In the world of golf, every swing, every putt and every hole offers up a treasure trove of data if we want to see it. From your driving distance to your putting accuracy, these statistics provide invaluable insights into your performance on the course. But what if I told you that the same data-driven approach that helps refine your golf game could also transform your personal and professional life? In this edition of "From Fairways to Pathways," we explore how leveraging statistics and data not only enhances your golf performance but also cultivates a mindset geared towards continuous improvement and success in all areas of life. By understanding the numbers and what they reveal about your habits and tendencies, you can make informed decisions, set realistic goals and track your progress towards achieving them.
So, let's dive into the world of statistics and data and discover how these powerful tools can help you unlock your true potential on the golf course and way beyond.
“Data is a tool for enhancing intuition.”
Data is often heralded as the key to making better decisions. But there's a deeper, more nuanced perspective that sees data not just as a cold, analytical resource, but as a powerful enhancer of our natural intuition. Hilary Mason (a Data Scientist) sees data as a tool for enhancing our intuition. So perhaps, data and intuition are not mutually exclusive and can work in tandem to improve our understanding and decision-making processes.
Intuition is our ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning. It is shaped by our experiences, knowledge and our subconscious. Whereas data provides us with concrete, objective information that can either support or challenge our intuitive insights. When we use data to inform our intuition, we bridge the gap between the abstract feeling and the concrete facts. The data provides the groundwork that allows our intuition to flourish. It gives us the confidence to trust our gut feelings in the moment, knowing that they are supported by factual evidence. So using data can help build our practice regime, inform us with factual information, so that we can let go and trust our intuition when we’re playing on the course.
Golf is a numbers game and I’ve got plenty!
Driving distances. Fairways in Regulation (FiR). Greens in Regulation (GiR). Up and downs. Putting averages. One putts. Three putts. Total putts. Missed putts, made putts and on and on it goes. The numbers are everywhere. So you’d be forgiven for getting overwhelmed at times with the sheer volume of statistics at our disposal.
I don’t want to be chasing a Greens in Regulation stat during a match.
When I’m playing, I just want to ‘be’.
So why collect the numbers in the first place? Why not just ignore them?
I collect and use statistics as a guide. I try not to get hung up on them. I try not to let them get in my way when I’m playing and that’s very important to me. I want data to make an impact on my practice, to give me guidance on areas of focus and to form part of my debrief.
Stats also form part of my motivation for next time. I like to see the whole picture in my mind - the good and the bad. I want everything that makes up my story of that particular round, however I don't use the numbers as a stick to punish myself for poor performance.
I will look at the surrounding reasons why I had a certain number and why that might have been the case. I look at where the number created a further problem down the road.
For example, say I had a high number of 3-putts for a round, I would look a little deeper. How far from the pin on average was my first putt? If I’m 3 putting from 10 feet, that shows I need to work a little harder on the practice area from this distance. Perhaps I need to practise more 2 foot putts and listen for the ball hitting the bottom of the cup to build up confidence from 2 feet away. But let’s say my first putt was on average 40-50 feet away. Yes, I could focus on longer putts, perhaps my distance control for very long putts needs some work. Or, by looking at the numbers, it shows that I’m leaving the majority of my approaches 40-50 feet away. That’s a clear indicator to me, that it’s my pitching and my wedge play that needs work. If I can get my wedges closer, perhaps this will reduce those 3 putts.
So the numbers have provided me with some basic facts, that with a little further interrogation, have pointed to a possible area of improvement that I hadn’t thought of.
I also widen this area of analysis to consider the way I was thinking in the moment. Where was my head in that exact moment? Did I feel confident, happy, annoyed, calm, frustrated, embarrassed. How did I feel at that point, how was I behaving, what was my mental attitude like?
Now recording and analysing your stats can help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses in plenty of different aspects of your game and understanding where you excel and where you struggle will allow you to focus your practice and, over time, will effectively lead to a tangible improvement.
What else does a better understanding of the numbers do? For me, it generates a little more self-awareness. Your self-awareness muscle is where improvement begins. This first step of building a better understanding of you, how you think and how you behave, is how you start to foster a growth mindset, which in turn encourages you to embrace challenges a little more openly and keep going in the face of inevitable setbacks.
