Good golfer vs average golfer?

I'm been golfing for a number of years, but really picked it up the last two.  Previous years I may have played a dozen times or so.  Last year and this year I'm closer to 80 outings per year.  I live in a winter state, so season is limited.

I certainly have watched my game improve drastically and would consider myself decent now, but wonder the following:

What separates a great golfer vs an avg golfer?

Seems like consistency is a big issue.  If I could go out every time and hit a good shot every time, i'd shave tons of strokes.

Kind of a "duh" thread, but trying to understand the game.  Seems like it should be so easy.

I am thinking that scores close to 100 are average. Lower than 89 is good, and any scores under 80 are better than good. When a golfer gets down to averaging in the low 70s or better, they are doing great.

Even with all the new technology in equipment that is available, the average scores have not changed that much over the years. The R&D; folks can do good things with equipment, but they can't do anything for the individual golfer's swing. It's the same with the better course conditions we now have available to play on. The golfer still has to make the ball fly/roll correctly as far as distance and accuracy are concerned.

Mistakes, the average golfer has a few blowup holes most rounds, putting up 7's and 8's, the good players don't do that often.

There are many things that separate good players, like superior ball striking, distance, putting etc. but in the end average weekend players have a lot of different misses that can creep into their game over a round, good players don't have that problem, or at least many problems.

Welcome..As with all sports there is criteria and stats that indicate trends. I am no golf expert but have seen good data on average scores, distances, etc of armatures. Naturally, new golfers want to size up their progression, I did. I am between levels. I also consider a golfers smarts as an attribute when he's newer. Like you for asking. I have seen repeated mistakes from longtime golfers, and others sport participants regularly. Having athletic ability helps also. So, mix all this together and I would build me a good golfer who knows his limitations (strengths and weaknesses) and playa to the strength, minimizes mistakes, desires learning, not afraid to ask questions, and develops mental toughness to handle the ups and downs of the journey. For example, I watched two guys try and carry 235 over water today to the best landing spot. Wind effecting shot. They either did not know thier limitation or the percentage of guys who can actually carry that shot. But on the other hand it's fun trying while along the learning curve unless you do it over and over. One home run does not make a power hitter I tell the warning track hitters.

I would tend to reserve the term "great" to the highest professional levels.

So maybe think about what separates a good golfer from an average golfer.  I would consider someone who can consistently shoot under 100 when playing within the Rules of Golf as an average golfer. I tend to exclude golfers who play only a few times a year from the process of determining an average golfer.  A good golfer will typically score under 90 and will be in the 70's on occasion.

The separation comes from "efficiency".  A good golfer rarely has to chip or pitch twice on a hole.  He/she mostly gets it in the hole with 1-2 putts.  The good golfer rarely takes penalties and generally gets out of bunkers on the first try.  Their tee shots are almost always playable. The average golfer wastes a lot of shots around and on the green.  Their misses off the tee or on approach shots often leaves them in tough spots or results in a penalty.

Good responses so far.

I wasn't necessarily after a score, but more of a mentality response.  I really like the idea of limiting bad shots.

Last year I made the choice to play within my game.  If I can hit a 240 shot and stick it on the green, why go for it in two on a par 5?  If I can hit 180 consistently, then play that next shot from 60, why not do that?  This worked well and saves strokes.

But the more shots you hit, the better you get and you want to put for eagle etc..  greed I guess!

I typically play 9 hole rounds because of time constraints.  I usually shoot 3-6 over, but have been as low as +1, or has high as +10.

I have broke 80 playing 18, but again can still get into the 90s if things don't go right.

Im sure it mental, because I can play, and I've scored low before and will again.  Thats part of the game.

Maybe I'm "good" now or getting close and like someone said great is for the elite.  The tour guys.

I keep track of all rounds on an app.  It lists my handicap at 7.  I think that is low.

Still though each shot I take, I know it could be great and be just what I wanted, but it also could be a fat duffer or miss of some sorts.

Ok, making sense. Thinking down the right path. We all would like that 240 stick the green shot if that's what you meant. Progress not perfection at first. About the handicap HC, the 7 might be a little low. If you mostly play nines and enter them they combine so your 1 and 4 might align. Now if you ever play a club event, you may get put in a bracket outside your handicap. You might be too good, or a little weaker. If weaker, it makes for a long afternoon, trust me. Say your a bogey golfer minus the 3 pars, does that happen regularly? Like a 12-14 over?

I play 18's when I can.  Typically scores are low 80s.  I've broke 80 a few times, but again have been into the 90s.  I'd say 83 is a good avg number, so +13 on my course

My 9s are 37-44, but more often than not 40-41, so +4.  Typically when I play 18, there is a bad hole or two that I don't always get when playing just 9.  I get that.

Thats why I think my "7" is low.  I'm guess 10-12 is probably more accurate.

I don't even know that I'm after an answer, but more of a discussion.

Everyone wants to get better regardless of how good they are.  I'd love to have the confidence that EVERY shot EVERY time was going to be good.  Right now, most are.

Only 240? Don't you mean 300? At least that's what everyone seems to THINK they can hit from the fairway after dribbling their drives 180... But anyways- The game ISN'T easy, but you can MAKE it easier by playing within your abilities. But over time your abilities change, and your scores will drop as the consistency improves. Soon enough, you will take that 240 shot because your consistency AND ability will line up to make it more than not. Or at least not be so bad as to hurt too bad. It's when you get ahead of your abilities, like trying the "hero" shot from the woods, or the attempted 250 yard carry to cut the corner... that the numbers will add up.

