It’s important to head to the golf course with a basic understanding of how golf scores work.
This can make it easier to do well when playing golf.
Just learning the acronyms of golf can go a long way in helping you recognize the ins and outs of the sport.
While doing this, you will want to know, what is a good golf score?
A good golf score is on average 90 for 18 holes. It’s common for beginners to score around 100 for 18 holes, but this can vary depending on the specific golf course, environmental conditions, and of course the golfer’s skills.
For the most part, a golfer should be aiming for 90 as a good golf score when getting their feet wet.
Just getting an average golf score is a good starting point. You can then begin to work on your golf swing and analyze where adjustments need to be made.
This guide is going to look at good golf scores, how to better your golf scores, and different golf scores based on the number of holes.
What Is A Good Golf Score?
A good golf score is anything around 90 for 18 holes. This is assuming it’s a par-72 course. It’s essential to note most beginners will remain around 100 and then work their way down while making adjustments to their technique.
Do not worry if you have what is known as a “bad golf score” because this is just a starting point in your golfing career.
The golf score improvements are going to come in thick and fast when you are working on your game.
A good golf score for a beginner is going to be different from a good golf score for professional golfers and there’s nothing wrong with this.
Just continue to work on your game and the score will come down. This is when you will end up with good scores in golf.
What Is A Good Golf Score By Handicap?
| Golf Handicap | Average Golf Score For 18 Holes |
| 1-2 | 73 |
| 3-5 | 78 |
| 6-9 | 83 |
| 10-13 | 88 |
| 14-19 | 94 |
| 20-24 | 100 |
| 25-28 | 104 |
| 29-33 | 110 |
For the most part, it’s essential to look at this chart on golf scores by handicap to learn more about where you should find yourself when working on this part of your game.
The right golf scores for beginners will often be based on this handicap. It will let you learn more about the sport and how you should be approaching playing 9 or 18 holes.
These are good golf scores for golfers to aim for based on their handicap.
What Is A Good Golf Score For 9 Holes?
A good golf score for 9 holes is 45. This is the average golf score for 9 holes and is going to showcase a decent performance on the part of the amateur golfer. Professional golfers can bring the score further down.
Over time, the average golf score for 9 holes will get below 40.
This will require a bit of work but it can be done as an amateur. Good golf scores for 9 holes will take time but you are going to see serious improvements as you hone your craft as a golfer.
What Is A Good Golf Score For 18 Holes?
A good golf score for 18 holes is around 90. This is the average golf score for 18 holes and many golfers will work their way down from this score as they get better. In some cases, golfers might be closer to 100 but everyone has a different starting point.
Bad scores for 18 holes tend to go above 100.
As long as you are aiming for 90, you are going to end up with one of the good golf scores for 18 holes.
Just continue to work on your technique and you will begin to optimize how you swing the golf club. This is when the results are going to pour in.
What Is A Good Golf Score For Beginners?
A good golf score for beginners is around 90. It is common for some beginners to remain closer to 100 and then work their way down. As long as the golf score is between 90-100, it’s a good golf score for beginners.
This is the average golf score for beginners and helps signal the golfer is still adapting to the 18 holes.
What about 9 holes for beginners?
A good golf score for beginners with 9 holes is going to be around 45-50. This will be a good starting point.
How To Improve Your Golf Score
1. Use The Right Golf Clubs
To increase your golf score, it’s essential to have the right golf clubs.
You will want to take the time to assess different types of golf clubs and how they compare to each other.
The premise is to use the best golf clubs and learn more about them as time goes on. This includes assessing how these golf clubs are going to work around your technique.
For example, some golfers are going to want a heavier golf club while others are going to want something as light as possible.
This is going to be a preference but it’s one you are going to want to know right away.
2. Work On Your Technique
What is your technique like as a golfer?
You will want to make sure everything about your golf swing is getting tweaked and refined as time goes on.
This includes your hip alignment, the way your hands move during a golf swing, and even your golf grip.
Everything has to be airtight for you to improve your golf score. It is not going to happen overnight and you are going to have to put a bit of time into perfecting your craft but that’s always a plus as a beginner.
3. Focus On The Golf Course Not Your Opponents
This is one of the more common mistakes golfers make.
You are going to be chasing after others on the golf course because their score is better than yours. Yes, it is better than yours but that has nothing to do with what you are doing as a golfer.
Your main goal has to be to focus on what the golf course has to offer.
This is where you are going to learn more about how the golf course plays. You don’t want to overreach when it comes to playing on a golf course as that is when mistakes are made and your golf score worsens.
How Many Golfers Can Break 80?
Research shows 2 out of 100 golfers can break 80. This is a challenging golf score to attain and requires a high-quality golf swing with a good understanding of how to maximize each golf shot to reduce your score.
It takes time to work on your craft and get to this score as a golfer. This is why only 2% of all golfers will be able to break 80 as a golf score.
How Many Golfers Can Break 85?
Research shows 1 out of 4 golfers can break 85. This means only 25% of all golfers can break 85 as a golf score since it requires dedication, a good understanding of the golf course, and the ability to adjust on the fly.
This is a challenging score but it is attainable with a lot of hard work on your part.
While beginners are going to be closer to 95-100, it is still possible to reduce the score over time.
Is 90 A Good Golf Score?
Yes, 90 is a good golf score and it’s common for beginners to get to this point over time. While it is not a good golf score for professional golfers, it’s still one an amateur golfer should be aiming for.
How many people break 90 in golf?
Studies show 9 out of 10 golfers can break 90 and it’s common for beginners to settle somewhere between 90-100 when starting. Over time, they begin to bring their golf score down.
Is 77 A Good Golf Score?
Yes, 77 is a good golf score and is among the best for intermediates. It is common for intermediates to start settling around the 75-85 mark depending on where they are playing and how refined their golf swing is.
It is important to note that hitting a 77 in golf is not easy and requires a lot of hard work on your part.
Is 100 A Good Golf Score?
No, 100 is not a good golf score unless you are a beginner. Even beginners tend to settle closer to 90-95 while working on their game. It’s essential to note there is nothing wrong with having a 100 golf score as it is a starting point for some golfers.
Is 72 A Good Golf Score?
Yes, 72 is a good golf score. A golfer needs to have ample experience when playing on a golf course to get to this type of golf score.
Final Thoughts
What is a good golf score?
A good golf score tends to be around 90 for beginners. Intermediates are capable of reducing their golf score to between 77-85, while pro golfers prefer to have a golf score under 72.
It’s essential to work on refining your golf swing to maximize how well you do on a golf course.