In our lives, if I'm late for one meeting, the traffic might have been bad. If I'm late for five meetings in a row over the course of a week, then I need to address my time management. So what we're talking about here is examining your stats over a period of time to identify patterns in behaviour that will positively impact your performance.
Statistics can reset our expectations to help us relax and perform
I imagine you’ve heard plenty of players say things like “as a ‘BLANK’ handicapper, I need to be hitting more greens in regulation.” or, “as a ‘BLANK’ handicapper, I shouldn’t be getting so many 3-putts”.
What are those judgments based upon? I bet for most people it’s perception rather than fact.
What if I said, I know lots of low single figure golfers who hardly hit any greens in regulation, but I guarantee they're managing to get up and down 75% of the time. Do you think they're bemoaning their lack of GiR, or celebrating how good they are around the greens?
Our perception of ourselves is often extremely skewed towards what we think we SHOULD be doing, how we think we SHOULD be performing - based on nothing more than conjecture and opinion. In these scenarios, statistics can provide us a broader perspective on our game beyond an individual round or an isolated incident. You can look at the real numbers from a broad spectrum of handicap ranges and see exactly where you “should” be, helping to contextualise performance within a larger more realistic framework.
Statistical Deep Dive - what are the stats and where do we fit in?
So let’s look at some official data - from the brilliant people at ShotScope - let’s reframe our expectations and put a mirror up to our own performance to see where we fir.
We have a cross section of players, broken down by handicap:
20 handicap
15 handicap
1-9 handicap (single digit)
Scratch golfer
So let’s start by looking at the average Greens in Regulation per 18 holes. This is the average number of greens hit in a single round.
Handicap level | GiR per round |
20 Handicap | 2.9 |
15 Handicap | 4.1 |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 8.3 |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 11.2 |
What is your initial impression when looking at these numbers? If you’re surprised that they’re so low then this article is going to help your performance. If you thought “how can a scratch golfer only hit 11 greens in a round of 18?”, then keep reading. This is why the numbers can help. If you’re a 15 handicap, expecting to hit over 10 greens a round, you need to readjust your thinking and your expectations. A 15 handicap is closer to making 4 out of 18 GiR. Those are the numbers and that’s ok. Manage your expectations. As a side note: the average number for a PGA Tour Pro is 13. So find where you are in the range, manage your expectations and let go of the fake narrative you’ve created.
What is the average score on par threes? Let’s take a closer look.
Handicap level | Par 3 scoring |
20 Handicap | 4.1 |
15 Handicap | 3.8 |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 3.4 |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 3.2 |
The stats will tell you, that par 3s are generally regarded as the most difficult holes on the golf course. This is because the opportunities for birdies or eagles are very slim, in comparison to some par 4s or par 5s. So just because a hole is short, start managing your expectations with regard to Par 3s especially - it's clear to see even scratch golfers are only just walking away with par on average.
This one is about on average, where are our approach shots missing the green? Every time we miss an approach shot, are we missing it long or are we missing it short?
Handicap level | % missed long | % missed short |
20 Handicap | 16% | 49.8% |
15 Handicap | 17.2% | 42.8% |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 13.6% | 29.4% |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 12.5% | 20% |
So this tells a great story about where we all miss. Every single handicap player misses the majority of the greens they attack, short. Now, perhaps we're leaving ourselves too much to do off the tee. But if I tell you this data is based on approach shots from 150 yards - the old adage of Never Up Never In comes into sharp focus - but EVERYONE does it, so manage your expectations when it comes to your approaches.
The next stat is the average short game approach and the proximity to the pin. So two sets of numbers from 20 yards away and from between 20 and 40 yards away.
Handicap level | From 20 yards away | Between 20 - 40 yards away |
20 Handicap | 11ft 6in | 25 feet |
15 Handicap | 11 feet | 23 feet |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 9 feet | 17 feet |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 7ft 6in | 14 feet |
So the quality of approach shots is so much better from 20 feet away than it is from 20 to 40 feet away. It's almost perfectly double if you look across the numbers. So if your three putt stats are poor, but you keep leaving yourself 40 yard pitch shots instead of 20 yard chip shots, you might be able to see why. It might not be your putting that needs an overhaul, it might be your iron play and your approach play into the greens.
