The total number of strokes in a golf game for 18 holes varies greatly depending on the skill of the player. A professional golfer typically shoots under 70, while the average golf score for an amateur player hovers around 100.
Golf is a game of precision. Each swing of the club, aiming to hit a small ball into a small cup in the ground, is counted as a stroke. Fathoming the total number of strokes in a golf game involves more than just adding up hits; it requires knowing the structure of the course and the meaning of “par.” This guide will break down how scoring works and what you can expect for your typical golf round score.
Deciphering Golf Course Structure
Every standard 18-hole golf course is built with specific goals in mind. These goals dictate how many strokes a skilled player should need to complete the round.
The Role of Par Scores in Golf
The concept of “par” is central to scoring in golf explained. Par is the predetermined number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to take to get the ball from the tee box into the hole for a single golf hole par score.
Par is determined by the length and difficulty of each hole. Courses usually feature three types of par holes:
- Par 3 Holes: Short holes where the player should reach the green in three strokes or less (one tee shot, and two putts).
- Par 4 Holes: Medium-length holes where the player is expected to reach the green in four strokes or less.
- Par 5 Holes: Long holes where the player is expected to reach the green in five strokes or less.
A standard 18-hole course usually balances these types of holes. A typical setup might include:
- Four Par 3 holes
- Ten Par 4 holes
- Four Par 5 holes
This totals 18 holes. If you add up the par scores for these 18 holes, you find the total par for the course.
Table 1: Example Total Par Calculation
| Hole Type | Quantity | Par per Hole | Total Par Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Par 4 | 10 | 4 | 40 |
| Par 5 | 4 | 5 | 20 |
| Total | 18 | – | 72 |
So, a course with this configuration has a total par of 72. This number (72) becomes the benchmark score. The relation between par and score defines whether you played well or poorly.
Expected Golf Strokes Per Round
Knowing the par score is helpful, but it doesn’t tell the whole story about what score a real player will post. This is where learning the average golf score becomes important.
What is a Good Golf Score?
What is a good golf score depends heavily on who is playing. We must look at skill levels.
- Professional Level: For a PGA Tour professional, a good score is anything in the 60s. Shooting even par (72) on a tough course might be considered slightly disappointing for them.
- Scratch Golfer (0 Handicap): A scratch golfer is an amateur who plays at the level of a professional on a good day. They aim for scores close to par, often in the low 70s.
- Mid-Handicap Golfer (10–18 Handicap): This is the most common group. These players aim to break 100. An expected golf strokes per round for this player might be between 90 and 105.
- Beginner Golfer: Beginners are just learning the game. Their goal is simple: finish the hole without losing too many balls. Scores over 120 are common.
The average golf score for the vast majority of recreational golfers worldwide hovers around 95 to 105 for an 18-hole round.
How Par Relates to Your Score
The relation between par and score is expressed using terms that describe how many strokes you took compared to par.
- Birdie: One stroke under par (e.g., scoring a 4 on a Par 5).
- Eagle: Two strokes under par (e.g., scoring a 3 on a Par 5).
- Par: Taking exactly the expected number of strokes.
- Bogey: One stroke over par (e.g., scoring a 5 on a Par 4).
- Double Bogey: Two strokes over par.
If a course par is 72, and you finish with 80 strokes, you shot “plus eight,” or eight over par.
Golf Scorekeeping Basics: Calculating Total Golf Strokes
Proper golf scorekeeping basics require noting the strokes taken on every hole. The final score is simply the sum of all strokes taken on all 18 holes.
The Process of Calculating Total Golf Strokes
When calculating total golf strokes, you record the final number of hits on each scorecard box, corresponding to each hole.
Let’s look at a hypothetical 9-hole stretch (since many courses have 9-hole layouts repeated twice):
| Hole Number | Par | Strokes Taken | Result vs. Par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Bogey (+1) |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | Par (E) |
| 3 | 5 | 6 | Bogey (+1) |
| 4 | 4 | 3 | Birdie (-1) |
| 5 | 3 | 4 | Bogey (+1) |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | Par (E) |
| 7 | 5 | 5 | Par (E) |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | Eagle (-2) |
| 9 | 4 | 7 | Double Bogey (+3) |
| Total | 35 | 41 | +6 |
In this 9-hole example, the player took 41 strokes on a Par 35 layout.
To find the total score for 18 holes, you would repeat this process or multiply the 9-hole total by two, assuming the back nine matches the front nine in difficulty and par structure.
If the first nine holes totaled 41 strokes (for a Par 35), and the second nine holes also totaled 41 strokes (for a Par 35), the expected golf strokes per round for this player would be 82 strokes on a Par 70 course.
Factors That Influence the Number of Strokes
Why is the gap between the pro’s 65 and the average player’s 100 so large? Many factors influence the number of strokes in a golf game.
Course Difficulty and Design
The course itself plays a huge role in golf hole par scores and the resulting total.
- Length: Longer holes naturally require more strokes to reach the green. A 500-yard Par 4 is much harder than a 350-yard Par 4.
- Hazards: Water, deep bunkers, and thick rough penalize errant shots severely. Hitting into water often means taking a penalty stroke plus re-hitting the shot, quickly driving up the total stroke count.
- Green Speed and Slope: Fast, tricky greens make putting hard. Taking three or four putts on a green, rather than the expected two, adds unnecessary strokes.
Player Skill Level and Handicap
A player’s handicap directly reflects their expected performance. The handicap system is designed to level the playing field. If you have a 20 handicap, you are expected to shoot roughly 20 strokes over par on a standard course.
Weather Conditions
Weather has a massive impact on shot making, often adding 5 to 10 strokes to an average golf score.
