What Does the Average Weekend Golfer Shoot?

[late347]

Sounds like you just got a bad instructor. I've taken 3 lessons in the past and every lesson really helped my game (3 different instructors). I used to have a terrible hook and the instructor fixed my hook after only one lesson. Haven't hooked it since.

I'd recommend trying a different instructor. Maybe you'll haven better luck next time.

Truth be told, I agree with you. The guy said that he was a good golfer. He said that he's been to regional long drive contests and performed adequately.

I respect his playing competency.

It's just that I didn't exactly get my money's worth of stuff from 120e (or bucks,)

He didn't address my concerns adequately either, and he gave nothing to work on for future.

[SD-Golfn]

Truth be told, I agree with you. The guy said that he was a good golfer. He said that he's been to regional long drive contests and performed adequately.

I respect his playing competency.

It's just that I didn't exactly get my money's worth of stuff from 120e (or bucks,)

He didn't address my concerns adequately either, and he gave nothing to work on for future.

He may be a good golfer, but that doesn't make him a good instructor. Some people just can't teach. Don't let one bad instructor sour you on taking lessons though. Lessons (from good instructors) will fast-forward your progress considerably. Good luck!

[DoubleEagle]

If I play once a month, I will generally shoot mid to high 90's.  If I go to the range, play once a week, I will shoot right at 90, and on a good day maybe 88.  I will retire next year (March) and hope to play a couple of times a week, with anticipation that my game may get a little better.  I generally putt decently, but very seldom hit greens in regulation.  That is what I would like to change by playing more often...

[vangator]

I play once on the weekend and play 9 holes in league twice a month. I play every week in Florida. I typically shoot in the mid 70s. If I miss a fairway, it's not by much and our rough isn't too bad. If I miss a GIR, it is just barely off. I'm very good with a W or SW in my hands, so I get up and down most of the time. Several years back I got down to a 0 HCP, but several rotator cuff strains have caused my HCP to rise. Handicap is not an average. It throws out half of your bad rounds.

[BuckeyeNut]

Average weekend golfers don't record real scores........my 2 cents!    Add about 10 strokes to what an average weekend golfer says he shoots for a more realistic number.

[late347]

Average weekend golfers don't record real scores........my 2 cents!    Add about 10 strokes to what an average weekend golfer says he shoots for a more realistic number.

yea that's actually my experience as well.

I was at the range last week hitting some drives and iron shots.

These couple talkative fellows came along cracking jokes and having a good time.

We talked about our handicaps and the two guys couldn't believe how I had such high handicap (about 29-30 hcp american style) compared to my driving distance (I was really killing the driver hat day it seemed)

I gave them IMHO, an honest assessment of my golf game at the moment:

-threeputt more often than twoputt

-slightly too many topped shots / duffed shots at fairway

-less than solid wedge shots near the green. Overshooting or badly undershooting.

-still occasional slices with driver, slice put you in the rough, which causes problems, and rough is penal where I play.

Then that guy talked about his own golf game. He says that they both average about 35-40 on front9 holes!

Then he goes on to talk about all the mulligans they take each round, and gimme putts!

Then he even said that they always play OBshots like normal water hazard drops - without distance penalty together with the penalty stroke.

[vangator]

When I joined my current golf league years ago, my captain (he didn't know me) asked me what I typically shoot for 9 holes (it's a 9 hole after work league). I said 38. He puts me in the 4 spot (for the worst golfers). I shoot a 37. My opponent shot a 68 (for 9 holes!). Afterward, I asked my captain why he put me against this guy, and he said, "I thought you were lying". :)

[Lihu]

When I joined my current golf league years ago, my captain (he didn't know me) asked me what I typically shoot for 9 holes (it's a 9 hole after work league). I said 38. He puts me in the 4 spot (for the worst golfers). I shoot a 37. My opponent shot a 68 (for 9 holes!). Afterward, I asked my captain why he put me against this guy, and he said, "I thought you were lying". :)

There's a joke to be had in here somewhere. :-D Weekend golfers shoot about 2-3 over per hole, and they're not beginners. Shooting bogey every hole requires that you are at least close to the green on every approach or tee shot. Not that many weekend golfers do that from what I've seen. Weekday golfers shoot par to 1 over. Some even better than par. They also play really fast. An example of one of the "slower" ones is an elderly woman playing in front of me one morning, and I thought was in for a long wait every hole. She shot off the standard men's tees, and was almost always on the green in regulation. She was even using a push cart. Eventually, we joined up for the remainder of the round. What's really funny is that someone even asked us much later if they could join her and her "son" :-P . . .I definitely would be happy if she were my mother, the single digits mom/grandmom? ;-)

[mcanadiens]

When I play with my friends it is sort of understood that we'll have one mulligan available per nine. Since none of us maintain a handicap, it's sort of here or there. But, I recognize those strokes and mentally add them. When I'm by myself or with a stranger, I don't take mulligans.