How often do we make the dreaded three putts? This is the data for the average number of holes for every three putt that we make.
Handicap level | Nr of 3 putts per 18 holes |
20 Handicap | 8.2 |
15 Handicap | 10.5 |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 21 |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 39 |
On average, a scratch golfer is playing just over two rounds of golf, into his third round, before he three putts. Whereas a 20 handicapper is on average making just over two, three putts every round. Illustrating once more, you can manage your expectations very easily by studying these numbers in order to stop beating yourself up about performance that doesn’t actually line up with the facts.
Finally, let’s have a look at “never up never in”. This is the percentage of missed putts from 5 feet or more that finish either short of the hole or past the hole.
Handicap level | % missed long | % missed short |
20 Handicap | 41% | 59% |
15 Handicap | 42% | 58% |
1-9 Handicap (single digit) | 48% | 52% |
Scratch Golfer 0-+ | 57% | 43% |
Let’s say it again, never up, never in. It is only the scratch golfers who put the majority of their missed five foot putts past the hole. Every single other category leaves the majority of their missed five foot putts short of the hole. So the chance of actually making those five foot putts is extremely low.
So clearly recording your stats will give you a picture of things you did well or the things you could improve. It's so important to remember that these patterns don't define you. If you're putting statistics are lower than your expectations, don't start telling yourself that you're a bad putter. Instead, ask yourself what areas you can work on to improve those putting stats, ask yourself relevant questions, remain curious and not judgemental.
The numbers will tell you more than one story. It's just about whether you're willing to let go of the narrative you've created for yourself.
If you tell yourself you're a bad putter, I guarantee you'll be able to find the numbers to back up that sentiment.
Stats are for life, not just for golf
As we have discussed, us golfers can use stats and data to track our performance metrics to refine our game and improve and we can apply the same principles to our daily lives to achieve personal growth and success. Let’s take a look at what we mean.
Use data to identify patterns
Just like in golf, where identifying patterns in your play can highlight strengths and weaknesses, tracking your personal statistics can reveal patterns in your behaviour. For example, you might discover that you are most productive at a certain time of day or that certain activities consistently boost your mood. Recognizing these patterns allows you to optimise your schedule and routines for better efficiency and happiness.
Making informed decisions
Data-driven decision-making is a powerful strategy. By analysing the statistics you gather, you can make more informed choices. For example, if you’re managing a budget, understanding your spending habits through detailed tracking can help you identify areas where you can save money. Similarly, if you're working on improving your work-life balance, tracking the time you spend on various activities can help you allocate your time more effectively.
Tracking progress
One of the most motivating aspects of using statistics is the ability to track your progress over time. Just as golfers use scorecards to measure improvement, keeping a record of your personal statistics allows you to see how far you’ve come. Whether it’s in your fitness journey, career advancement, or learning new skills, tracking progress provides a sense of achievement and encourages you to stay committed to your goals.
Adapting and adjusting
Life, like golf, is unpredictable and requires constant adjustment. Regularly reviewing your personal statistics allows you to adapt your strategies as needed. If you notice that your initial plan isn’t yielding the desired results, the data you’ve collected can help you pinpoint what’s not working and adjust your approach accordingly. This flexibility is crucial for long-term success and resilience.
By incorporating the practice of tracking statistics into your daily life, you gain a clearer understanding of your actions and their outcomes. This self-awareness fosters a proactive approach to personal development, where you can continually refine and improve your strategies to achieve your goals. Just as golfers fine-tune their swings and techniques based on their performance data, you can use the insights gained from your personal statistics to create a better, more fulfilling life.
If you’d like to learn more about the shared lessons of golf and life, take a listen to the Positive Golf Mindset Podcast 🎙️
You can download a FREE copy of my Goal Setting Workbook📖
Contact me to book your FREE mini session here👈 Let’s spend some time understanding and breaking down your own barriers, the things that are getting in the way of achieving your goals. I’ll hold you accountable for your own development and support you on your journey.
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