The milestones
Most golfers measure progress by the barriers they break on a par-72 course: 120, then 100 (bogey golf plus ten), 90 (bogey golf) and 80. Breaking 100 is the first goal for most new golfers, and a large share of regular golfers never break 90. Shooting in the 70s puts you in a small minority of golfers.
A good score depends on your handicap
The fairest way to judge a round is against your own handicap, because it already accounts for how hard each course is. Your course handicap plus par is a good round for you, not an average one.
| Handicap | A good round on a par 72 | A typical round |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (scratch) | 72 | about 75 |
| 10 | 82 | about 85 |
| 18 (bogey golf) | 90 | about 93 |
| 28 | 100 | about 104 |
These assume an average course (slope 113, rating equal to par). On a harder course, add strokes: your course handicap there will be higher.
Why your handicap isn't your average
A handicap averages your best 8 of your last 20 rounds, so it describes your good days. Most golfers shoot about three strokes above their handicap in a normal round, and beat it only a few times a year. If you match your handicap, you played well.
For beginners
- Your first rounds might be 120 or more. That's normal.
- Pick up when you reach double par on a hole. It keeps the pace up and your score honest enough to track.
- Judge yourself against your own last five rounds, not against par.
Nine holes
Halve everything: on a par 36, a bogey every hole is 45, and breaking 50 is the nine-hole equivalent of breaking 100.
Updated November 12, 2026 by the Greens team.