pga tour average greens in regulation per round

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Here’s how many greens in regulation you should hit per round, based on handicap

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You won't get better until you start hitting more greens in regulation. But what number should be your goal to hit per round?

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Welcome to Stuff Golfers Should Know, a GOLF.com series in which we reveal all kinds of useful golf (and life!) wisdom that is sure to make you the smartest, savviest and most prepared player in your foursome.

The best way to get better at golf is to find more fairways , hit more greens and make more putts , obviously, but that’s easier said than done.

One of the biggest things holding mid- and high-handicappers back is hitting more greens in regulation, mainly because it’s the key (usually) to stress-free two-putt pars and the occasional birdie. It’s also the best way to eliminate trouble. If mid- or high-handicappers are missing greens, that’s when problems can pile up. Bunker issues. Short-sided chips. Bladed chips. Chunked chips. You get the picture.

But we all need goals. So how many greens in regulation should amateurs strive to hit per round?

Tina Tombs, a former LPGA pro and a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, said a high-handicapper should set a goal at seven greens in regulation, while a lower handicap should strive for 10 per round.

Carol Preisinger, a Top 100 Teacher out of The Kiawah Island Club, put her number slightly higher (but we like lofty goals). She said a single-digit handicap should try and hit 13 greens in relegation, while high-handicaps should aim for 10.

One ‘disturbing’ habit holding back amateur golfers from getting better, according to a top teacher

Both agree, however — and this is important — that the best way for amateurs to hit these goals is to play the correct tees.

“If they aren’t carrying 200 yards, they should play 6,000 or less, and they don’t do that,” Preisinger says. “Because when you play too far back you can have four or five penalty shots off the tee.”

In a recent issue of GOLF Magazine, Arccos , which has accumulated a trove of on-course data, shared how many greens in regulation its users hit over a certain time frame. Five handicaps average eight greens in regulation per round, while 10 handicaps average six GIR per round and 15 handicaps average four or five a round.

And, in case you were wondering, Cameron Smith is the current PGA Tour leader of greens in regulation by hitting 80.56 percent, and the Tour average is 68.20 percent, which is about 12.5 greens in regulation per round. Those two numbers might not be realistic for you, but now you know what might be.

Amateurs greens in regulation hit, according to Arccos

Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom  Green Book  from 8AM Golf affiliate GolfLogix.

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How a clever mindset change can improve your range sessions, this easy drill ensures crisp contact (and lot of spin) with your wedges, 3 moves ‘to help you never, ever slice again,’ according to top 100 coach, this golfer wanted just to break 100. instead, she shaved off nearly 20 strokes.

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As GOLF.com’s managing editor, Berhow handles the day-to-day and long-term planning of one of the sport’s most-read news and service websites. He spends most of his days writing , editing, planning and wondering if he’ll ever break 80. Before joining GOLF.com in 2015, he worked at newspapers in Minnesota and Iowa. A graduate of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife and two kids. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Golf 2024 Greens In Regulation Leaders

Greens in regulation.

How Many Greens In Regulation Does An Average Golfer Hit?

Using Arccos data, we take a look at how often golfers with a variety of handicaps give themselves at least a birdie chance

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Hitting a green in regulation - no matter your skill level - is a wonderful feeling. Striking a ball just as you had intended into the heart of the green and leaving yourself at least a birdie putt can take a lot of stress out of your game and, of course, ability to score.

And as a batch of data from Arccos has proven, successful birdie attempts can actually be few and far between for mid-to-high handicappers. 

But how many greens in regulation does your average Joseph or Josephine hit when participating in a full round? Well, using the exhaustive data from Arccos Caddie Smart Sensors , we can gain a very good idea.

If we take into account that the average UK male's handicap was 17.1 in 2022 and the average UK female's handicap was 27.2, and the median equivalent in the US was 14.2 and 27.5, respectively - the average handicap for all four categories equates to 21.5. Arccos data only allows the user to compare their own handicap to a maximum of 20, so that's what we'll use to start.

