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 point in a hole?
If my son has a 20-foot putt to save money and misses, should he be upset? Maybe for a second. But has he earned the right to wait for the free kick to go in? Not yet.
This is the part that players 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 to a green and leaves himself 50 yards, he has every reason to be frustrated. He has invested the time. His skill level creates a different expectation. For most amateurs, 50 yards from the hole after an approach shot may be a reasonable score.
That doesn’t mean you should start enjoying bogeys just because a chart says they’re normal for your handicap. That means knowing what players 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 a few Shooting range average score data per hole based on handicap.
Average score by handicap and hole type
Before we get into the bigger steps, it’s worth looking at the main score averages.
A few things stand out right away. Scratch golfers still average over par-3s and par-4s. Par-5s are the only type of hole where the average is below par. On the other side, the par-5 25-handicap number jumps off the page. A 7.0 par-5 average tells you those holes aren’t automatic scoring chances for higher-handicap players. They can be where the round starts to go away.
| Handicap | Par 3 Mid. The result | Par 4 Mid. The result | Par 5 Mid. The result | Average 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 most difficult type of hole is not the same for every golfer. Based on average score data, here’s how the hole types rank by handicap.
| Handicap | The most difficult type of hole | The second most difficult | The easiest type of hole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
For me, this is a distant story.
For players with 15, 20 and 25 handicaps, par-3s are the easiest holes because an iron shot is less intimidating than having to hit driver in play, advance the next shot and still finish the hole. As players gain distance and become more confident off the tee, the narrative flips.
The par-5s become scoring opportunities and the par-3s don’t feel easy anymore. 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 the distance and create a real birdie chance with just one swing.
Doubles matter more than spots
The average score is useful, but the bird, bird, and double data tell another important story.
A scratch golfer averages more than two birdies per round, but the biggest difference is that they average only 0.27 doubles. They almost never let a hole go. Keeping doubles off the scorecard has a much bigger impact on scoring than making birdies.
| Handicap | Birds for the Round | Bogeys Per Round | Double 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 scores are relatively equal across all handicaps.
| Handicap | Front Nine Avg. The result | Back Nine Mess. The result | Back Nine Differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 point in a hole?
A good score depends on your handicap and the hole you are playing.
For a golfer with a scratch, bogey is a mistake; for a 20 handicap, bogey is often a solid score. For a 25 handicap, bogeying a par-5 is gaining ground on the field.
The golf course itself will affect these numbers based on difficulty, layout and conditions.
You may still want to improve, push yourself, and get frustrated after a poor shot. But your expectations should match your actual game.