[vangator]

I'd play during the week, but work gets in the way.

[Lihu]

I'd play during the week, but work gets in the way.

Less sleep for me, I need to work late even if I get in really early. I have a "unique" situation.

[Chip Cormany]

The USGA stats on handicaps would have us believe that 67% of golfers are bogey golfers or better. Any Saturday on a public course makes it obvious that almost 70% of the people on the course ARE NOT bogey or better. I do believe that 67% of USGA members or members of clubs that have the ability to post handicaps are bogey or better.

I do also think from personal experience that there are a lot of weekend golfers that are routinely breaking 100.  When I got a bit serious about golf (playing every Saturday) I was breaking 100 (from the middle tees) on a regular basis at the end of my first summer. It did take more time and more play to break 90.

I have no reference for the following stat. I did have a PGA professional tell me that if you included all golfers that play once a year or more, less than 20% have a handicap of 20 or less.

[Strandly]

Then he goes on to talk about all the mulligans they take each round, and gimme putts!

Then he even said that they always play OBshots like normal water hazard drops - without distance penalty together with the penalty stroke.

Haha, I love guys like this.  I'll be playing and paying attention to the other people in my group as far as who is the furthest out but I generally won't be counting strokes.  After multiple hits by someone to get on the green we'll finish the hole and I'll have a legit bogey or whatever.  Walking back to the carts I'll hear that person say "Yeah put me down for an X..." (X being whatever bogey is) and immediately my bs alarm goes off.  I don't know what their exact score is but I'm positive they hit the ball at least 1 more time than me to get on the green and I know my bogey is real.  lol

[mcanadiens]

Haha, I love guys like this.  I'll be playing and paying attention to the other people in my group as far as who is the furthest out but I generally won't be counting strokes.  After multiple hits by someone to get on the green we'll finish the hole and I'll have a legit bogey or whatever.  Walking back to the carts I'll hear that person say "Yeah put me down for an X..." (X being whatever bogey is) and immediately my bs alarm goes off.  I don't know what their exact score is but I'm positive they hit the ball at least 1 more time than me to get on the green and I know my bogey is real.  lol

I've got this one buddy where that happens. Now, truth told, he is better than I am. That makes it even more frustrating for me when he conjures up some of his interesting numbers.

I took me two full years to finally beat him officially. Did it a couple of weeks ago on a par-3 course where he pushed nearly everything. I'm guessing fewer places to hide shots.

[Moppy]

Average weekend golfers don't record real scores........my 2 cents!    Add about 10 strokes to what an average weekend golfer says he shoots for a more realistic number.

Not that I am guilty of this or anything, but it has the ring of truth.

[Wildcatfan]

I agree that Trevino's advice takes the sap out of the game and, if you are the average hacker, you probably will hit only a few of those 100-yard approaches to the green on the green. Hence, you are really playing for double-bogie with the occasional bogey or par . . . but more likely the occasional triple or quadruple.

Still, Trevino does have a point. As a hacker myself (19 index) I play some holes strategically, knowing that I can hit my 2 or 3-hybrid reasonable accurately and that I have a fairly reliable fade (I hit draws and hooks if I just swing away) if I want to go to the driver. If you are on a tough course, there is nothing wrong with going with the shorter clubs. It is a matter of thinking the course through and not just swinging away. Very tough courses can be brought close to a 100 if you out-patient the course.

On the other hand, letting out shaft on a 470-yd hole and actually getting it is a peak experience.

[Wildcatfan]

As a statistician I keep track of what I and my playing companions do on a course. The most important stat (outside of putting) is, I think, the FIR. How many hackers can wrestle balls out of roughs consistently without cheating? Then, if over a thousand rounds of golf, with considerable data collection, tell us anything, the number a hacker should shoot for is GIR + 1. That is, a hacker should attempt to avoid bunkers and such even he/she clubs down considerably.  Drives are nightmares, but hitting a soft cut helps the FIR number.

Then, not too surprisingly, is the lag putt. Some of my friends charge the hole relentlessly but as Snead said--a golf hole has four doors, when you hit a putt to just get to the hole, you can use all four doors . . . which worked for him until the yips took over. Marking where my companions put their lags, it is clear that they rarely actually drop a long putt--although many of their efforts are heroic--and they leave themselves with a lot of 6-12 footers.

Finally, I agree with John Daly--although I do not have the stats to prove it--practice 3-4 footers relentlessly.

[iacas]

As a statistician I keep track of what I and my playing companions do on a course. The most important stat (outside of putting) is, I think, the FIR.

Putting is one of the worst stats that has the worst correlation to score. FIR is probably second worst.

If you're interested in stats, you should pick up a copy of the book on the left or in my signature. You'll learn a fair amount, and given your statistical background, I think you'll agree with most or all of it.

No hard sell. I'm done now.

But really, putting is a HORRIBLE stat. Easily one of the least important.