As a 20-handicapper, Arccos' statistics say a player will only record an average of 3.6 GIR per 18 holes. And even when they do, said golfer will be some way from the hole when attempting a birdie putt - around 36 feet, to be exact.

Moving up the scale, the incremental margins are quite slim. An 18-handicap golfer generally averages 4.14 GIR per round - that's just a 3% improvement - while a handicap which is three shots lower still only generates 4.86 GIR. That same 15 handicap player is likely to leave their birdie-or-better attempt at a range of 33 feet, too.

Interested in discovering insights on your own game from Golf Monthly 's data partner? Check out the Arccos website .

Once we reach the 12-handicappers and below, there becomes a noticeable difference in percentage chance of finding the green under par. The proximity to the hole is still 32 feet for those with an index of 12, but they record a GIR on 31% of holes (5.58 per 18).

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After the 9-handicap golfers - who average 6.84 GIR per round - and the 6-handicap players, who can boast an impressive 7.92, only golfers who hold a handicap of 3 or lower give themselves a birdie-or-better opportunity at least half of the time (9).

And last but not least, we reach the scratch players and those lucky few golfers on Tour. According to Arccos, those off scratch leave their 10.08 GIR attempts per 18 holes at an average of 26 feet from the hole.

And if you want to compare yourself to the best, Tour-quality players tally up an average of 12.06 GIR per round (a shade over two thirds of their holes) while leaving their under-par putt at a median 23 feet away.

For the full stats across a range of handicap indexes, check out the table below...

Source: Arccos

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.

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PGA TOUR Player Stats 2022-23

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The Truth about Greens in Regulation

If you’re like most amateur golfers, chances are you want to hit more greens and have more birdie putts. And I’m all for that strategy. But before teaching you strategies to do that, it’s important to understand your “benchmark” of greens number based on your handicap.

Because here’s the thing, so many golfers get mad when they miss a green or only have 5-6 birdie putts per round. But depending on your handicap, that might be equal or above the average number per round. 

Don’t believe me? Check out the PGA Tour averages first to better understand what’s realistic and what is a pipe dream. I’ll also help you understand your benchmark and five ways to find the putting surface more often. 

Green in Regulation Definition

Before we dive in, you might be thinking… so what is a green in regulation (also abbreviated GIR) anyways?

This is a popular statistic to track for professional golfers and amateur golfers alike. Regulation means hitting in the number required (or less). You get a GIR as a regulation statistic if you hit:

• A par 3 in one shot (or a hole in one).
• A par 4 in two shots or less. Yes, driving the green in one counts too!
• A par 5 in three shots or less.
• A par 6 in four or fewer strokes. Believe it or not, but there are some golf courses with par 6’s.

Then, if you have two strokes on the green after hitting on in regulation, you’ll be making par. Or, drain the putt for a birdie or eagle. 

As you will learn in this post, this statistical category is so important in shooting lower scores.

Tour Averages For Greens in Regulation

When researching this article, it’s pretty incredible to learn the PGA Tour averages for greens in regulation. Because if you’re like me, you probably think they average 70% or more, regardless of distance.

But it’s just not the case… 

The Tours rank golfers based on all sorts of stats from fairways, putting, scrambling, sand saves and more.

Here’s the thing…

These are the best players in the world and yet, they still miss a lot more greens than the casual viewer might realize.

Let’s break it down by distances first. 

PGA Tour Approach Shot Statistics (GIR Percentage)

This information is gathered from the PGA Tour : 

• 200+ yards = 40% of greens. When they do hit the green from 200 plus yards, the average proximity to the hole is 54 feet from 225-250 yards. And 43 feet from the hole between 200-225 yards. For most golfers, this should be a big eye-opener. If you’re over 200 yards and hit the green, good for you because less than half of professional players do! 
• 175-200 yards = 53% of greens. From under 200 yards, PGA Tour players hit just a little more than half of the greens and when they do, they average 34 feet from the hole.
• 150-175 yards = 63% of greens. From this range, players hit the green 10% more the last category, but still average 27 feet from the hole.  
• 125-150 yards = 69% of greens. And when they do hit the green, they are still 23 feet away from the hole. This is a surprising proximity number to me since most players have a wedge or 9 iron (at most) from this range.
• 100-125 yards = 74 % of greens. This is another crazy stat as the pros only have a wedge of sorts from this distance and only hit the green 3 or 4 times! Not to mention, the average distance to the hole is still 20 feet. 
• Less than 100 yards = 81% of greens. Finally, players from short range on the course average 17 feet from the pin between 75-100 yards and 15 feet from 50-75 yards. 

