What Is A Good Round?

What is a good round of golf? How should golfers measure a good round versus a mediocre or bad round?

As golfers, we tend to focus on score as the determining factor for a good round. Score is the ultimate measure of a round. Golfers are always trying to break through scoring barriers like breaking 100, 90, 80, etc. Shooting your age becomes a goal for good players as they get older. The lower the score, the better the round.

Score is achieved shot by shot and hole by hole. Every hole has a par which is the ideal target score. The goal is to get the ball into the hole with fewest attempts in relation to par. This sounds oversimplified and obvious, but it is the object of the sport. Every hole presents different challenges with length, shape, bunkers, water, etc. to challenge golfers, but the object of the game remains the same; get the ball in the hole in as few attempts as possible.

If the goal of the sport is to get the ball in the hole in as few attempts as possible, then a good round accomplishes this goal relative to a golfer’s ability. The better a golfer can accomplish this, the lower the score. Again, this sounds obvious and oversimplified.

Lower scores tend to occur when players are hitting the ball well. Higher scores tend to occur when players are not hitting the ball well. I know, I know. I’m being Captain Obvious.

Just bear with me for a minute.

A few weeks ago, I played two days in a row. Day 1 I hit beautiful high draws. My irons were struck solidly. I putted well (speed was really good) but didn’t make a lot of putts. During the round, I made three poor swings. In each case, I was unable to salvage par. I shot one over par.

Day 2 I felt confident based on my ball-striking the day before, but this is golf. I struggled to find the clubface all day with my driver and my irons. I attempted to make adjustments with my contact, but nothing seemed to click until the last two holes of the day. On Day 1, I made three poor swings all day. On Day 2, I made three good swings all day. I managed to scramble and putt well leading to a three over par round.

So, if the goal is to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible relative to a golfer’s ability, which was the better round?

Based on score alone, Day 1 is the better round, but, I would argue, Day 2 was the better round despite the higher score. Here’s why.

My ability to get the ball in the hole in fewer shots was better on Day 1. When I examine the round, one over par is the worst score I could have shot. I made three bogeys from the three poor swings I made. In each case, I wasn’t in a situation where par wasn’t a realistic score. I was simply unable to save par. Of the two birdies I made, one was a two-putt birdie. The eagle attempt was a ten-foot putt which just missed. The other birdie was a kick in from two feet. I made nothing from outside four feet all day. I easily could have been under par.

Day 2 was the complete opposite. My ability to get the ball in the hole in relation to par was not good. I struggled all day making solid contact. My driver started the day going left. I over corrected, and it started going right. The two I managed to get right came on the last two drives of the day. My irons were pretty much the same until the last two holes of the round. My short game, particularly my putter, salvaged the round. Unlike Day 1, I was able to get up and down consistently. When I finally hit good drives and irons shots on the last two holes, I finished birdie - birdie to close out the round and shoot three-over. Upon reflection, this was probably the best score I could have shot based on my ability Day 2. I could have easily been four or five shots worse.

Most golfers will still think Day 1 is the better round. I get it. It’s the lower score which is ultimately what we are all after. Plus, the swing felt great, and the ball-striking felt terrific. The round felt stress free. It felt more satisfying during the round. Day 2 was a higher score which we don’t want. The round created stress. Nothing felt right. The ball-striking was off. Aggravation best describes the feeling as the round progressed.

However, upon reflection, I found Day 2 more satisfying. I minimized potentially high scores. I played smart despite my poor ball-striking. While I was frustrated with the poor contact, I let it go and focused on the next shot. I never let myself quit on the round. I kept trying to shoot the best score I possibly could. That, to me, is what the measure of a good round really is. Shooting the best possible score with the game you have on a particular day.

A lower score looks better on paper. It usually feels better during the round. But a higher score is sometimes a better round. It depends on your ability on that particular day. Somedays you just have to grind.

As always, be thankful when you get to play this amazing game. Be grateful for every shot. Appreciate every moment on the course. Now, go golf!