What Is The Average Amateur Score On A Par 3, Par 4 And Par 5?
Every golfer has their own understanding of what a 'good' score is on a par 3, par 4 and par 5 - but how does that compare to the statistical average?
Do you score better on par 3s, par 4s or par 5s? If you are not sure, it's time to start collecting and utilising that data.
Comparing your scoring on the course against previous rounds is a great way to get started, but you could also benchmark yourself against the average amateur golfer at your handicap index.
This is a useful exercise to help you shoot lower scores and cut your handicap in 2026, as it allows you to identify areas for development and create a robust plan for practice sessions at the driving range.
Well, we've done the hard work for you... or, at least, Shot Scope has.
After crunching the numbers from the latest 2026 Shot Scope data, we can now reveal how golfers at different handicap indexes perform on par 3s, par 4s and par 5s - and the scoring patterns of the average amateur golfer!
Average Amateur Golfer Scores On A Par 3, Par 4 And Par 5
According to data provided by Shot Scope, collected via measured rounds from its registered users, the average amateur golfer scores 3.7 on par 3 holes.
On par 4s, the average score is 4.9 and on par 5s the average sits at 5.8.
Interestingly, if you round those averages up to the nearest whole number - the average amateur golfer is playing bogey golf.
So, the next time you walk off disappointed with a bogey - perhaps it's time for a reality check.
Clearly, not all golfers score in line with the average player.
High-handicap golfers are almost always scoring at least one shot over par on each type of hole, whereas low handicap players average less than half a shot over par.
You can see a full breakdown on scoring by handicap index and hole type below.
Average Score Par 3 vs Par 4 vs Par 5
Average Score By Amateur Golfers (By Handicap) On Par 3s, Par 4s and Par 5s
Average Score (Par 3)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| 0-handicap | 3.2 |
| 5-handicap | 3.4 |
| 10-handicap | 3.7 |
| 15-handicap | 3.9 |
| 20-handicap | 4 |
| 25-handicap | 4.2 |
Average Score (Par 4)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| 0-handicap | 4.2 |
| 5-handicap | 4.5 |
| 10-handicap | 4.8 |
| 15-handicap | 5.1 |
| 20-handicap | 5.4 |
| 25-handicap | 5.9 |
Average Score (Par 5)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| 0-handicap | 4.8 |
| 5-handicap | 5.3 |
| 10-handicap | 5.6 |
| 15-handicap | 6 |
| 20-handicap | 6.3 |
| 25-handicap | 7 |
But, what else does the data tell us?
The first interesting finding is that par-5 scoring is heavily biased towards the lower- handicap player. This is no doubt due to the extra length they tend to have at their disposal.
A scratch golfer, for example, averages a score of 4.8 on par 5s, whereas a 25-handicapper averages a score of 7.0 – a double-bogey.
On a par 3, however, a 25-handicap golfer only averages 1.2 shots over par.
Another interesting nugget is that every ability of golfer has a higher average score relative to par on par 4s versus on par 3s and par 5s.
This will likely be down to the sheer volume of par 4s golfers play compared to the par 3s and par 5s, which typically only make up for around 40% of a course set-up.
Benchmarking yourself against the averages could help to identify areas of strength and weakness in your game
The final takeaway from the Shot Scope data is that par 3s make up the lowest increase in score relative to par, the highest being a 25-handicapper at 1.2 higher than par.
So, while it's clear every ability of golfer could do with improving their strategy on par 4s and keeping double bogeys off the card, some extra distance would clearly make a big difference for higher handicap players on par 5s.
Hopefully, this has provided you some food for thought as to the holes that require the most attention the next time you play.