The GIR percentage for each distance from the pros should make even the worst golfer have a little hope. If guys on the major tours can’t get the golf ball on the green constantly, then recreational golfers won’t either. And that’s okay!

As long as you keep working on your short game and have mostly two putts on the putting green, you can score well.

Let’s break down the average green in regulation numbers for amateurs next. 

Why Your GIR is Crucial to Your Score

Greg “the Shark” Norman once said, “Happiness is a long walk with a putter.” And he’s 100% right.

It’s a great feeling when you hit your ball on the green as you eye the birdie or eagle putt from the fairway. Generally speaking, when you hit the green, it should mean a lower score and as important, less stress.

Because if you miss the green, all kinds of bad things can happen.  Thick rough, deep bunkers, and all kinds of other obstacles the golf Gods throw at us.

But the numbers for amateurs for average green in regulation on the course might surprise you too:

• 25-29 handicap = 3 greens
• 20-24 handicap – 3.5 greens
• 15-19 handicap: 5.1 greens
• 10-14 handicap: 6.9 greens
• 6-9 handicap: 8.5 greens
• 3-5 handicap: 10.2 greens
• 0-2 handicap: 11.8 greens
• +3 to +1 handicap: 12.6 greens
• Tour average: 11.7 greens

Essentially, if you shoot over a 100, you will only hit a few greens. If you shoot in the 90s, you will average less than five greens. If you shoot it in the 80s, you will average about seven greens. And if you shoot in the 70s, you will average about 10 greens.

Also, don’t let the Tour average green in regulation number fool you either. Those guys are playing much longer courses in high stakes environments… often needing birdies to win or make the weekend.

How to Hit More Greens in Golf – 5 Strategies For More GIR

Hitting greens typically means less stress and in general, an average lower stroker average. Even if you’re a world-class putter, your putting can’t make up for poor iron play on a consistent basis. The key is to increase your GIR stroke as much as possible to set yourself up for success.

Now that you have a better understanding of how many greens the pros hit and why they’re crucial to your score… let’s get into some tips. I’m confident that when you use all five of these tips, you’ll hit additional greens in regulation than ever before. 

1.  Hit More Fairways (Improve Your Tee Shot Game)

If you want to hit more greens in regulation, you need to give yourself the best opportunity to do so with quality tee shots. Because if you’re constantly playing from the thick stuff or behind trees, improving your GIR number is nearly impossible. 

Especially for everyday amateur players, who aren’t as skilled with recovery shots as low handicap or scratch golfers. For skilled players, hitting fairways isn’t as important because they usually have a consistent enough swing to get on or near the green from the rough. 

But for the everyday golfer, a solid tee ball will help a ton. It will usually mean an easier next shot to the putting green by avoiding fairway bunkers and other trouble off the tee. Because remember, if you hit in a hazard or out of bounds, you won’t be able to hit the GIR.

Plus, when you’re in the fairway, club selection is much easier too. Not having to worry about thick rough or flier lie will increase your chances of selecting the right club and finding the dance floor. 

Here are a few tee box strategies to help you out.

Commit to a Shot

One of the reasons that a lot of players miss fairways is because they don’t commit to a shot off the tee. Instead, they hit and hope it finds the short grass. When in reality, you should have a clear starting point and end point for your golf ball before making a practice swing. 

Imagine the shot for a second and feel a high draw , a low cut , or a straight shot you want to hit. Whether you pull it off or not, at least you had a high percentage shot in mind. This will help you on the course and commit in your mind the shot you want to play.

