When golfers talk about "shooting a 70," they’re usually referring to breaking 80 and posting a score anywhere from 70 to 79. It's a significant achievement because it marks the transition from being a "bogey golfer" (someone who averages around 90, or a bogey on every hole) to being a "par-seeking golfer." On a standard par-72 golf course, a score of 79 is just seven shots over par. A score of exactly 70 is even more impressive, as that would be two-under-par on a par-72 course, or even par on a par-70 layout - a level of play that commands serious respect in any clubhouse.

Let's put this in perspective. A round of 100 is filled with double bogeys and worse. A round of 90 is typically built on bogeys with a few pars sprinkled in. But a round of 79 requires a completely different formula. It’s not about stringing together 18 perfect holes. Instead, it’s about demonstrating consistency and competence across all parts of your game. You don't have to be a PGA Tour pro, but you do need to eliminate the big, scorecard-wrecking mistakes and capitalize on your opportunities.

Scoring in the 70s signifies that you possess:

• Control: You have a go-to swing that produces a predictable ball flight most of the time.
• Strategy: You think your way around the golf course, playing to your strengths and avoiding unnecessary risks.
• Resilience: You know how to recover from a bad shot or a bad hole without letting it derail your entire round.

It's less about raw power and more about efficiency. It shows you know how to score, not just how to swing.

The Statistical Blueprint of a 70s Golfer

The biggest mental hurdle for aspiring 70s-shooters is the misconception that you need a perfect, pro-level game. You don't. The difference between a 79 and an 85 isn't jaw-dropping talent, it's improved management of mistakes. Let's look at what the stats of a typical round of 79 look like on a par-72 course, because it’s probably more achievable than you think.

A round of 79 (+7) might be composed of something like this:

• 7-8 Pars
• 8-9 Bogeys
• 1-2 Double Bogeys
• 0-1 Birdies

Notice that the scorecard is dominated by pars and bogeys. You are still making plenty of mistakes! You will likely make one or two double bogeys, but you avoid the triples and quads. A birdie is a bonus, not a requirement. The foundation of this score is damage control and turning potential double bogeys into bogeys, and potential bogeys into pars.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Target

To consistently shoot in the 70s, you need to set realistic performance goals. Forget about trying to hit every fairway and green. Instead, focus on these numbers:

• Fairways in Regulation (FIR): Aiming for 6-8 fairways out of 14 is a great target. The point isn't to be perfect, but to avoid the destructive misses that lead to penalty strokes or unplayable lies. A tee shot in the light rough is perfectly fine.
• Greens in Regulation (GIR): Hitting about 6-8 greens per round is a realistic and solid goal. This means you’ll miss about 10-12 greens per round, which puts a huge emphasis on the next statistic.
• Scrambling (Getting Up & Down): This is arguably the most important skill. When you miss a green, your goal is to get your next shot close enough to the hole to give yourself a great chance at a one-putt par. A good scrambler who shoots in the 70s will successfully get "up and down" about 30-40% of the time they miss a green.
• Putting: The goal here is simple: eliminate three-putts. A 70s-shooter typically averages around 30-32 putts per round. This isn’t achieved by sinking a bunch of 20-footers, it’s by consistently getting your first putt close (within 3 feet) and converting the simple tap-ins.

The Four Pillars for Breaking 80

Ready for an actionable plan? Reaching the 70s depends on strengthening four pillars of your game. Focusing your practice time and on-course attention here will produce the most significant results.

Pillar 1: Stop the Bleeding – Damage Control is Everything

Golfers in the 90s and 80s aren't losing most of their shots to routine bogeys. They are losing them in bunches on "blow-up holes" - those dreaded triple bogeys or worse. The fastest way to break 80 is to get better at making "good" bogeys instead of "bad" doubles.