PGA Tour players to bogey golfer

Putting: 1.8 strokes

Long Game: 15 strokes

Short Game: 3.5 strokes

Sand Game: 1 stroke

Primarily it's

1. Distance (60-70 yards more off the tee)

2. Consistent Proximity to the hole w/ high GIR (PGA tour players are 2-3x more accurate)

3. Non-damaging short game

4. Decent putting

Nice. Ok HC focus may distract anyway so you have that part right IMO. There are people and materials on TST that have good ideas. I am incorporating some myself and can tell you BAM I am hitting some pretty darn good shots. I had some really good ones but I'm thinking a little different like not attacking every pin and hit to the center of the green. Settle for a boring two but rather than a less than 20-30% chance for up and down.

Caveat, my definition of good golfer has consistently changed to be basically a description of golfers who are better than me!  Five years ago I would have called someone like me a good golfer.  Now I'd feel like a lying self-promoter calling myself a good golfer.

I'd say the key differentiator is ball striking.  An average golfer's mistakes usually cost a stroke, sometimes two or more.  A good golfer's mistakes often don't cost a stroke, and rarely cost more than one.  That comes partially from slightly better short game and putting, but mostly from the fact that a good golfer's dispersion of shots is pretty tight, so a shot that ends up abnormally far from where the golfer intended is usually still playable.  IOW, a mistake off the tee still usually gives a reasonable chance at GIR on a par 4, or an approach is at worst just off the green with a good chance for up and down.

The average golfer's mistakes are much more likely to end up really far from where it was intended.  This means it might end up in the water or behind a tree on a tee shot, or way off the green in a tough spot on an approach where an up and down is unlikely.

Good call them decent golfers are the ones advancing most of their shots towards the intended target and not missing it by a mile. It's not great golf or anything but it's not average. The average golfers is a ball chaser, usually out of position and hitting a multitude of shots in every direction often well short of their potential best. The latter is what I see most out there. In our men's league of 150 guys there are around 10 in championship flight (sub 10 handicap) and maybe 15 or so in 1st Flight. I've seen them all and the other 125 are the average type.

About that thing about the Pros hitting it 60-90 yards further which makes them better. Well, they also play tees that are considerably further back. Any NORMAL golfer has no business trying to play a course at that length. That 's why courses are designed with "Way Backs" in order to maybe get a pro field in one day. But even with the difference in yardages, their equipment is tuned way different as well. A recreational guy might have a 7i at 34 or 35 degrees... Pros are hitting 9's and wedges with those numbers it seems. As an example- this last tournament Fowler and Ishikawa had aces. Fowler on a 200 yarder that he CHOKED DOWN on a 7 iron. And Ishikawa aced a 210 yarder with an EIGHT Iron... that landed PAST the hole and spun back. Seriously? Spinning back on a 210 yard shot only a few years ago was thought to be ridiculous. Because MOST average players need a 3 or 4 iron or hybrid to carry 215. Spin? not a chance. Put a pro alongside a Joe Weekender from 150 and of course he'll be lights out. He's hitting a wedge or less while Joe is trying to get his 7 or 8 iron within 30 feet. Maybe another difference between "Us" and "Them" is the money companies spend to get the exact technology and fit into their guys hands. That the Pros don't pay for, BTW. WE on the other hand try to scrape together a few hundred bucks for that Trackman session to determine that what we really need is custom fitted $1200 clubs and $500 Driver to get our handicap down a stroke.

I randomly got grouped with the Club Champion at my local course.  I didnt play well at all but even when I hit a good shot his shots were just that much better.

It wasn't necessary length, as he only outdrove me by about 10 yards, but he consistently hit his targets.  No pulls, pushes, thin/fat shots just straight at the green.

This is what I am struggling with right now. My good shots are good enough for me to be a lot better, certainly not a single digit handicap, but a bogie golfer, certainly. I think it is a mental attitude when approaching the ball to hit. To pay attention every putt, to ensure your grip is correct every time, to set up the same each time. Don't rush a shot before you are mentally ready but don't agonize either.  Don't get greedy for distance. Be workmanlike about every shot.  Those are my goals. Since I started so late in life, my goal is to get good enough where I can break 90 from time to time. To me, that is playing golf rather than whacking at a ball with a stick in a field.

I think that a good/great golfer is one who rarely "wastes" shots.  I am currently getting back into the game after a year hiatus.  Before this break I was able to shoot in the high 70's on easy courses and low to mid 80's on more challenging courses.  Currently I am now struggling to break 90.  My distances, ball striking, putting etc. seems to be the same as before my break; however, I now have 4-5 "garbage" shots per round where my shot in no way helps me out or advances my situation on the hole.  Topped balls leading to grass burners, fat shots that come up well short, skulling chips, or hitting my drive off the fairway into trouble all lead to strokes here or there.

When I shot my few rounds in the high 70's and low 80's I rarely would hit shots as I described above.  I have a friend who is amazing at "scrambling" through holes.  Just recently, on a par 4, he hit a duck hook off the tee into a line of trees.  On his second he topped the ball and hit a grass burner another 50 yards forward.  On his third he stuck an iron shot from 150 out to about 6 inches from the pin and recorder par.  I on the other hand hit the fairway with my drive, placed my approach on the green, and two putted for par.  Although we scored the same on the hole, I would say that his play on the hole would describe how an average golfer's round would go (inconsistent shots with a few great ones sprinkled in) and my play on the hole would describe how you would expect a good golfer to play (consistent shooting with green in regulation being a commonality).