Have a Fairway Finder

I always suggest having some sort of “fairway finder” shot and/or club. This could either be a specific shot you play or a certain club that tends to find the short grass. 

For some players, this might be a choke down, controlled driver swing. For others, it might be hitting a fairway wood or hybrid to find the fairway instead. Practice your fairway finder on the range so you have more consistency and confidence on the course.

Even Tiger Woods had a fairway finder, he called it the stinger and here is how to hit the stinger shot .

Plan Your Third Shot

Another tip to help you get on in regulation and have an easy two putts (or less) is to plan your third shot on Par 5s better. Sometimes that means going for it so you can get a short chip, while other times it means laying back and going for it in three. 

Par 5s, despite being the longest holes, are the best chances for birdies. Set yourself up by thinking one shot ahead, so your third shot gives you the best opportunity. 

2. Nail Your Pre-Shot Routine

Hitting fairways will generally help you hit more greens. But once you’re in the fairway, it’s important to have a solid pre-shot routine to lock in your approach shot . Otherwise, you’re more likely to waste epic drives and feel like you didn’t take advantage of a great tee shot. 

Plus, your pre-shot routine will help you:

• Find the right distances.
• Evaluate weather conditions.
• Choose the right golf club to hit.
• Create a solid approach shot strategy. 
• Pick an ideal target and best place(s) to miss.
• Stay calm under pressure and give yourself the best chance to putt for birdie. 

A pre-shot routine will help with every single club in the bag. The more automatic you can make your routine, the easier it will be to go “unconscious” and into a flow state. 

Just like training your swing, make sure that you practice your pre-shot routine as well. 

3. Know Your Distances For Your Second Shot

Another huge part of hitting more greens every round is knowing your distances for each golf club. Because you could hit a great tee ball and have an awesome routine, but miss the green if you leave your second shot short or long. Then you’re scrambling to get it up and down and save par. 

Sure, we’re all humans and bound to hit some shots thin or fat and miss the putting surface. But there is nothing worse than hitting a good shot and missing the GIR because you didn’t know your distances for each club. 

Make sure to minimize this mistake by spending time on the range and during casual rounds getting to know your distances. The easiest way to do this is with a launch monitor , as it will tell you total distance and a lot more for each shot you hit. You can also use your rangefinder to hit targets on the range to better understand your distances. 

As you become more advanced, try to have several distances with each club too. This will help you hit more greens because you’ll have more shots in the bag. Whether you’re uphill/downhill , playing in wind , or cold temperatures , you will have a shot for it. 

4. Aim for the Fat Part of the Green

The PGA Tour stats showed one thing to me above all else – when players hit the green, they’re not that close! Think about the GIR percentage… 

• From 200+ yards they only less than 50% of the greens and still have 40 plus feet on average! 
• From 150 yards, they hit a little over 60% of the greens and still have 20 plus feet.
• And from inside 100 yards, they still don’t average inside 10 feet. 

So what’s the point?

If the best players in the world don’t throw darts all day (and they get paid millions of dollars to play golf), why should you?  

The easiest way to hit more greens is to forget the flag entirely. Aim for the widest part of the green and I bet you will be astounded by your green in regulation numbers. 

Will your playing buddies give you grief from time to time? Probably, but I bet you will also be the guy who takes their money at the end of the round too. 

By aiming at the fat part of the green, you will not only hit more greens, but also short side yourself less often. So even if you miss the green, you will have an easier up and down too and not need your short game on fire every round. Not to mention, hitting greens at or above regulation percentage can help your confidence from tee to green.

As you get into wedges and short irons, then you can maybe aim more towards the flag. But for anything longer than a short iron, aim for the middle, accept a 20-30 foot putt, and keep the momentum going.

5. Track Your Stats 

Finally, to hit more greens, it’s super important to track your stats . This way you can learn more about your game and figure out how to practice more efficiently. Since most of us only have so much time to work on our game , it’s important to spend it on your weaknesses.