- Wind: Strong winds make controlling the ball nearly impossible, leading to shots veering far off course and requiring extra recovery shots.
- Rain/Wet Conditions: Wet fairways reduce the distance you get from your drives. Wet greens stop the ball quickly, making long approach shots require more power.
- Temperature: Very cold weather can cause the ball to travel shorter distances.
Equipment and Course Management
Better, newer equipment can sometimes lower scores by increasing forgiveness on mishits. However, poor course management—like always trying to hit the ball over a large hazard when a safer layup is available—will always increase the number of strokes in a golf game.
Interpreting Typical Golf Round Scores
To give better context to what an 18-hole round looks like numerically, here is a breakdown based on general skill levels and how they relate to a standard Par 72 course.
Table 2: Score Interpretation for a Par 72 Course
| Score | Relation to Par | Description | Who Shoots This? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65 – 71 | Under to 1 under | Excellent/Professional Level | Pros, highly skilled amateurs |
| 72 – 77 | Even to +5 | Good Score/Solid Play | Low handicappers (0-9) |
| 78 – 90 | +6 to +18 | Average/Typical Round | Mid-handicappers (10-18) |
| 91 – 105 | +19 to +33 | Beginner/Struggling Round | High handicappers (19+) |
| 106+ | +34 and higher | Learning or Very Difficult Day | New players or extreme conditions |
The range here shows why asking “How many strokes?” is tricky. For a new player, 105 might be a great achievement, meaning they managed to keep the number of strokes in a golf game somewhat controlled. For a scratch golfer, 105 means the day went terribly wrong.
Mastering Golf Scorekeeping Basics
Accurate golf scorekeeping basics are simple but require honesty. The fundamental rule is: count every time the club touches the ball with the intent to hit it.
What Counts as a Stroke?
- Swinging at the Ball: Every full swing counts as one stroke.
- Tee Shots: The stroke taken from the tee box counts.
- Hitting Practice Swings (Usually Not): If you swing and miss the ball completely (an air swing), it generally does not count as a stroke in stroke play (the most common format). However, if you swing and lightly tap the ball forward, that counts as a stroke.
- Penalty Strokes: Sometimes, you add strokes to your total without hitting the ball. These are penalty strokes added for rules infractions, such as:
- Hitting a ball out of bounds (OB): Add one penalty stroke and drop a ball near where it went out.
- Taking an unplayable lie: Add one penalty stroke to take relief.
- Grounding your club in a hazard: Can incur a penalty depending on the specific situation.
Documenting Your Round
Your scorecard must reflect the gross score (total strokes before adjustments). For instance, if you scored 5 on a Par 4 (a bogey), you write down “5.” You do not write down “-1.” The tally at the bottom of the card is the gross total.
If you are playing in a competition or casual game where handicaps are used (like Stableford or Net scoring), handicaps are applied after you report your gross score. This adjustment is how the relation between par and score is modified to determine your net score.
Fathoming the Relation Between Par and Score in Depth
To truly assess performance, we must look deeper than just the raw stroke count. The relationship between par and score shows context.
A score of 85 on a notoriously difficult course (Par 70) is objectively better than an 85 on an easy course (Par 74).
- 85 on Par 70 = +15 over par.
- 85 on Par 74 = +11 over par.
The player on the Par 74 course performed better relative to the expectation set for that particular track.
Understanding Strokes Gained/Lost Concept
Modern golf analysis often uses “Strokes Gained” metrics. This sophisticated method compares your performance on every shot to a baseline tour player. It shows you exactly where you lose strokes.
For example, a beginner might find they lose an average of 1.5 strokes on every approach shot compared to a scratch golfer. This small difference, multiplied over 18 holes, accounts for many strokes over par, explaining why their expected golf strokes per round is high.
Putting It All Together: Expected Golf Strokes Per Round
To summarize expected golf strokes per round, we look at the general population playing golf.
If you are just starting, setting a goal of 100 is realistic. Reaching 90 is a significant milestone. Breaking 85 means you are likely a capable, consistent golfer.
The average golf score is not a fixed number; it drifts slightly year by year, influenced by course difficulty and the general population playing that year. However, 100 remains a strong benchmark for the recreational player.
When you finish 18 holes, the final number you report—the sum of all your efforts—is your total stroke count. This number, when compared against the course par, tells you precisely how you performed that day. Mastering calculating total golf strokes is step one; mastering the game to lower that number is the lifelong journey of golf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Strokes
What is the lowest score ever recorded for 18 holes?
The lowest official, non-tournament score recorded on a regulation 18-hole course is generally considered to be 55, shot by Rhein Gibson in 2012 on a relatively short, non-PGA rated course. In major professional tournament play, scores in the low 60s are common, with the lowest rounds often sitting at 58 or 59 depending on the course par.
How many strokes do I add if I hit my ball in the water?
If your ball goes into a water hazard (marked with yellow stakes or lines), you generally take a one-stroke penalty. You add one stroke to your tally and then drop another ball either where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard or follow specific relief options, depending on the hazard type. This one penalty stroke contributes directly to your calculating total golf strokes.
Is a score of 90 good for an amateur golfer?
Yes, a score of 90 for 18 holes on a Par 72 course is generally considered a very good score for a typical amateur golfer. It means you shot 18 over par, placing you well above the average golf score of 100. This performance indicates strong consistency and competence across the board.
Do penalty strokes count toward my score?
Yes, absolutely. Penalty strokes are added directly to the number of strokes in a golf game. If you take 4 swings and then incur a one-stroke penalty for moving your ball accidentally, your score for that hole is 5 strokes. This is crucial for accurate golf scorekeeping basics.