Are you an average golfer? Here’s what the statistics say

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Are you an average golfer? And what would it mean if you were? This is golf, after all, a sport with such random and unpredictable outcomes that it tends to make a mockery of the notion that everything boils down to an average — or even a pattern.

But most golfers, like anyone involved in a pursuit that usually involves keeping score, wonder what defines a typical, standard score.

The USGA has for decades tracked the 9- and 18-hole scores of millions of golfers through a handicap system. About 3.2 million players in the U.S. currently post their scores to maintain a Handicap Index®, a sophisticated tool that is a measure of a player’s demonstrated ability on a course of standard playing difficulty, which is adjusted to the course and the teats in which they play. a special day to be equipped with a Course Handicap™.

Currently, the average handicap index is 14.2 for men and 28.7 for women. The pool of players with a Handicap Index tends to include a number of more seriously engaged players who also play more regularly. The National Golf Foundation, which conducts monthly and annual participation surveys of more than 36,000 golfers, concludes that the average 18-hole score for men and women in the United States is about 94.

But there are caveats to any calculation of average golfer score, and they are widely understood in the golf community. Millions of recreational golfers who play only occasionally do not keep score. Other golfers misunderstand the rules of golf and thus write down incorrect scores or are broad-minded about the calming value of a mulligan. And still others, to put it politely, think either to inflate or to reduce their results.

The dynamic of recent years adds to the significant influx of new players linked to the pandemic, who are significantly younger, more likely to be female and drawn from more diverse backgrounds. This is also a group drawn to less traditional golf venues such as short courses and par-3 courses. At the same time, there has been a dramatic increase in nine-hole league participation nationwide, which has produced an increase in the number of nine-hole rounds.

In this evolving landscape, many in golf’s leadership positions see an opportunity to unite younger and existing players. Underlying this move would be to encourage or incentivize more players of all stripes to take up a Handicap Index – and central to this recruitment is making players understand that the handicap is not just designed for use in competition. Yes, it is essential to many championships, but its countless ancillary benefits extend far beyond tournaments and competitions.

“Even if it’s a foursome or two casual players and they want to play a game where the losers buy the beers or appetizers after the round, the World Handicap System becomes the great equalizer that gives everyone a fair chance to win,” said Lee. Rainwater, USGA director of disability education and outreach. “It’s the foundation of the system… the abilities of different players may not be the same, but with a Handicap Index the round becomes fairer and more enjoyable for everyone.”

Rainwater sees other benefits and advantages to having a Handicap Index, such as allowing golfers to track their progress on an ongoing basis using objective benchmarks of improvement. More than one million golfers in the U.S. use the Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) score posting application, which allows them to not only track their scores hole-by-hole but, if they choose, to enter detailed details for each round: fairways hit (and where the fouls went), total shots, greens in regulation, etc. These details are aggregated to provide a statistical portrait of the golfer that identifies areas to work on.

It’s also worth noting that golfers using the GHIN app have the option to upgrade to use the enhanced GPS features, which expands its GPS capabilities to include an approach “heat map,” a putt map, tracking of shocks and other features.

The handicap index is also a tool of opportunity – often required if a golfer wants to accept an invitation to play in a member-guest tournament, as well as many charity or civic group outings. Since an Index is obtained through membership in a state or regional Allied Golf Association (AGA), this affiliation often opens the door to a day of golf at major private or public golf facilities (usually promoted by the AGA as “Members’ Play Days” ).

And don’t neglect the ability to measure something internal. How do you approach other golfers? Are you average? Or better? (Ignore the alternatives.)

Additionally, on the journey to calling yourself a golfer, obtaining a Handicap Index can be a meaningful step toward feeling connected to golf’s larger tribe.

“The notion of community is very strong in golf,” Rainwater said, referring specifically to the World Handicap System that was created under the auspices of the USGA and the R&A in 2020. “It’s the first time there’s been a single calculation of player skills around the globe In this community, players playing on a street golf course or on a golf course in Australia, South America or Japan work with the same game skill calculation.