When you track your stats, you will learn if you need to improve on the putting surface, work on your short game , long irons or hit more fairways. When tracking your round on the course, make sure to:

• Include a statistical category for fairways hit, greens in regulation, up/down percentage, and number of putts.
• Track consistently so you can get averages and practice more efficiently between rounds.
• Notate your common miss-hit as it can be used to manage your miss and quickly improve your score.

Bonus Tip: Get Better on the Putting Surface

The bonus tip isn’t about hitting greens, as the first five tips will help with that a ton. But this tip is preaching the importance of putting when you get on the dance floor. 

Because there is not much more frustrating than hitting a bunch of greens and scoring poorly due to bad putting. Trust me, I’ve been there myself more times than I can count. 

Putting is the not so secret part about scoring well. But I think a misunderstanding that so many golfers have is how many putts they “should” make. 

PGA Tour Putting Averages

The PGA Tour average is 28.95 putts per round. 

Basically, if you can keep it under 30 putts, it is usually going to be a good scoring day for most golfers. 

But proximity to the hole plays a huge role in making sure you avoid three putts. Check out the 2021 putting averages too for the average professional golfer:

• 35+ Feet: .32% make percentage 
• 30-35 Feet: .60% make percentage 
• 25-30 Feet: .88% make percentage 
• 20-25 Feet: 12% make percentage 
• 15-20 Feet: 18% make percentage 
• 10-15 Feet: 29% make percentage 
• 5-10 Feet: 53% make percentage  
• 3-5 Feet: 87% make percentage

When you hit it closer, the odds of a putt dropping are more in your favor. And the best way to give yourself more quality looks is to use the five tips from above. 

Also, here are a few more additional stats that might surprise you: 

• 1 Putts Per Round = 7.15
• 2 Putts Per Round = 10.08 
• 3 Putts Per Round = .54 (less than one 3-putt per round)
• Avg Distance of Birdies = 9.4 feet
• Avg Distance of Eagles = 16.8 feet

FAQs About Greens in Regulation 

Do you have more questions about hitting greens so you can shoot lower scores? If so, hopefully our questions and answers below can help you out even more. 

What is a good percentage of greens in regulation?

It depends on your handicap and skill level more than anything else. Some players might average a few greens in regulation. While others might have a green in regulation number between 6-9 and highly skilled players will be 10 or more. 

Who has the best greens in regulation on the PGA Tour?

If you’ve ever wondered “Who hits the most greens on tour” it’s a great question. The list is constantly changing on a weekly basis, but the 2021 Tour average is 64%. 

That means that PGA Tour players average roughly 11 of 18 greens per round (the European Tour is about the same too). But the breakdown by distances above are a much better way to understand. Since overall distance to the pin has a much bigger impact on total score. 

Click here to check out the latest stats and tournaments for GIR averages.

What’s the PGA Tour record for greens hit?

There have been tons of times when players on the Tour, LPGA Tour, and European Tour have 18/18 greens per round. This is an incredible feat in itself and obviously requires tremendous ball striking. 

And the four round tournament record is 69 of 72 greens according to the Tour’s website ! Here is what they said about this crazy good performance… “As for greens in regulation, the record is 69 of 72 greens for a four-round event. The record belongs to Peter Jacobson (1995 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am) and Jerry Kelly (1996 Walt Disney World Oldsmobile Classic).”

How impressive is that GIR stat? Imagine only having three attempts for saving par and 69 birdie attempts in four days.

But another amazing record is Tiger Woods from his historical season in 2000. What many have dubbed the greatest golf of his career, during that year he found 75.15% of all greens .

This is the highest GIR in regulation percentage ever since the tour began tracking GIR. His average score was also a tour record as well! Needless to say, Tiger Woods’ golf game that year was something we’ll likely never see again.

Does fringe count as a green in regulation?

No, the fringe does not count as green in regulation. Even though you can (and should) putt a majority of your fringe balls, they technically don’t count as a green on your stat sheet.  But in general, putt the ball from the fringe to shoot better scores.

