What Is the Average Number of Strokes in Golf?

Almost every golfer asks it, but the simple answer is often misleading. So, what is the average number of strokes in golf? While most data points to a score between 90 and 100 as the average for an 18-hole round, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Your score is personal, and where you currently stand is just a starting point. This post will break down what average truly means for different types of golfers, look at the parts of the game that inflate scores the most, and give you clear, coach-approved advice for lowering your own number of strokes.

Untangling the "Average" Score: A Realistic Look

Pinpointing a single average score for all golfers is like stating the average height for all people - it’s technically correct but doesn’t account for the vast differences within the group. A brand new player celebrating breaking 120 is on a different journey than a seasoned player trying to finally break 80. The most commonly cited figure, around 91 for men and 108 for women, comes from handicap data from organizations like the USGA. However, this only includes golfers who are serious enough to maintain an official handicap, which skews the number lower. The real average for all golfers who play, including casual and infrequent players, is likely well over 100.

Instead of fixating on one number, it’s far more helpful to know where your score fits into the spectrum of golfers. Let's look at what "average" means at each level so you can find yourself and see the path forward.

For the Beginner Golfer: The 120+ Club

If you're new to the game, seeing scores in the 120s or even 130s is completely normal and expected. Welcome to the club! At this stage, you're learning the fundamentals of a complex movement while navigating a golf course for the first time. A score of 120 breaks down to an average of triple-bogey golf (taking six strokes on a par-3, seven on a par-4, and eight on a par-5). It might sound high, but it's a fantastic baseline to measure improvement from. Don't be discouraged, every single golfer started here.

Your main challenges (and this is perfectly okay):

• Shots that don't get airborne ( topped or "worm-burner" shots).
• Penalty strokes from lost balls or hitting into hazards.
• Spending multiple shots to get out of a sand trap.
• Taking 3, 4, or even 5 putts on a green.

The goal here isn't to make pars yet. It’s to celebrate small victories, like making solid contact, hitting a straight shot, or getting out of a bunker in one try. Each round is about learning and discovery.

For the Average Golfer: The "Bogey Golfer" shooting 90-100

This is where the majority of weekly or bi-weekly golfers live. A bogey golfer averages one stroke over par on every hole, which results in a nice, round 90 on a par-72 course. People in this range are often consistent enough to enjoy the game thoroughly but are held back by a few recurring mistakes that prevent them from dropping into the 80s.

A typical round for a bogey golfer might look like:

• A few well-earned pars when things click.
• A healthy mix of bogeys, which feel like a manageable result.
- The occasional "blow-up" hole - a double or triple bogey that stems from a single bad decision or poorly executed shot.

If you shoot in the 90s, you have a solid foundation. You can hit good shots, they just don't happen as frequently as you'd like. Lowering your score from this point isn't about radically changing your swing but about making smarter decisions and shaving strokes around the green.

For the Consistently "Good" Golfer: The Single-Digit Handicap

Breaking 80 consistently places you in a small and respected fraction of amateur golfers. These players have what's called a single-digit handicap (9 or lower). They have a high degree of control over their swing and can often recover from a poor shot without letting it ruin the hole. They understand their swing, know their distances, and manage their way around the course strategically.

What separates them from the bogey golfer:

• Predictability: Their bad shots are usually not catastrophic. A miss is often just off the fairway or slightly short of the green, not out-of-bounds.
• Recovery Skills: Their short game is sharp. They turn a missed green into a straightforward up-and-down for par instead of a three-shot fumble for bogey.
• Minimizing Mistakes: They avoid three-putts at all costs and have excellent distance control with their wedges.

For the Touring Professionals: Scoring Below Par

For context, it’s worth looking at the very best. Touring pros on the PGA Tour average between 69 and 71 strokes per round… on some of the world's most difficult courses. They do this by combining elite skill with near-flawless strategy. Their consistency is on another level, which is why a round of 74 can feel like a failure to them. It's a useful benchmark to appreciate the incredible talent at that level, but it's not a realistic goal for most amateurs.

