Page 7 - Title page June

What is The Average Golf Score Cont.
Finding an Expected Average

To find the expected average score on a course,
the rating and slope from the tees played are
used. The difference between the expected score
of an average golfer and the expected score of a
scratch golfer on an average course, meaning a
course with a par and rating of 72 and a slope of
113, is 28 strokes--or equal to the average player’s
100 minus the scratch’s 72. This shows that an
average player scores a number of strokes equal
to the slope multiplied by .2477, and added to the
course rating. For example, on a course with a
rating of 70.8 and a slope of 130, an average golf-
er is expected to lose by 32.20 strokes (130 mul-
tiplied by .2477), and the average scratch golfer is
expected to shoot 70.8, making an average ama-
teur score for the course 103 strokes.

Using Milestones

Milestones are a great way to work on improv-
ing your score relative to the score of an average
player. The standard par for a course is 72, mean-
ing the average golfer shoots 28 strokes over par
to shoot her 100. A milestone such as becoming
a bogey golfer, meaning you average shooting 1
over par on every hole, would lead to an average
score of 90 strokes. Relative to the average play-
er, you are winning by 10 strokes, which is a good
result.

Focus on Improvement

One of the dangers with obsessing about scores
and comparing them against someone other than
yourself, in this case against “the average golf-
er,” is the tendency to get down on yourself when
you fail to meet the standards set. Instead, aim
to simply improve your game, so that you lower
your average score over time. In doing so, you will
naturally make progress relative to the average
golfer, and can progress until you are considered
better than average.