90% of golfers do this

[DavidFehertysBike]

I never shoot over 100.

LOL! There you go.

[WUTiger]

Pretty sure the worldwide average handicap is 16, and has been for 50 years or something....

DavidFehertysBike I find that hard to belive that only 1 in 10 golfers break 100. 90% of golfers not being able to break 80 is something more beliveable.

Only 1 in 10? It depends on how you define golfer. If you include all the people who play once or twice a year - half of whom use borrowed clubs - then it might be true.

But, if the worldwide HDCP average is 16, it looks like these statisticians are measuring golfers who are engaged enough to maintain a handicap somewhere. The National Golf Foundation estimated that the USA had 15 million core golfers. These are people at least 18 years of age who play eight or more times a year (average for core golfers was 37 rounds a year). Caution: Report was from 2007, before the recession really hit. NGF Report: http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/br...-than-expected

[Zeph]

Because golf is hard.

[JetFan1983]

Because golf is hard.

Haha, that about sums it up pretty well.

[Blades4me]

IMO 90% of golfer will always suck b/c they don't understand the principales of, or have a good mental image of a good golf swing, are clueless about grip, stance and alingment, don't have the athletic ability or suppleness needed for a good golf swing, have no idea of how to practice correctly and won't take lesson(s) and if they do, they don't practice what they were taught b/c it "feels different".

A interesting statistic I read some years ago was that only an estimated 20% of the golfing public keep hc's. The average score for male was 95 I believe and for women it was 115 I believe.

[killerduck]

Pretty sure the worldwide average handicap is 16, and has been for 50 years or something....

I've seen this written in several places. Basically what it's saying is that all the technology around today hasn't made people better golfers. I'd believe that whilst there are more people playing today, the handicap spread is pretty much the same as it was in 1960.

Basically, get lessons, not $600 Drivers if you want to lower your score.

[nevets88]

I have to think that it's not the equipment technology that might help make better golfers in the future, but the video and teaching technology. Video has to get cheaper and I wonder when we'll reach some tipping point where every teacher has a video recorder. Then there's Trackman. I think the main detractor from people getting better is resources - time and money and with the economy, fewer people have the time nor the money to play.

[iacas]

I've seen this written in several places. Basically what it's saying is that all the technology around today hasn't made people better golfers. I'd believe that whilst there are more people playing today, the handicap spread is pretty much the same as it was in 1960.

Golf Digest's equipment guys have shown within the past year or so that the average golfer has shaved 2.5 strokes from his game. That old saw about the average score or handicap remaining the same is bunk, I think - it's just been repeated so much that people keep repeating it.

[chriskzoo]

The "average" golf score is around 100:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/24/sp...lf25.html?_r=1

It's been this way for quite some time and if everyone was counting all strokes, I would have no problem believing it.

[Pete405]

about 3 years ago i read that the national average was 105

[Pete405]

IMO 90% of golfer will always suck b/c they don't understand the principales of, or have a good mental image of a good golf swing, are clueless about grip, stance and alingment, don't have the athletic ability or suppleness needed for a good golf swing, have no idea of how to practice correctly and won't take lesson(s) and if they do, they don't practice what they were taught b/c it "feels different".

I think it's because 90% of the golfers are out on the course to have a good time and enjoy the game....I don't really think to many people are that concerned about keeping a handicap, especially when their just going out there with their buddies to enjoy the weather, get away from the wife & kids and drink some beer.

It's not like 90% of golfers are ever gonna get paid for their talent anyway. It's a hobby not a job.

[deronsizemore]

True statement.

Most golfers don't shoot over 100; if they play by the rules. Most golfers also roll their ball around, don't play hazards correctly, don't count their penalty strokes correctly, give each other 5 foot putts, etc.

The average golfer also doesn't drive the ball longer than about 200 yards either (on average).