What Is A Good Golf Score For A Beginner?
When you are new to the game, it can be difficult to figure out if you’re shooting a decent score during a round of golf. Understanding what a good average golf score for beginners is will give you a way to gauge your performance against other players with a similar skill level.
Average Score In Golf For Women & Men
According to the Golf Channel, during the 2021 LPGA Tournament, professional golfer Nelly Korda ranked #1 with a scoring average of 69.07. Obviously when you are just starting out, your score isn’t going to be anywhere near that low.
When it comes to beginners, an average score after playing 18 holes for women golfers is 108, compared to 96 for an amateur male golfer. Many other websites list a good golf score as being right around 100, which is comparable regardless if you’re male or female.
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Scoring For Golf Is Usually Based On Stroke Play
How you keep score depends on which golf format you’re playing. For example, deciding between match play or stroke play might affect your strategy.
During match play, each player gets a point for every hole they win and the object is to win as many individual holes as possible.
Golf tournaments are based on stroke play where you count every stroke and add them up at the end of the game. The winner is the player with the lowest overall score after 18 holes.
Some would say that it’s easier for a beginner golfer to have a chance at winning during match play since you are essentially playing 18 mini-rounds of golf. If you mess up and shoot a high number on one hole, you get to start over on the next one.
If you were playing stroke play, every one of those shots gets counted at the end of the game and would negatively impact your overall score.
There are other formats that also work well for beginner’s. Like in Stableford, for example, where you are playing for points rather than the lowest score. To read more about that format, visit our post about Stableford scoring.
If you want more competition, consider trying the Golf Skins Game. In this game, every hole is assigned a certain value, called a “skin,” which is usually assigned a monetary value.
The golfer with the lowest score on a hole wins that skin. Skins is an exciting format that adds an extra level of challenge to the game.
How Much Does An Amateur Golfer’s Score Matter?
Since you can’t get a good score without knowing how to play well, you should focus on practicing your game before really worrying about your score. Working on skills like having a consistent golf swing will help get you scoring birdies in no time. Golf takes a lot of work to master and even the best players out there continue practicing so they can sharpen their skills.
Remember that everyone’s situation is different. Some people have more time to practice and more money for lessons and home equipment. People are made up of all different shapes, sizes, and skill levels. There are personal struggles and other aspects of a person’s journey that can all play a role in where they are at.
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Ways To Improve Your Golf Score
Practice Wisely
Certain golf courses have a higher difficulty level than others. It’s best to teach yourself how to play golf by starting small and playing on a par 3 or executive course. A par 3 course consists of all par 3 holes that are usually 150 yards or less.
Find Clubs And Balls That Work For You
Using golf clubs designed for beginners will make it easier for you to improve as quickly as possible. Especially since certain clubs are designed specifically for women so they can reach the desired golf club distance for each shot.
Choosing the right ball is important since the size of your golf ball can influence your performance. For beginners, a bigger ball might be preferred as it can help improve your distance and accuracy.
Take Lessons
PGA has a helpful online tool where you can search for a golf coach near you based on your experience and needs. Just like any other sport, golf requires a lot of practice to get good.
Use Clean Equipment
Cleaning your golf balls and clubs regularly will help you maximize their performance.
Make Sure You’re Comfortable
Playing golf requires a lot of moving your arms and walking around outdoors. It can get hot on the course which means you’ll want to wear lightweight fabrics. Choose golf clothes that are comfortable and allow you to move freely so you can play your best game. You’ll want to choose outfits that fit well and are functional while following the guidelines for what is appropriate to wear.
What Is The Average Golf Score By Age
Several years ago, MyGolfSpy completed a study of 4,000 golfers of various ages to show how the average golf scores varied.
Here Are The Results Based On An 18 Hole Golf Score:
Ages Average Score
20-30 89.7
30-40 91.7
40-50 91.5
50-70 91.0
> 70 93.2
Keep in mind this was just one study to give you an idea of how much things can change over time. The good news is your golf game might not get much better or worse as you age based on these numbers. That is also the bad news.
The most important thing is that you focus on your game, competing against yourself and that you have fun playing. You should never compare yourself to another golfer and determine your worth based on that assessment. A “good golf score” is subjective. You might not get a score like what’s listed above but you could improve your score by 5 points and that would be a “good” score for you.