Final Thoughts on Greens in Regulation

Hopefully these stats will show that whenever you’re watching golf on TV, it’s basically the highlight reel. Sure, you will see the occasional bad shot on the big stage (like Ian Poulter hitting shanks) but it’s not often with pro golfers. Instead, they’re showing you the longest drives, the tightest approach shots, and the best putts.

In reality though, the majority of Tour players (both PGA and LPGA Tour) do not get it as close as you think, if they do even find the green. Which should be pretty eye-opening for the casual golfer. And if anything, it should make you feel better about your game by creating realistic expectations about your GIR number for the round. 

So instead of going flag hunting 18 holes in a row, use the five tips to set yourself up for success:

• Hit more fairways by getting a go-to “fairway finder” shot and solid tee box strategy.
• Create a solid pre-shot routine to help you pick the right club and focus on the target. 
• Know your distances as if you were Justin Rose or some other pro you love. A launch monitor is the easiest way to learn your distances for each club and get the ball on the green more often than not.
• Aim for the fat part of the green 90% of the time (or more). Unless you have a wedge or short iron, opt for the middle part of the largest area of the green.
• Tracks your stats so you can learn to improve your first shot and practice efficiently.

The higher your green in regulation number, the less stress you will have and likely much fewer strokes every round too.

Greens in Regulations (GIR): What Is It & How To Improve

Golf is a game of fine margins. You can miss a good putt if it’s only a few centimeters off. Your smashed drive can roll off the fairway and into the thick stuff. The game is so dependent on luck that getting better at it does not always translate to better scores.

This is where different stats come into play. As a general rule of thumb, improving one of these stats can hopefully lead to lower scores. One of the most important stat in golf is Greens in regulation (GIR).

So, what is Greens in regulation (GIR)? Greens in regulation is a stat meaning the number of greens you’ve successfully hit in an 18-hole stretch. With a higher GIR, it’ll be easier to shoot lower scores. You get a greens in regulation point if you hit the green:

• In one shot on a par-3
• In 2 or fewer shots on a par-4
• In 3 or fewer shots on a par-5

But does a high GIR means better scores, or is it a myth?

Let’s dive deeper into how this stat translates to your game and what are some standard GIR percentages among amateurs and professionals.

How Can Hitting Greens in Regulation Help Your Game?

Greens in regulation is a pretty straightforward stat. Suppose you hit all greens in regulation and two-putt every hole; you’ll shoot a par score or better. However, we are talking about golf, so perfection is limited, and luck is always in play.

As the handicap of a golfer rises, the number of greens he hits drops. If the number of greens you can hit in a round drops, the number of birdies or better putts you get also drops, making it hard to shoot lower scores.

Below are average GIR for amateurs:

• +25 handicapper : 3
• 20 – 25 handicapper : 3.5
• 15 – 19 handicapper : 5.1
• 10 – 14 handicapper : 6.9
• 6 – 9 handicapper : 8.5
• 3 – 5 handicapper : 10.2
• 0 – 2 handicapper : 11.8
• +3 – +1 handicapper : 12.6

Essentially, this means that if you want to break ninety, you will at least have to hit 6 to 8 greens. If you’re going to break 80, you will have to hit 9 to 11 greens.

If you’re interested in breaking 80, we’ve written an entire guide on how to break 80  with the right steps.

It’s a myth that better players hit a lot of greens. The above list shows that you do not need to hit an astronomical number of greens to play better rounds. Hitting better scores always comes down to being great around the greens.

However, I was surprised to see the green in regulations numbers across the PGA tour. Seeing how good these professional golfers are at every aspect of the game was eye-opening.

PGA Tour Greens in Regulations Statistics

We are still early into the PGA tour season; however, the PGA tour GIR numbers  stay relatively high and remain the same, although leaders in the specific category might change as the season progresses.

Below are the leaders and average GIR PGA Tour in the past 3 PGA tour seasons.

