The short version: the National Golf Foundation puts the average 18-hole score at 94 for golfers who keep score. Shot Scope's tracked golfers cluster in the mid-to-high 80s. The average Handicap Index is 14.2 for men and 28.7 for women. They fit together once you see who each one counted.
The ChartAverage golf score, by who counted
| Who counted | Average score | Who is in the group |
|---|---|---|
| National Golf Foundation (NGF) | 94 | The approximately 20 million U.S. golfers who keep score. NGF says they tend to shoot in the mid-90s. |
| NGF, as cited by Golf365 | About 94 | Men and women in the U.S. Golf365 says NGF's monthly and annual participation surveys covered more than 36,000 golfers. |
| Older NGF research | Around 100 | Research from decades ago. NGF notes it had a smaller sample size. |
| Shot Scope, 2025 season | Mid-to-high 80s | Amateur golfers in 124 countries who track their rounds with Shot Scope: over 870,000 rounds and upward of 74 million shots. |
Source: National Golf Foundation, "Who's keeping score" (posted August 15, 2024); Golf365, "What is the handicap of an average golfer" (September 18, 2024); Shot Scope's annual report as described by Northern Golfer, Golf Today and First Call Golf (February to March 2026).
The NGF figure counts people who write down a score. The same page says more than three-quarters of U.S. golfers (77%) keep score regularly, that 6 million-plus golfers are not interested in keeping score, and that more than half of golfers suggest they take scoring liberties such as mulligans, breakfast balls and gimmes.
Shot Scope's group is golfers who chose to track their rounds with a device or app, which is a more committed group than the typical weekend player. The coverage of its report describes where most rounds fall, not a single average, so no single figure is printed here.
HandicapAverage Handicap Index, by report
| Report | Men | Women | Golfers counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| USGA data for 2020, via GOLF.com (Sept 2020) | 14.2 | 27.5 | GHIN, the USGA's handicap network: more than 2 million registered golfers |
| USGA data for 2021, via GOLF.com (Jan 2022) | 14 | 27.7 | 2,305,672 men and 544,712 women who kept a handicap through the USGA |
| 2021 figures as given by Golf News Net (Dec 2024) | 13.7 | 27.3 | Not stated |
| USGA, via Golf News Net (Dec 2024) | 14.2 | 28.7 | 3.35 million U.S. golfers with an index: slightly more than 2.7 million men, just shy of 650,000 women |
| Same 14.2 and 28.7, via Golf365 (Sept 2024) | 14.2 | 28.7 | Golf365 credits Golf Journal and says about 3.2 million U.S. players post scores |
Source: GOLF.com, "This is the average handicap index among golfers in the United States" (January 22, 2022) and "How your handicap index compares" (September 9, 2020), both reporting USGA data; Golf News Net, "What is the average USGA handicap index for golfers?" (December 18, 2024); Golf365 (September 18, 2024).
The reports disagree on 2021. GOLF.com gives 14 for men and 27.7 for women, while the later Golf News Net piece gives 13.7 and 27.3 for the same year. Both are shown.
On how many golfers carry an index, NGF says more than 3.2 million U.S. golfers have an active, official handicap index, a total that has risen 23% since the World Handicap System launched in 2020. NGF also says almost 11% of male golfers and about 2% of female golfers have an index of 4.9 or less.
Using itHow to use this page
Pick the row that matches how you play. If you post scores and have a Handicap Index, compare yourself with the index rows: 14.2 for men and 28.7 for women in the latest report. If you play and write down a total, the NGF 94 is the closer match. If you track every shot with a watch or app, the Shot Scope range is your group.
A Handicap Index is not a score. It is measured against course difficulty, so it does not turn into a round total by adding par. For scores at each handicap level, see golf stats by handicap, and for how far each level hits the ball, the club distance chart.
For a sense of where an index ranks: in the 2020 GOLF.com report on USGA data, a men's index of 4.9 or better was the top 10 percent, and a women's index of 14.9 or better was the top 10 percent of women.
Watch forCommon mix-ups
94 is not everyone's average. It covers golfers who keep score. NGF says millions more do not, and that some of those who do take liberties on the card.
The index average is not the average of all golfers. Golf365 notes that Handicap Index holders skew toward more seriously engaged golfers, and that millions of regular recreational golfers do not keep score.
Old and new handicap figures are not one trend line. The 2020, 2021 and 2024 numbers come from different reports with different counts. Compare them with care.
Shot Scope and NGF are not in conflict. A mid-to-high 80s cluster and a 94 average describe different groups of people.
FAQQuick answers
What is the average golf score for an amateur?
The NGF says 94 for U.S. golfers who keep score. Shot Scope's tracked golfers cluster in the mid-to-high 80s, and older NGF research suggested around 100.
What is the average Handicap Index?
The latest report gives 14.2 for men and 28.7 for women. In 2020 the USGA data reported by GOLF.com gave 14.2 for men and 27.5 for women.
Why do the sources give such different answers?
They counted different people: golfers who keep score, golfers who track rounds with Shot Scope, and golfers who carry a Handicap Index. None of those groups is the average weekend player.
How many golfers have a Handicap Index?
NGF says more than 3.2 million U.S. golfers have an active, official index. Golf News Net reports 3.35 million, with slightly more than 2.7 million men and just shy of 650,000 women.
What handicap puts me in the top 10 percent?
In the 2020 GOLF.com report on USGA data, 4.9 or better for men and 14.9 or better for women. That is one year of data, so the cutoffs may have moved since.
Where can I see scores and distances by handicap?
See golf stats by handicap for scoring and short-game numbers, and the club distance chart for carry distances.