The Proper Golfer
Knowledge Center Categories
Statistics: Greens & Fairways
For the new player, using your handicap can be a daunting and confusing task. In this section
of the Knowledge Center, we try and explain some of 'the basics' to help get you started.
On your scorecard, the 'fairways' box stands for fairways hit on the
drive, and the 'greens' box stands for greens hit in regulation. Note that
to they are not required to calculate your handicap - only for purposes to
Greens in Regulation
A par is defined as the number of strokes an
expert player should take to get the ball from the tee into the hole. But, even though the player may be
an expert, they are expected to take two putts on
the green. So on a par 4, an expert is supposed to drive the ball, hit their
next shot onto the green, and two-putt, while on a par 3, an expert should
hit their ball from the tee onto the green and then two-putt.
A 'Green in Regulation' means that you reached the green in
the same manner as the above 'expert.' On a par 4 this means
having your ball on the green after your second shot (lying 2). On a par 5 this
means having your ball on the green lying 3, and on a par 3 this means
driving the green. Note that 'on the green' means on the green - balls lying on the fringe do not count.
So, even though everyone eventually reaches the green, on a par 4 you have
to do it on your second shot for it to count as a 'Green in regulation.'
Fairways Hit on the Drive
This statistic refers to the number of times during the round your drive landed
in the fairway (the fairway, not the light rough). It is similar to the greens in regulation, except that the
maximum number per round is less than 18. This is due to the fact that you are
supposed to drive the green on a par 3, and as a result we don't count those holes
for the fairways statistic. At the bottom of your scorecard, we calculate,
as a %, the total # of fairways hit on the drive out of 14 (average # of par
3's on the course).
Most people like to track this number because, in combination with Greens in Regulation
and Putts per Hole, it gives them an indication of the weaker parts of their game. For example, if you have high percentages for the first two,
but you hit, on average, too many putts per hole, you have an indication
that you should spend more time on the practice green than on the range with
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