Note: This data has been obtained from the greens in regulation PGA Tour website

• Tour Average: 66.30% (approx. 12 out of 18 greens per round)
• Leader: Jim Furyk (74.22%)
• Tour Average: 65.14% (approx. 12 out of 18 greens per round)
• Leader: Cameron Percy (72.58%)
• Tour Average: 65.57% (approx. 12 out of 18 greens per round)
• Leader: Scottie Scheffler 72.29%

In the 2022 – 2024 season, Scottie again leads the pack with almost the exact numbers, and the tour average is at a similar position, but it’s still early in the season. What does this tell us?

However, it’s pertinent to note here that professionals hit lower scores because of their ability to scramble and get up and down  and not because they expect to hit a lot of greens. Only if we amateurs could realize that, right?

Don’t let these stats fool you in any way when it comes to skillsets on the PGA tour. The courses these guys play are set up to be long and difficult. Shooting the scores they shoot should not be considered lightly in any way.

GIR Averages: Amateurs vs. Professionals

If we look at the numbers above, we see a tremendous difference between a high handicapper and a low handicapper regarding the number of greens they hit per round.

Even the best of the best in the world do not hit all the greens (they do hit a lot more than us, though). The best in the world are better than us amateurs at converting opportunities into results. The more birdie opportunities they get, the lower they shoot.

Amateurs tend to think they should hit the green from everywhere. Below are some stats from the 2022–2023 season showing a different picture of how accurate professionals actually are.

• GIR Average from > 200 yards: 43.92%
• GIR Average from 175 – 200 yards: 54.67%
• GIR Average from 150 – 175 yards: 63.54%
• GIR Average from 125 – 150 yards: 69.53%
• GIR Average from 100 – 125 yards: 74.94%
• GIR Average from < 100 yards: 85.17%

This tells us that professional golfers make all their money from within a hundred yards, where they are the most accurate.

Outside 200 yards, a professional golfer only hits 4 out of 10 greens. This shows that amateurs have all the opportunity in the world to play better golf; they should have realistic goals on the golf course and gradually move towards better golf.

Every high handicapper should try to hit more greens to get more opportunities for pars and birdies; however, on the upside, we can see that professionals and low handicappers do not hit a lot of greens in regulations.

At the end of the day, the difference is always going to be your short game.

How to Hit More Greens in Regulation?

Let’s break this down into some legitimate tasks you can do on the course and achieve more consistent results. It goes without saying working on your swing will always help you a lot in your approach shot game.

However, the following set of tips will apply no matter how good or bad your swing is:

1. Getting Better At Hitting Fairways

I am going to mention this first thing before anything else. Hitting more fairways can majorly contribute to hitting more greens. This should be a no-brainer, but it’s not.

Amateurs tend to go for everything off the tee. They want to smash the living hell out of that ball on the first shot; it’s rip it or go home. Why?

Chill, man. Think about it. Isn’t it easier to hit shots off the fairway than it is to hit shots off that 3-inch high rough or if you’re behind a tree?

Placement of the tee is vital as it gives you the best chance to deliver a green on your second shot.

Don’t just unconsciously opt for a driver whenever you get on the tee. Look at the hole you’re facing and plan accordingly.

Get into a good position off the tee – your position should give you the best look at the green. Even if you miss your shot off the tee, your trouble should be limited, and you should be able to manage your way around.

Three things you can do to hit more fairways:

• Have a fairway finder. You should have a shot in your bag that you completely trust and can always go to if faced with a tougher tee shot.
• Commit to the shot you’re hitting off the tee. Do not second guess the shot you will hit, and always complete your swing no matter what shot or club you’ve decided to go with.
• You should always get a green in regulation on a par-5. You can get in a good position for your third shot to have a better opportunity for a GIR. Find a good number from where to hit your third shot if you’re trying to lay up. If you’re trying to go for it, commit to your shot and always have a backup plan for your third shot if you mishit your second one.

2. Pre-Shot Routine

If you’ve ever watched professional golf, there’s one thing common among all professional golfers – they always stick to their routines.

