Wondering what a good par in golf *really* is? It's the number printed on your scorecard, but for 99% of golfers, that number isn't a realistic target and chasing it can actually hurt your game. This article will break down what par means, why you should probably ignore it, and how to set a personal par that will help you play smarter, shoot lower scores, and have a lot more fun on the course.
Before we can redefine what "par" means for you, it's helpful to understand the official definition. At its core, par is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to complete a hole under normal conditions. It's a performance standard, a benchmark set for the best of the best.
Every course has an overall par, usually 70, 71, or 72, which is just the sum of the pars for all 18 holes. Individual holes are typically designated as a Par 3, Par 4, or Par 5.
Here’s the simple formula behind it:
Notice the common thread? Every par calculation automatically includes two putts. This is based on the assumption that an "expert golfer" will two-putt most greens. So a par is essentially shorthand for “hitting the green in regulation” and then taking two putts to get the ball in the hole. This simple frame is a good starting point, but it's where most amateur golfers set themselves up for disappointment.
Holding yourself to the standard of an "expert golfer" from day one is like a high school freshman trying to match the performance of a professional athlete. It’s a recipe for frustration. A bogey feels like a failure, a double bogey feels like a disaster, and pretty soon, you're not having any fun.
Let's look at the numbers. The average male golfer in the United States has a handicap index around 14. This means on a standard Par 72 course, their average score is about an 86 (+14). The average female golfer has a handicap index around 28, putting her average score at 100 (+28). Scratch golfers - players who shoot par or better - make up less than 2% of the golfing population.
Chasing par when your average score is a 95 is a losing battle. It encourages you to take risky shots to "save par" from a bad position, which often turns a manageable bogey into a dreaded triple-bogey or worse. That’s how you get “blow-up” holes that wreck your scorecard. The secret isn't to play like a tour pro, but to develop a different, smarter target: your personal par.
A personal par reframes the entire game. It turns the scorecard from an intimidating test into a strategic roadmap tailored to your actual skill level. Instead of feeling bad about a bogey, you might just be celebrating it as a job well done. Here’s how you figure it out.
First, get an honest assessment of your game. If you have an official handicap, great. If not, don’t worry. Just think about your last five to ten rounds. What's your most common score? Are you usually around 100? In the low 90s? Let’s imagine your average score is 90 on a Par 72 course. That means you are an 18-handicap golfer (90 - 72 = 18).
That number, 18, is the key. It means you get 18 "extra" strokes compared to the scorecard's par. Your mission for the round isn't to shoot 72, it's to shoot 90. Suddenly, the goal feels attainable.
Now, let’s see where to use those extra strokes. Grab a scorecard and find the row labeled "Handicap" or "Stroke Index" (sometimes abbreviated as "HCP" or "S.I."). You'll see numbers from 1 to 18. This is a ranking of the holes from hardest (1) to easiest (18).
An 18-handicap player gets 18 extra strokes for the round. The easiest way to distribute them is to give yourself one extra stroke on every single hole.
So, a Par 4 now becomes a Personal Par 5 for you. A Par 3 becomes a Personal Par 4. Making a 5 on a Par 4 is no longer a "bogey", it's your Personal Par. That’s a huge mental win.
Let’s put this into practice with a few examples for our 18-handicapper:
If your handicap is above 18, say a 25, you do the same thing but add a second extra stroke on the holes with a stroke index of 1 through 7 (because 25 - 18 = 7). So on the hardest hole (index 1), your personal par on a Par 4 isn't 5 - it's 6! A double-bogey is a success.
Adopting this "Personal Par" approach fundamentally changes your mindset and your strategy on the course. It allows you to play with more intelligence and less pressure.
Think about a tough Par 4 with water all down the right side and a pin tucked behind a bunker. The "Scorecard Par" mindset screams, "I have to hit driver down the tight fairway, then stick my approach shot close to save par." This invites disaster.
The "Personal Par" mindset is calmer and smarter. For an 18-handicapper, the goal is a 5. This opens up your options. You could hit a 3-wood or hybrid off the tee, leaving the driver in the bag. Now you're safe in the fairway. Your approach shot doesn't need to attack the pin, you can aim for the fat, safe part of the green. Worst-case, you miss the green, chip on, and two-putt for a 5. Job done. You made your personal par without any stress.
This approach helps you accept bogey as a good score. It helps you stay in the hole, avoid the big numbers, and build pressure-free consistency. Your confidence grows because you're consistently meeting a goal that you defined for yourself.
So, with all this talk of "personal par," where does your score fit into the broader landscape of golf? Here’s a quick reality check:
A "good par" is ultimately a personal thing. While the scorecard sets a standard for expert players, the real key to enjoying golf and lowering your scores is to play against a benchmark that fits your game. By calculating your personal par, you can transform your mindset from one of frustration to one of strategic satisfaction and watch your confidence and scores improve hand-in-hand.
Thinking through this strategy on the course, especially on a tricky hole while under pressure, can be tough. It’s hard to stay disciplined when you're staring down a tough shot. That’s one of the main reasons we developed Caddie AI. The app can look at any situation, from the tee box to a tough lie in the trees, and give you a simple, smart strategy right away - helping you make the unemotional decision that saves strokes and builds a solid, Personal-Par-conscious round.
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