Almost every golfer, from the weekend warrior to the dedicated range rat, has stood over a three-foot putt for an 89 and wondered: Is this actually a good score? The question what is a good amateur golf score? is one of the most common in the game, and the answer is not as simple as a single number. This article will break down what a good score truly represents for different types of golfers, from total beginners to those knocking on the door of scratch golf. We’ll look at the averages, the milestones, and, most importantly, provide actionable advice to help you reach your next personal best.
Before we can define a "good" score, let's quickly get on the same page about how scoring works. Every hole on a golf course has a "par," which is the expected number of strokes an expert golfer (often called a "scratch golfer") would take to complete it. Holes are typically par-3, par-4, or par-5, based on their length. A standard 18-hole course is usually a par 72.
Your score is measured in relation to par:
When you hear someone shot an 85, it means they took 85 strokes, which is 13 over the par of 72. Understanding this simple context is the foundation for tracking your own performance.
It’s easy to watch professional golf on TV, see them shooting scores in the 60s, and feel like your 95 is a disaster. But the pros are living on a different planet. Putting your own score into perspective with real-world amateur data can be both humbling and incredibly encouraging.
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA), the average 18-hole score for a male golfer is right around 91. For female golfers, it's about 108. Let that sink in. The majority of people who play this game do not consistently break 100, and shooting a score in the 80s puts you in a very solid minority.
So, the first step to feeling good about your score is to adjust your perspective. You’re not trying to beat Rory McIlroy, you’re competing against yourself and the typical challenges of the course that trip up millions of other amateurs just like you.
A "good" score is a moving target. What is an excellent achievement for a beginner is just another day at the office for an experienced player. A much healthier way to think about performance is to define what’s "good" based on your current ability and your personal goals.
If you're new to golf, your primary focus should be on having fun and making small, incremental progress. A "good" day isn't about the final number on the scorecard. Instead, it’s about mini-victories.
A good score for you might be:
Actionable Goal: Redefine Par. Forget about the numbers printed on the card. Your goal is simply to advance the ball on every shot. For a par-4, maybe your personal "par" is a 7. This takes the pressure off and allows you to celebrate a "double bogey" as a success. At this stage, progress isn't about lowering your score from 120 to 110, it's about increasing your count of purely struck shots in a round from two to five. That’s a huge win.
Breaking 100 for the first time is a rite of passage for every amateur golfer. It separates the total beginner from someone who is beginning to manage their game around the course. Golfers in this category typically have a decent swing motion but struggle with consistency. They might make a few pars or even a birdie, but they also have several "blow-up" holes - a 9 or 10 on a par-4 - that inflate their score.
For this player, any score in the 90s is a great score. It shows they are eliminating the disastrous mistakes and playing more controlled, predictable golf.
Actionable Tip: Learn the Math of "Bogey Golf". Breaking 100 sounds daunting, but shooting a 99 is just averaging 5.5 strokes per hole. A more forgiving and powerful mental model is to aim for "bogey golf." A score of 90 is an average of a bogey on every hole on a par-72 course. Thinking this way is liberating. When you’re standing on a par-4, your goal isn't the impossible-seeming 4, it's a very achievable 5. To make bogey golf a reality, focus entirely on avoiding "the big miss":
If you can consistently break 90, you are a legitimately good golfer. You beat most people you'll ever be randomly paired with. At this level, you’ve moved beyond simply minimizing disasters and are now playing with more intention and skill. Golfers breaking 90 have a repeatable swing and are developing a solid short game.
The key separator between a 92-shooter and an 88-shooter is almost always from 100 yards and in. People who shoot in the 80s avoid double bogeys because they turn a missed green into a simple chip-and-putt for bogey, whereas the 90s golfer often misses the green and then follows it with a flubbed chip and three putts.
Actionable Tip: Become a Short Game Specialist. To break 90, you must wage war on the three-putt and the dreaded chip-chunk. Dedicate 70% of your practice time to work within 50 yards of the green. Learn one go-to, high-percentage chip shot that you can rely on under pressure (hint: it's probably a simple "bump and run" with an 8 or 9-iron). On the putting green, stop just rolling putts at the hole. Spend half your time on lag putting - just trying to get your 30-footers to stop inside a 3-foot "tap-in" circle around the hole. This will eliminate those frustrating three-putts that ruin a scorecard.
Any golfer who can break 80 on a consistent basis is in the top echelon of amateur golf - we’re talking about players with single-digit handicaps. This is beyond "good", this is excellent, skillful golf. These players don't just hit the ball well, they think their way around the course.
Breaking 80 means you are averaging pars with a few bogeys mixed in. The double bogey has been almost entirely eliminated from your game. This doesn't happen by accident. It requires a great short game, solid ball-striking, and most of all, smart course management and mental toughness.
Actionable Tip: Develop a Bulletproof Pre-Shot Routine. At this level, physical talent is assumed. The difference is what happens between your ears. The key to consistency is a pre-shot routine that you follow religiously, no matter the shot. It could be as simple as:
This routine slows you down, calms your nerves, and forces you to play "thinking" golf instead of reactionary, emotional golf. It's the foundation of shooting consistently low scores.
While milestones like breaking 100 or 90 are fantastic goals, a single round's score doesn't tell the whole story. Shooting an 85 on an easy, local municipal course is very different from shooting an 85 at a championship venue like Pebble Beach. This is where a handicap index comes in.
A handicap is not just your average score, it's a number that represents your potential playing ability on a course of average difficulty. It uses your best recent scores and factors in the difficulty of the courses you played. This allows you to track true progress and compete fairly against players of any skill level.
If you're serious about your game, getting an official handicap through a service like the USGA's GHIN system is the single best way to know exactly how good you are, and to watch that number drop as you improve.
Ultimately, a "good" golf score is a personal metric tied to your own journey in the game. It’s not about comparing yourself to others, but about setting your own achievable goals and celebrating when you reach them. Whether that’s seeing more solid shots in a round or finally signing a scorecard in the 70s, recognize and enjoy your progress.
Understanding where your game needs work is the first step toward reaching your next goal. At Caddie AI, we designed our app to be your personal coach and on-course strategist that takes the guesswork out of getting better. By getting instant feedback on strategy for a tough hole or simply asking a question about a puzzling rule, you can make smarter decisions and avoid the big mistakes that lead to an inflated score. If you want to dive deeper into your game or get real-time advice when you're stuck on the course, check out Caddie AI to see how we’re making expert-level knowledge accessible to every golfer.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