Coach’s Corner: Why Your Score Is What It Is

As a coach, I can tell you that high scores aren’t typically the result of a "bad swing." They’re the result of a few costly mistakes amplified over 18 holes. Golfers don’t get better by trying to make their best shots perfect, they get better by making their worst shots better. The difference between a 95 and an 85 isn't about hitting more pro-level shots. It's about eliminating the silly mistakes. Let’s break down where the average golfer loses the most strokes.

Penalty Strokes and Recovery Shots

The number one score inflator is the dreaded penalty stroke. Hitting a ball out-of-bounds or into a water hazard is a two-stroke swing (one for the penalty, one for the re-load). For a 95-shooter, losing two or three balls off the tee is a quick way to add 6 strokes to their score before they’ve even walked 100 yards. The lesson? A shorter shot in the fairway is almost always better than a longer shot that brings big trouble into play.

The Approach Shot Zone

Now for the hidden score-killer: poor approach shots. Most amateurs are great at hitting a spectacular drive, but the strokes pile up from 150 yards and in. Hitting a green in regulation (GIR) is a huge separating factor. Let’s imagine a typical par-4:

• Player A (typical 90s golfer) misses the green on their approach. Their ball is in the rough. It takes them one chip to get on the green, and then two putts. That’s a bogey.
• Player B (a soon-to-be 80s golfer) also misses the green. But a focused short-game practice session helps them chip it close and make the putt. That’s a par.

That one shot difference, repeated a few times a round, is how you break 90.

Eliminating the Three-Putt

The quickest way to feel like your score is out of control is by giving away strokes on the putting green. A three-putt feels terrible because it turns a well-played hole into a disappointment. A typical bogey golfer might have four or five three-putts in a round. If they could simply turn those into two-putts, they'd save four or five strokes instantly, without changing their full swing at all.

Your Guide to Beating 'Average': 3 Actionable Steps

Knowing is half the battle. Now, let’s talk about practical, simple strategies for lowering your number of strokes. You don’t need a swing overhaul. You just need a better plan.

1. Play Smarter, Not Harder - Manage the Course

Your strategy should be to avoid big numbers at all costs. Give up the "hero shot." Instead of firing at a pin tucked behind a bunker, aim for the heart of the green. That's what pros do! The goal is to give yourself the easiest next shot possible. On the tee, don't automatically pull the driver. If a hole is narrow or watery, hitting a hybrid or iron into the fairway is smarter. It’s not about giving up, it’s about playing the percentages.

2. Become an Expert from 100 Yards and In

Here’s a coach's promise: If you dedicate 70% of your practice time to work *inside* 100 yards, your score will drop faster than with any other method. Forget about trying to smash the driver another 15 yards. Go to the practice area and work on these three shots:

• Pitching: Hitting shots from 40-70 yards to the green.
• Chipping: Simple, low-running shots from the edge of the green.
• Lag Putting: Practice putting from 30 feet away with the only goal of leaving your ball within a three-foot circle of the hole. This is the secret to killing the three-putt.

This is where the scoring happens, and mastering this area turns bogeys into pars and double bogeys into easy bogeys.

3. Start Tracking Your Game (No, It's Not Complicated)

Once you’ve finished your round don't just put your clubs away. Take two minutes to think about your game. Ask yourself a few simple questions in a notebook or an app:

• How many fairways did I hit?
• How many greens did I hit in regulation?
• How many three-putts did I have?
• Where did my lost balls go? (e.g. Right off the tee)

Don't be hard on yourself. Just collect the information. After a few rounds, a pattern will appear. You’ll be able to see, "Wow, I average four three-putts a round.” Suddenly, you know exactly what to practice.

Final Thoughts

The average score in golf isn't a fixed target but a milestone on your personal golfing path. Understanding where your score sits in the grand scheme can give you perspective, but реаl progress starts when you stop worrying about the general "average" and start focusing on your own game - by celebrating small wins, making smarter decisions, and putting your practice time where it matters most.

To us, the best part of modern golf is having access to information that makes improvement simpler. That's why we built our app, Caddie AI. We believe having an expert guide you on course management and strategy can take the guesswork out of the game, helping you stop those blow-up holes before they start. When you're facing a tough shot地形, you can get a second opinion right from your pocket, giving you the confidence to commit to your swing and finally start turning those 95s into 89s.