I spend a lot of time teaching my kids how to play golf and one of the hardest things to explain is expectation.
What is a good score on a hole?
If my son has a 20-foot putt to save par and misses, should he be upset? Maybe for a second. But has he earned the right to expect that putt to go in? Not yet.
That’s the part golfers struggle with. We all want to hold ourselves to a high standard but the standard has to match the player.
If Scottie Scheffler has 110 yards into a green and leaves himself 50 feet, he has every reason to be frustrated. He has invested the time. His skill level creates a different expectation. For most amateurs, 50 feet from the hole after an approach shot might be a reasonable result.
That doesn’t mean you should start settling for bogeys just because a chart says they are normal for your handicap. It does mean knowing what golfers at your level typically shoot on par-3s, par-4s and par-5s can help you judge your round fairly.
Here’s a look at some Shot Scope data on average scoring per hole based on handicap.
Average score by handicap and hole type
Before we get into the bigger takeaways, the main scoring averages are worth looking at on their own.
A few things stand out right away. Scratch golfers are still averaging over par on par-3s and par-4s. Par-5s are the only hole type where they average under par. At the other end, the 25-handicap par-5 number jumps off the page. Averaging 7.0 on par-5s tells you those holes are not automatic scoring chances for higher-handicap players. They may be where the round starts to get away.
| Handicap | Par 3 Avg. Score | Par 4 Avg. Score | Par 5 Avg. Score | Avg. Score vs. Par |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 4.8 | +2.01 |
| 5 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 5.3 | +7.98 |
| 10 | 3.7 | 4.8 | 5.6 | +12.96 |
| 15 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 6.0 | +18.41 |
| 20 | 4.0 | 5.4 | 6.3 | +23.18 |
| 25 | 4.2 | 5.9 | 7.0 | +29.87 |
The hardest hole for your handicap changes as your handicap changes
The hardest hole type is not the same for every golfer. Based on the average score data, here’s how the hole types rank by handicap.
| Handicap | Hardest Hole Type | Second Hardest | Easiest Hole Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Par-3/Par-4 tie | — | Par-5 |
| 5 | Par-4 | Par-3 | Par-5 |
| 10 | Par-4 | Par-3 | Par-5 |
| 15 | Par-4 | Par-5 | Par-3 |
| 20 | Par-4 | Par-5 | Par-3 |
| 25 | Par-5 | Par-4 | Par-3 |
To me, this is a distance story.
For 15-, 20- and 25-handicap golfers, par-3s are the easiest holes because one iron shot is less daunting than needing to hit driver in play, advance the next shot and still finish the hole. As players gain distance and become more reliable off the tee, the narrative flips.
Par-5s become scoring opportunities and par-3s stop feeling quite so easy. A 25-handicap can play a par-3 with bogey as a reasonable target while a scratch golfer is trying to hit the green, control distance and create a real birdie chance with just one swing.
Doubles matter more than nirdies
Average score is useful but the birdie, bogey and double-bogey data tells another important story.
A scratch golfer averages more than two birdies per round but the bigger difference is that they average just 0.27 doubles. They almost never let a hole get away. Keeping doubles off the scorecard has a much larger impact on scoring than making birdies.
| Handicap | Birdies Per Round | Bogeys Per Round | Doubles Or Worse Per Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2.34 | 3.87 | 0.27 |
| 5 | 1.26 | 6.12 | 1.44 |
| 10 | 0.72 | 7.20 | 2.88 |
| 15 | 0.36 | 8.10 | 4.68 |
| 20 | 0.36 | 7.38 | 6.66 |
| 25 | 0.18 | 6.12 | 9.18 |
Front nine versus back nine
The data shows that the back nine and front nine scoring is relatively equal across all handicaps.
| Handicap | Front Nine Avg. Score | Back Nine Avg. Score | Back Nine Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 36.2 | 36.4 | +0.2 |
| 5 | 39.6 | 39.4 | -0.2 |
| 10 | 42.1 | 41.9 | -0.2 |
| 15 | 44.8 | 44.8 | 0.0 |
| 20 | 47.5 | 46.6 | -0.9 |
| 25 | 49.5 | 49.4 | -0.1 |
What is a good score on a hole?
A good score depends on your handicap and the hole you’re playing.
For a scratch golfer, bogey is a mistake; for a 20-handicap, bogey is often a solid result. For a 25-handicap, making bogey on a par-5 is gaining ground on the field.
The golf course itself will influence these numbers based on difficulty, setup and conditions.
You can still want to get better, push yourself and be disappointed after a poor shot. But your expectations should match your current game.
Dennis
1 month ago
Every single weekend golfer needs to get over themselves, me included.
We are not tour players, we are not scratch golfers.
Why are we out there early Sunday morning? To challenge ourselves and enjoy the fresh air.
Expecting to shoot 72, when you average 105, and getting pissed off when you double bogey a hole, is immature.
Grow up and have zero expectations about your game. Just enjoy the fact you can get out, enjoy the weather, the company and you can actually play.