Professional golfers have a routine no matter what situation they are faced with. It does not matter where the ball is or what kind of shot they will hit. A routine is something they can always rely on.

However, amateurs get over the ball and have tons of thoughts going over their heads. They never stick to a routine. They just want to get in there and hit the shot.

A pre-shot routine is more than just how you get over the ball. It’s how you teach your body that it’s go time.

When it comes to hitting a perfect shot, the margins are really small. Having the same pre-shot routine signals your body what to do next, and you train your unconscious mind to deliver the club perfectly behind the ball so that you can do it repeatedly.

3. Distance on Your Second Shot

One of the most common faults in amateurs regarding hitting greens is leaving the ball short. They either overestimate their abilities or don’t know their distances.

Looking at all factors affecting distance before hitting your shots is crucial. Factors such as:

All these factors will have an impact on your distance. If you have a good caddy with you, who knows what you can or cannot do, then you’re safe, but if you do not have a good caddy with you, you will have to figure these things out on your own. You will have to make the necessary adjustments to hit your greens.

You should never forget that when it comes to hitting balls on the range, you’re faced with a perfect lie and have no elevation changes. When you take your game to the course, all the above factors come into play, and you must make the necessary adjustments.

4. Aim for The Center of Green

Amateurs want to aim for the pin and hit the ball to about a foot of the hole every time they aim for the green. I hate to tell you, but this is poor planning.

I realize we all want to hit the pin every time we strive for the green, but this is precisely what causes us to miss greens and get into trouble, making bogeys even a hassle.

When aiming for the green, try to go for the fat part of the green. If you’re not inside 100 yards, do not try to go for the pin unless the pin is in a central position.

Try to go for the center of the green cause if you hit a little wayward shot; it still has a chance to get on the green. Hitting the green gives you the best opportunity to secure a par, and golf is all about securing pars. Birdies come on their own.

What Is a Good Greens in Regulation Percentage?

A good green in regulation percentage depends upon your handicap. Following is the number of greens you should be able to hit to improve your handicap:

How Do You Calculate Greens in Regulation?

You get a point for hitting the green with at least two putts remaining to make par. Greens in regulation is a number you get out of 18, depending on the number of greens you hit. In most stats, the number of greens you hit is represented as a percentage of 18 or the total number of holes in consideration.

What is a GIR on a Par 5?

You get the point for the green in regulation on a par five if you hit the green in three or fewer shots. A feat, easier said than done most times. Although, greens in regulation percentages are usually higher on par-5’s.

What Is Tiger Woods’s Average Greens in Regulation?

Tiger Woods’s highest GIR season was in 2000 when he hit 75% of greens. His GIR numbers from 2004 to 2009 were around 70.30%. Since then, his number has dropped due to injuries mostly. In the 2020–2021 season, Tiger averaged 65% of greens in regulation.

What Is The Most Consecutive Greens in Regulation?

The most consecutive greens in regulation is by a LPGA tour player. Jin Young Ko hit an unbelievable 63 green in a row. On the PGA tour, Bob Lohr holds the record for 51 consecutive GIR in 1993.

Final Thoughts on Greens In Regulation

So we’ve reached the end of defining and understanding a pretty important golf stat. So the question arises – does a higher green in regulation number matter? Well, it does, and it doesn’t.

Don’t hit any greens if you have a world-class short game and can get up and down from anywhere. But if you’re like most of us and you suck from around the greens, getting on the green and having putts for pars or birdies is your best opportunity to make them.

Golf is challenging as it is; why make it more complicated, right? Try to hit more greens; follow the tips I gave you. Teach yourself a pre-shot routine, hit more fairways, and you’ll hopefully play great golf and make some birdies on your friends.

Abdul Moiz Minhas

Abdul Moiz is a skilled golfer and professional writer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad and has played golf for over 5 years. He has a handicap index of 18.5, uses TaylorMade Sim driver, and loves his 60-degree wedge. He's tested and reviewed over 50 products and specializes in reviewing budget-friendly golf club sets. You can connect with Abdul at  X , LinkedIn , or [email protected] .

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