As the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, and in this article, I will cover what percentage of golfers break 90, as well as the percentages of other scoring milestones. It’s important to know these numbers, since you otherwise risk comparing yourself incorrectly. 

How We’ve Calculated Scoring Percentages

Before we kick things off, we need to establish what assumptions to make. To calculate the percentages of scores, we’ve taken golfers’ handicaps and used that to determine what they can shoot. 

We’ve only taken into account golfers who keep an official handicap, as it’s impossible to guess how well others play. All this works out relatively accurately, as your handicap is based on how you play on a good day.

To simplify things, we’ve also only used men’s percentages. However, in general, much fewer women break 90 and so on than men. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 90?

According to USGA’s handicap statistics, around 70% of golfers have a handicap lower than 18. This means that around 70% of golfers will break 90 on occasion, or 7 out of 10 golfers.

However, it’s important to note that golfers with the golf game to break 90 don’t always do it, and their average score might be significantly higher. So the number of golfers consistently breaking 90 is actually around 25%. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 100?

If you have a handicap of less than 27, there’s a good probability of you being able to break 100. Around 90% of golfers break 100 on occasion, as that’s what the handicap numbers imply. 

But with that said, there are very many beginner golfers who don’t keep a handicap and can’t break 100. That’s why a more realistic number might be about 80%, but it’s really difficult to say. 

Average Golf Score Percentages – Why It Matters 

With a better understanding of golf score percentages, you can compare yourself more realistically. This enables you to set achievable goals, and improve as a result. Now, we’ll cover the percentages for a wide range of scoring goals. But once again, take these numbers with a grain of salt, as it’s impossible to determine them exactly. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 70?

If you’re able to break 70, you’re most likely a scratch golfer as most courses are par 72. The percentage of golfers who can break 70 is less than 2%. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 72?

Breaking 72 is almost as hard as breaking 70, and only around 4% of golfers can break 72. Golfers with the ability to break 72 are usually scratch or at least low single digits. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 75?

The percentage of golfers who can break 75 is around 7%. A score of 75 allows for far more mistakes than a score of 70, but it’s still very challenging and only low single-digit handicaps can do it. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 80?

Breaking 80 is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s a goal many golfers can have if they practice a lot. The percentage of golfers keeping a handicap who can break 80 somewhat regularly is around 20%. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 85?

If you can break 85, you probably have a handicap of 13 or less. The percentage of golfers that have that is about 40%. 

What Percentage of Golfers Break 95?

Breaking 95 is a goal many average golfers have after breaking 100. Many golfers keeping an official handicap can do this, and the percentage is around 80%. However, just like earlier, many beginners don’t keep a handicap, so the number is probably smaller. 

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

How can golf score percentage be used to measure skill or improvement?

The main way golf scoring percentages can be used to help a player improve is by offering realistic comparisons.

Many golfers think the majority shoot in the 70s, while the truth is that very few do. Instead, the vast majority of golfers often struggle out on the golf course, and many single-digit handicaps don’t always break 90. 

When you have a clearer understanding of how other golfers perform, it’s easier to set realistic goals you can work towards. For example, if you’re a beginner golfer, the goal of breaking 80 is extremely out of reach, while 100 perhaps isn’t. We all have to start somewhere. 

Is there an ideal target or benchmark for golf score percentage?

There is no such thing as an ideal target for your golf score, as everybody plays at different levels. That’s why the handicap system is in place, where the only one you’re competing against is yourself. 

The benchmark for your score is your golf handicap, so that’s where your target should be. However, it’s important to note that if you always shoot your handicap, your handicap will drop, as that’s how the system works. So don’t get discouraged when a round goes worse than planned. 

Can golf score percentage be affected by course difficulty or playing conditions?

It’s very challenging to calculate golf scoring percentages, as not everybody keeps an official handicap or registers every single round. In reality, the course difficulty and playing conditions significantly affect your ability to put up a good score. This is why your handicap takes into account the course’s difficulty, but unfortunately not the conditions. 

Conclusion: 

In this article, we’ve discussed golf scoring percentages regarding many different milestones. The numbers were calculated based on handicaps, and as everybody doesn’t keep a handicap, they need to be taken with a grain of salt.

The number of golfers who can break 90 is around 70% or 7 out of 10 golfers.