Editor’s Note: This article was created in collaboration with Shot Scope.

Perhaps you’re asking yourself whether you are more or less skilled than average golfers. This article will provide statistics that will allow you to identify which areas of your game are better or worse than the average.

What is the average “average golfer”? We will show you and give you data to help benchmark your game against. This article draws on Shot Scope’s databank of more than 140,000 golfers. We also have over 250 million shots recorded with performance tracking products like the PRO LX+ laser rangefinder.

Average handicapindex = 13.6

How does the average golfer look?

Key Statistics

Par Score vs	Fairway in Regulation	Green in Regulation %	Up and Down %	Round
+15.92 (87.92)	48%	25%	36%	31.9

• 
  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 and Worse = 3.0 per round
  
• 
  Penalties = 1.98 per round
  

Many golfers believe that they must make more birdies to improve their game or be better. However, it is actually minimizing bad shots and poor holes that can have more of an impact.

It is important to eliminate the destructive shots from your game. This will decrease the amount of penalty shots you receive and, consequently, your round’s number of doubles or worse.

The Average Golfer: Club Distinctions

Average (all photos)	Performance Average*
Driver	216	240
7 iron	126	153

*Performance Average removes all outliers, good or bad, to give distances based on how far an accurately struck shot will travel

Fairway Hit Percentage

This statistic is consistent across all levels of amateur golfers, with only a five-percent difference between all golfers. Average golfers hit 48 percent of fairways.

Approach Play

Approaches starting at 100 yards

Green Hits %	%	%	Proximity (ft.
44%	40%	16%	58.2 (19 yards)

Approaches starting at 150 yards

Green Hits %	%	%	Proximity (ft.
24%	61%	15%	86.3 (29 yards)

Approaches starting at 200 yards

Green Hits %	%	%	Proximity (ft.
9%	83%	8%	136.1 (45 yards)

Approach play is the part of golf that leaves much to be desired by amateurs of all levels.

These are the facts:

• 
  An average golfer can hit a 7-iron up to 30 yards from the pin.
  
• 
  On average, golfers miss 65 percent of their approach shots.
  

What can you do?

• 
  Be realistic about your expectations. Don’t expect to get every shot.
  
• 
  Learn your average club distances
  
• 
  Use the above to make smarter club decisions
  
• 
  Be sensible. The middle of the green can be a great place to
  

Short game

Based on lie type , up & down percentage

All lie types	Fairway	Rough	Bunker
36%	39%	31%	20%

The facts about

• 
  An average golfer will climb up and down from a bunker 1 out 5 times
  
• 
  An average golfer can get up and down about 1 in 3 times
  
• 
  The fairway has the highest success rate
  

Putting

It is important to putt quickly. Below is the make percentage of an average golfer at varying distances.

Make

0-3ft	3-6ft	6-9ft
94%	72%	43%

Your score will be greatly improved if your first putt is within three feet. You will notice a huge drop in your make percentage between 3-6 feet and 6-9ft.

You can see what it takes for an average amateur golfer. Do you score above or below the average in any or all of these statistics.