Can the typical golfer hit the green from 150?

[vangator]

What is the dark area around the green on the par 4? At first I thought it was water. Doesn't look inviting whatever it is.

[Dave2512]

I only hit GIR 38-40% of the time from any distance, often inside the 150. I don't think 18 is visable from the clubhouse at Riverdale. The Knolls was hacked up when they built the Dunes. The holes were once in a different order. That museum was once the clubhouse. Could be wrong don't play there much. But the patio overlooks the cart barn and a practice green. But no most golfers don't hit GIR from 150.

[MS256]

What is the dark area around the green on the par 4? At first I thought it was water. Doesn't look inviting whatever it is.

Yeah, it's an island green. No getting up and down after missing that one.

Illustrates how important a great tee shot can be in situations where  up and downs are not likely or not possible.

[WUTiger]

I would be cautious about making an 18th hole the litmus test for whether average golfers can hit the green from 150 yards. It depends a lot on how the final hole was designed and set up.

My home course Stonewolf is a "championship" course designed by Jack Nicklaus, with the 18th hole as 403-yd.from the middle tees No. 2 HDCP. It  has a terraced green set on a 45-degree angle to the axis of the fairway. The right half is covered by a deep fronting bunker, and the left side falls off to the back, with a testy ridge that covers the left fringe. The approach goes uphill, generally with a crosswind from the left. It's a tough hole.

Compare this with final hole at A.L. Gustin, the community golf course at the University of Missouri. It's 365 yards from the middle tees, with a gently rolling fairway leading to a large, fairly flat green with front bunkers left and right. It's No. 16 HDCP. Lots of pars and birdies.

A "championship" course wants to give players a final exam on No. 18; a community course, on the other hand, wants pleasant memories of that final hole so casual players are encouraged to return next week.

[Ernest Jones]

I would be cautious about making an 18th hole the litmus test for whether average golfers can hit the green from 150 yards. It depends a lot on how the final hole was designed and set up.

My home course Stonewolf is a "championship" course designed by Jack Nicklaus, with the 18th hole as 403-yd.from the middle tees No. 2 HDCP. It  has a terraced green set on a 45-degree angle to the axis of the fairway. The right half is covered by a deep fronting bunker, and the left side falls off to the back, with a testy ridge that covers the left fringe. The approach goes uphill, generally with a crosswind from the left. It's a tough hole.

Compare this with final hole at A.L. Gustin, the community golf course at the University of Missouri. It's 365 yards from the middle tees, with a gently rolling fairway leading to a large, fairly flat green with front bunkers left and right. It's No. 16 HDCP. Lots of pars and birdies.

A "championship" course wants to give players a final exam on No. 18; a community course, on the other hand, wants pleasant memories of that final hole so casual players are encouraged to return next week.

A lot of players are several beers in by that point too!

[oldmotor]

A lot of players are several beers in by that point too!

Light weights.

[NJpatbee]

I will go along with the notion that the majority of golfers have the ability to hit the green from 150 but usually do not.  On 150 or so par 3's that are somewhat open I am probably at around 40%.  From anywhere on the course from 150 I am more like 20%.  On the driving range to a target "green" at 150 I am closer to 60% since I get the same shot 10 times in a row.  One of the most challenging aspects of our game is achieving performance on the course that is consistent with our ability.

[iacas]

No.

[whatwoodtigerdo]

People I am always playing behind seem to struggle with anything longer than 5 yards.

[CR McDivot]

...the patio overlooks the cart barn and a practice green. But no most golfers don't hit GIR from 150.

Yes Dave, the patio does face NE. The south side of the building housing clubhouse, pro shop, meeting rooms has a fair view of 18 approach and green... but the parking lot has better.

Muni parking lots can be used for more than changing shoes; like perhaps relaxing and observing for a bit.

Poetic license?

[Zeph]

Quote:

A scratch golfer hits an average of 12 greens in regulation, 81% of the fairways, has 29.0 putts, 3.2 birdies per round and 11.8 pars per round.

A golfer that averages a score of 85 hits 5 greens in regulation, 46% of fairways, has 33.7 total putts, 0.8 birdies per round, and 6.6 pars.

A golfer that averages a score of 100 hits 0 greens in regulation, 11% of fairways, has 38.3 putts, 0 birdies, and 1.3 pars.

I used various sources including some of my own data compilation. It's tough to compare amateur statistics due to the variations in courses, ranges, or weather. Still, some valid stats can be arrived at.

Here's particularly good study....http://www.probablegolfinstruction.com/PGI%20Newsletter/news09-07-04.htm.

http://averagegolfer1.blogspot.no/2008/06/average-golfer-statistics.html

[Grndslmhttr3]

[URL=http://averagegolfer1.blogspot.no/2008/06/average-golfer-statistics.html]http://averagegolfer1.blogspot.no/2008/06/average-golfer-statistics.html[/URL]

The average scratch golfer hits 81% of fairways when the PGA Tour average is about 20% lower? What?

[joekelly]

Of course he/she can hit the green from `150..  But only once in 30 attempts.  Except for the long distances of driver, woods and the like, every 'typical' golfer occasionally hits a shot, with a result,  that even the pro would envy.  Can a duffer shoot a HIO?  Certainly.  But not nearly so frequently as a better player.  Can a hacker hit a drive 312 yards?  Now that reaches towards the 'impossible' zone, save for the ball bounding off the cart path and down the hill.

Can a pro miss a two foot putt?  Absolutely yes.  I saw it happen yesterday on TV.

[RH31]

Last round I played I missed 8 greens. My misses were from 180,130,155, 45(bunkered), 135, 200,195, 110.

All of my misses were poorly executed swings, except for one (180).

I hit greens from 70, 90, 190, 110, 150, 130, 120, 60, 115, 110.

All my hits were well executed swings, nice and smooth.

It's hard to make a consistently to good pass at it for all 18 holes.

[FooFader]

The average scratch golfer hits 81% of fairways when the PGA Tour average is about 20% lower? What?

PGA tour fairways are usually, hard and narrow = difficult to hold the ball on the fairway. Many scratch players will play courses with fairway much wider and softer than those on tour which could explain why they hit more FIR. On the other hand, the source quoted above may be inaccurate

[14ledo81]

150 is right around the range where my confidence level starts to drop considerably.  I probably hit the green from that range 10% of the time?  I would also consider my self to be a bit better than the average golfer.

[Crim]

No.

Lol, this is my favorite answer.

[FooFader]

150 is right around the range where my confidence level starts to drop considerably.  I probably hit the green from that range 10% of the time?  I would also consider my self to be a bit better than the average golfer.

Pretty much the exact same for myself. I feel that if i'm in the fairway and a 6 iron or less in my hands then i'm looking to hit the green more than 15% of the time but for anything longer than a 6 iron i never feel like i will hit a green.

At my home course we have 4 par 3s that are in the range of 165-200yrds (some uphill/downhill) that all require me to hit either 5/4 iron depending on wind. I know from looking back through my stats, in my last 5 rounds, i have hit only 1 GIR on all these holes combined. That gives me a 5%GIR chance with my long iron from a tee.