Average Golf Statistics for the Average Player:
The average male golfer has a handicap index of 13.6. In terms of scoring averages, the average golfer scores approximately 3.72 on par 3 holes, 4.98 on par 4 holes, and 5.81 on par 5 holes. They make around 0.6 birdies per round but also have about 3.3 doubles or worse per round and incur approximately 1.98 penalty shots per round.
When it comes to club distances, the average golfer hits about 48% of fairways. In approach play, the average golfer hits a 7-iron to around 30 yards from the pin and leaves about 65% of all approach shots short of the green.
In terms of short game performance, the average golfer gets up and down from a bunker about once every five attempts and achieves an up-and-down success rate of around one in three times overall.
For putting, getting the first putt inside three feet significantly improves scoring. The make percentage for an average golfer varies significantly based on distance, with a notable drop-off in success rates beyond six feet.
Overall, these statistics provide insights into various aspects of an average golfer’s game, highlighting areas for improvement and benchmarking performance against typical metrics.
—Glen Bowen, June 2024