The message seems to strike a chord, as nearly 450,000 golfers had a handicap through the USGA for the first time in 2023.

There is another more altruistic and simpler reason to create a Handicap Index that can be filed under the category of public service. It relates to the awkward, ubiquitous interactions on the tees of crowded golf courses everywhere, when strangers combine to make a foursome. Often, golfers want to play a game for fun, and maybe some reward, which leads to the question, “What’s your handicap?”

All too often, one of your younger golfing buddies pauses for a few long, uncomfortable seconds, then mutters, “Ah, maybe about . . .”

As Rainwater explained, golf is a game of honor and the Handicap Index helps. “You don’t have to say you’re about a 12,” he said. “You can say, ‘I’m 12.2.’ At its core, golf is a social game. Having a handicap is a versatile connector that aims to add to everyone’s overall enjoyment.”

The other good news is that in recent years, the USGA, golf’s governing bodies and other constituencies in the sport have combined diligently to make it much easier to get a handicap. While there are various routes, one of the simplest may be visiting usga.org/getahandicap.

“We’re serving as a funnel, a facilitator – meaning that by typing in very basic information, golfers will not only get a Handicap Index, they’ll also better connect with their local AGA, Rainwater said.

The World Handicap system has also become more welcoming to the expanding world of golf facilities. Starting this year, nine-hole courses of up to 750 yards are eligible for a Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®a decrease from the previous minimum of 1,500 yards. Similarly, the minimum acceptable for 18-hole courses was reduced from 3,000 yards to 1,500 yards.

Additionally, if bad weather or darkness cuts your golf day short after 15 holes, for example, you can still post hole-by-hole scores and the system will interpret the scores for handicap purposes. In another update to the 2024 WHS, a nine-hole score is now calculated immediately into a player’s handicap rather than waiting to combine it with another nine-hole score from another day.

Since so many daily activities are now conducted through handheld devices, it’s no wonder that various golf service-related apps have registered millions of golfers as users. Score posting is usually a popular companion feature, and many providers have partnered with the USGA to provide access to a Handicap Index, with approximately 30 more apps available to do so in the near future.

The National Golf Foundation and the USGA have also shared data to back up their findings about the “average” player. The NGF, which has identified a United States golfer base of 26.6 million, reports that nearly three-quarters of those players are male. Perhaps most revealing, the percentage of female players in America (26 percent) is the highest on record. The average age of a male golfer is 43.5 years, although female golfers are about 4.5 years younger. People of color represent 23 percent of the American player pool, the highest percentage of non-white players registered by the foundation. The typical golfer plays about 20 rounds a year.

But Greg Nathan, president and chief executive officer of the NGF, chooses to look beyond the statistics when predicting the average golfer.

“What every golfer has in common is that they enjoy the activity itself – they enjoy the challenge, they enjoy being outdoors, they enjoy the practice and the camaraderie of being with other people who enjoy the same activity,” said Nathan, the foundation of which he has also identified another. 18.5 million people who participate in golf entertainment venues, stand-alone driving ranges and/or golf simulator businesses. “There is an amazing passion for this crazy game.”

Not only is this passion swelling to almost every extent, but the growth is intriguingly diverse. Rainwater, for example, noted that recent visitors to usga.org/getahandicap sites that register for a Handicap Index are a mix of less experienced players and those who have been playing for years, as they are posting scores in the low 70s.

“Both of these groups are really diving in; it’s a very engaged group,” he said with a hearty chuckle.

So, are you an average golfer?

One of the greatest charms of golf is its versatility, variety and variability. It can mean something different to everyone. This could be the main triumph of the game.

Do you identify with any of the sentiments expressed in this article? Did you see yourself in the clues or did you find yourself nodding in approval? Have you felt parallels with the game of golf as you know it?

It’s not your answer.