Actionable Advice:

• Establish a Safe "Go-To" Shot: When you’re nervous on a tight tee box, what is the one club and swing you can trust to put the ball in play? Maybe it’s a 3/4 punch driver, a hybrid, or even a 6-iron. Find it, practice it, and use it without shame. A ball 200 yards in the fairway is infinitely better than one 250 yards into the woods.
• Play to a "Bogey Strategy": When you hit a bad tee shot and find yourself in trouble, immediately switch your brain from "how can I save par" to "what is the easiest way to make a bogey?" This might mean punching out sideways to the fairway instead of trying a heroic shot through a tiny gap in the trees. One smart, conservative shot is all it takes to prevent a big number.
• Follow the Golden Rule: Never follow one bad shot with a desperate or foolish one. A poor drive is just one mistake. Trying to force a miracle shot out of the woods and hitting it into even more trouble is the second mistake that creates the double bogey. Take your medicine and move on.

Pillar 2: Dominate the 100-Yards-and-In Game

This is the scoring zone. About 60-65% of all golf shots are played from inside 100 yards, including putting. If you want to break 80, you have to become clinical in this area. It takes the pressure off your long game because you know you have the tools to save a par even if you miss the green.

Actionable Advice:

• Know Your Wedge Distances: Go to the range and figure out the exact distance for a full, three-quarter, and half-swing with both your pitching wedge and sand wedge. Knowing you can reliably hit a shot 85 yards or 60 yards on command eliminates guesswork and builds tremendous confidence.
• Develop One Simple Chip Shot: You don’t need dozens of fancy flop shots. Develop a simple, dependable bump-and-run or chipping motion with one club (like an 8-iron or pitching wedge). Practice it until it's second nature. This single shot will cover 80% of your chipping situations.
• Champion the Lag Putt: Good putting isn’t about making everything. It's about never three-putting. On the practice green, spend most of your time on lag putts from 20-40 feet. The goal isn't to make them, but to leave every single one within a three-foot circle of the hole.

Pillar 3: Tee Shot Strategy, Not Just Tee Shot Power

The "grip it and rip it" mentality will keep you in the 80s forever. A 70s-shooter thinks about their tee shot - it’s not about maximum distance, it's about setting up the best possible angle for the approach shot.

Actionable Advice:

• Play Away from Trouble: Identify where the biggest trouble is on the hole (water, out of bounds, a deep fairway bunker) and remove it from play. Aim for the side of the fairway that gives you the most room for error. The center of the fairway is good, but the "smart" side of the fairway is even better.
• Play Your Natural Shot Shape: If you naturally hit a 10-yard fade, don't try to force a straight shot. Aim down the left side of the fairway and let the ball fade back to the middle. Fighting your natural genetics on the course is a recipe for disaster. Play what you have on that given day.
• Leave the Driver in the Bag: On short or very tight par-4s, ask yourself a simple question: "Does driver give me a significant advantage over a 3-wood or hybrid?" Often, the answer is no. A hybrid that guarantees you’ll be in the fairway is a smarter play than a driver that brings big trouble into the equation.

Pillar 4: The Mental Game – Thinking Like a 70s-Shooter

The final pillar is your mindset. A golfer who shoots in the 70s has emotional stability. It’s not that they don’t get frustrated, but they have a process for managing it and staying focused on the task at hand.

Actionable Advice:

• Commit to Every Shot: Indecision is a killer. Use a simple, repeatable pre-shot routine to gather your thoughts, pick your club and target, and commit fully to the swing. Once you're over the ball, trust the decision you made.
• Develop Short-Term Memory: A bad shot or a bad hole must be left behind as you walk to the next tee. They happen to every golfer, including the pros. The real skill is not letting that one poor result negatively influence your commitment to the *next* shot.
• Lower Your Expectations: This sounds counterintuitive, but it's vital. Don't go out expecting to shoot a 75. Just focus on executing your routine for the very first tee shot. Then repeat a good process for your second shot. By focusing on the process, not the outcome, you free yourself up to play your best golf.

Final Thoughts

Making the leap into the 70s is a fantastic goal that's more about smarts than sheer talent. It’s achieved by controlling damage, mastering the short game, applying strategy off the tee, and maintaining a steady mental approach. By focusing on these four pillars, you can systematically build a game that is capable of breaking that celebrated barrier.

Putting that kind of strategy into play during a round can be tough when you're on your own. For those moments on the course when you're stuck between clubs or eyeing a risky shot, we designed Caddie AI to be your on-demand golf expert. You can get instant, simple advice on how to play a hole or handle a tricky lie, helping you make the smart decisions that avoid those scorecard-wrecking doubles and turn them into manageable bogeys.