What does Joe Average golfer typically shoot?

[Fuscinator]

The first time I broke 100, I shot 87. There was nothing different about my swing, or putting stroke, or how I hit my short shots. What made the difference was I had a very conservative plan that I stuck to and I left the clubs I couldn't hit at home. I don't mind playing a minimal bag, at all. It's the planning part I can never seem to make myself do. I guess I just like playing foolish shots.

[Pepperturbo]

"Its the planning part" that caught my eye. 

Various times I have asked friends after they hit a shot and it didn't work out, what was your thought before hitting the ball? The typical answer, "all I wanted to do was hit the ball." And let's not forget that special response, "I'd rather be lucky than good."

Planning a shot is just as challenging as hitting the ball because planning is in the mind and has to be coordinated with body mechanics to get the club head properly on the ball. No confidence and or planning or not adhering to the plan = luck, but more likely a lousy crap-shoot outcome. In life and golf, being lucky isn't a prevalent result.

That doesn't mean he/she isn't trying, though. A lot of people go through life on impulse without planning, and few of them evaluate their result after the fact to see what they did right or wrong. It's a challenging adjustment to factor into daily life, so even more challenging to find or maintain in golf.

 

[juststeve]

The "average golfer" doesn't play by the rules so there is no way to know what he/she shoots.

 

Steve

[Fuscinator]

I always plan every shot. I love to visualize what I want to do. It makes pulling it off so rewarding. I don't know why someone would bother playing if they weren't trying to do something. Where I go wrong is in the selection of the things I try to do. The 'plan' I referred to on that first day I broke 100 involved middle of the fairway, close to the green, on the green, near the hole, in the hole, and no trying to make up ground. Now, it's over the trees on a dogleg, skip the ball off the water, lob from the apron, and whatever other windmill of delusion inspires me.

[ChipNRun]

Several reports come each year on this topic.

The USGA says the average male golfer in its system has a 15 HDCP, and shoots about 90.

The National Golf Foundation charts all golfers,many of whom don't maintain HDCPs. NGF recently estimated that 45% of golfers shoot over 100 when they play.