A Survey of golfers just like you

As was mentioned in my last blog, I seek out my current and prospective students and ask them to assess their current golf game in several areas.

The National Golf Foundation has done this similar inquiry and I thought you would like to see what others who play golf are saying about how they are approaching the game.  What do they think, how often do they play, what do they buy?

Let's take a peak to find out.

The average American golfer…

• Is 46 years old

• Practices one hour and 11 minutes per week

• Has an average household income of over $110,000

• Plays 46 rounds per year

• Has probably called a penalty on themself (90 percent said they’ve done it at least once)

• Has a handicap of 15.1 (though I have seen the average score higher from reliable sources)

• Loses 1.3 balls per round

• Has played for 23 years
What else was found in research:

TYPICAL DRIVE
TOUR PRO: 291 yards (current tour average leader is 316 yards)
AVG. JOE: 235 yards

RATIO OF HITTING THE GREEN OR FRINGE FROM 100-150 YARDS
TOUR PRO: 79% 
AVG. JOE: 50%

MEDIAN 'LEAVE' FROM HOLE, 125 YARDS OUT IN FAIRWAY
TOUR PRO: 24 feet 
AVG. JOE: 47 feet

MEDIAN 'LEAVE' FROM HOLE, 175 YARDS OUT IN FAIRWAY
TOUR PRO: 32 feet 
AVG. JOE: 71 feet

UP-AND-DOWN SUCCESS, 20-60 YARDS IN FAIRWAY
TOUR PRO: 54% 
AVG. JOE: 15%

UP-AND-DOWN SUCCESS, FROM GREENSIDE BUNKERS
TOUR PRO: 41% 
AVG. JOE: 16%

TOTAL LENGTH OF PUTTS HOLED IN TYPICAL ROUND
TOUR PRO: 77 feet 
AVG. JOE: 49 feet

WHY DO YOU PLAY GOLF?
54% I love the challenge the game presents
21% It’s a great way to spend time with good friends
9% I love the feeling of a well-struck shot
9% I love trying to beat my best score
3% I love being outdoors

WOULD YOU TAKE A YEAR OFF OF YOUR LIFE IN ORDER TO BECOME A SCRATCH GOLFER?
No:61%
Yes:39%

HOW MANY DRINKS DO YOU CONSUME IN A TYPICAL ROUND?
67% None
22% 1-2 drinks
8% 3-4 drinks
3% More than 4 drinks
37% Believe they play better with a drink or two

YOU SAID IT
“Three beers makes three-footers a lot easier for me.”

DO YOU PLAY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC COURSES?

53% Mostly public courses
19% Public/private courses equally
17% Public courses only
10% Mostly private courses
1% Private courses only

WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST ON-COURSE PEEVE?
64% Slow players
12% Poor course conditions
10% Others talking on their cell phones
6% Others talking during setup/backswing
5% Someone not yelling “Fore!”
1% No cart girl

WHAT YOU BELIEVE…
HOW MUCH BETTER CAN YOU GET?
I’m really good, but I could shave a stroke or two: 17%
With time and practice, I could get a lot better: 78%
I’m as good as I can be; I can’t improve: 5%

NEARLY NINE IN 10 OF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR BEST GOLF AWAITS
Yes, the best of my game is yet to come 87%
No, I am as good as I can be 13%

HAS MODERN EQUIPMENT SAVED YOU THREE OR MORE STROKES?
YES: 55%
NO: 16%
I DON’T KNOW: 29%

YOU SAID IT
“There’s no question that drivers and hybrids are worlds better than the crap I used 20 years ago. But modern putters do nothing. It’s all hype.”

4 hours: How long a typical round lasts
3.6 hours: How long a typical round should last

WHAT SHOT MAKES YOU THE MOST NERVOUS?
A long bunker shot 28%
A short putt in a close match 21%
Any shot over water 17%
First tee shot of the day 13%
Hitting in front of strangers 13%
Other 8%

YOU SAID IT
“Going low is great, but there’s no better feeling in golf than controlling the ball and putting it where you want to. It’s that feeling of control that brings me back.”

WHEN ARE YOU HAPPIEST ON THE GOLF COURSE?
When shooting a career low: 15%
Playing with my favorite golf buddy: 18%
When I hit the ball well, regardless of my score: 67%

POSITIVE THINKERS
Nearly 80 percent of you believe you can drop several strokes, and almost 90 percent think your best scores are yet to come.

HOW YOU PLAY & PRACTICE…
WHAT AREA DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE TO SHOOT LOWER SCORES?
31% Short game and putting
17% Swing mechanics
15% Mid-to-long-irons and woods
10% Driving
10% Mental game
5% Course management
12% Other
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The above information is pretty interesting to read and as an avid golfer you probably fit into some of these answers.

What is striking about this information when I present it to my students is that they believe most golfers drive it over the average of 235 yards that is correlated above here in the survey.  Most players I speak to are surprised by the distances from the hole that the average player leaves an approach shot inside 110 yards.

What is even more surprising to me is this information from players:

WHAT AREA DO YOU NEED TO IMPROVE TO SHOOT LOWER SCORES?
31% Short game and putting
17% Swing mechanics
15% Mid-to-long-irons and woods
10% Driving
10% Mental game
5% Course management
12% Other

Most players I coach do not focus enough on the short game and putting, even though the survey above suggests they know they should.  The 10% driving answer is something most golfers really believe a higher number than they actually admit in the survey.  

5% state their course management needs improvement.  I give over 200 playing lessons on the course a year and I can certainly tell you that 75% of players need better course management (more like 90%).

Then  of course 10% of players believe they could improve on their mental game.  This by far is the way too low, 100% of golfers need a better approach to the mental game.  The mental game is such a huge factor especially when the player gets their 3 Swing Performance Areas under control.  At that point golf becomes 80% mental.  Any good golfer who plays under 75 will tell you you the better you play the more your mental faults you have show up like a boulder rolling down a steep hill. 

That is a lot of information to be digested but it is another way for your to review your game and set your goals for 2019.