Golf term
Scoring Average
Scoring average is the mean number of strokes a golfer takes per round, calculated across a defined set of rounds.
Scoring average is the most familiar golf performance number but the least diagnostic. It tells you where your game sits overall without revealing which part of your game produced the result. Two players with identical scoring averages can have completely different strengths and weaknesses. Strokes gained breaks the score into its component parts — off the tee, approach, around the green, and putting — so you can see the cause, not just the effect.
On the PGA Tour, scoring average is adjusted for course and field difficulty. For amateurs, the equivalent summary measure is Handicap Index, which normalises scores for course rating and slope. Neither number tells you what to practice — that's what strokes gained data is for.
Sources
Related terms & guides
Glossary
Handicap Index
A Handicap Index is a portable measure of a golfer's demonstrated ability, calculated by the USGA World Handicap System from the best score differentials in a rolling window of recent rounds.
Strokes Gained
Strokes Gained Explained: The Complete Guide
Strokes gained measures every shot against a benchmark of expected scores, revealing exactly where you gain or lose strokes versus a chosen standard — instead of guessing from fairways, greens, and putts.
Glossary
Par
Par is the predetermined number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to need to complete a hole or an entire round, accounting for two putts on each green.
Guide
How to Track Your Golf Stats
Guide
How to Lower Your Handicap With Data