What does 67 mean in golf?

In golf, 67 is a score that indicates how many total strokes a player took to complete a round or specific holes. It is made up of two numbers – the first being the number of strokes taken on the par 5s, and the second being the strokes taken on the par 3s. Let’s break it down further:

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The Format of a Golf Score

In golf, scores are typically written as a pair of numbers, like 67, 78, or 93. The first number represents the total number of strokes a player took on all the par 5 holes (holes with a par of 5 strokes). The second number represents the total strokes on the par 3 holes (holes with a par of 3).

For example, if a player took 5 strokes on each par 5, and 3 strokes on each par 3, their score for those holes would be 67. The breakdown is:

On the par 5s (usually 4 par 5 holes on a course), they took 5 strokes on each hole. So 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 total strokes on the par 5s.
On the par 3s (usually 4 par 3 holes on a course), they took 3 strokes on each hole. So 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 total strokes on the par 3s.

Therefore, their total score would be the 20 strokes on the par 5s and the 12 strokes on the par 3s, giving us 67.

What Does 67 Mean?

Specifically, a golf score of 67 over a full round indicates:

On the par 5 holes (usually 4 per course), the player took 6 strokes on each hole. 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24 total strokes on the par 5s.

On the par 3 holes (usually 4 per course), they took 7 strokes on each hole. 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28 total strokes on the par 3s.

Added together, 24 strokes on the par 5s and 28 strokes on the par 3s equals a total score of 67.

Scoring Relative to Par

This score of 67 over 18 holes indicates the player scored:

+1 over par on each par 5 hole (par is 5, they took 6 strokes)
+4 over par on each par 3 hole (par is 3, they took 7 strokes)

Scoring about 1 stroke over par on par 5 holes indicates decent but not great performance on those longer holes. However, being 4 strokes over par on each par 3 indicates struggles on those shorter holes that require more precise shots into the green.

Evaluating the 67 Score

In summary, a golf score of 67 reflects:

Decent par 5 play, averaging 1 over par on the longer holes
Subpar par 3 play, averaging 4 over on the shorter holes

An overall score that is above an average or “good” recreational golfer’s typical score

While the par 5 scoring is respectable, the higher strokes on the par 3s indicate issues like inconsistent tee shots, trouble hitting greens, and poor short game around the greens. Improving the ability to hit short-range shots and get up and down around the green would help lower this golfer’s scores.

How Scoring works in Golf

To fully understand a golf score like 67, it helps to know the basics of how scoring works in a round of golf:

A full round typically consists of 18 holes
Each hole is assigned a par – the expected number of strokes to complete the hole
Pars are set based on the hole’s length and difficulty. Typical pars are:

Par 3: Short holes, like 100-250 yards
Par 4: Medium holes, like 250-475 yards
Par 5: Long holes, like 475+ yards

On each hole, the player aims to meet par with their total strokes
Scores are written stroke total on par 5s – stroke total on par 3s
The goal is to take as few strokes per hole as possible

Knowing the pars for each hole and the conventions for writing golf scores allows you to understand the meaning of scores like 67 over a full round.

Common Golf Scores and What They Mean

Here are some other common golf scores and what they indicate about a player’s performance:

Score of 76

Par 5 holes: 6 strokes on each (6 over par)

Par 3 holes: 4 strokes on each (1 over par)
Reflects solid par 3 play, struggling slightly on par 5s

Score of 83

Par 5 holes: 7 strokes per hole (2 over par)

Par 3 holes: 5 strokes per hole (2 over par)
Indicates below average performance on all hole lengths

Score of 59

Par 5 holes: 4 strokes per hole (1 under par)

Par 3 holes: 3 strokes per hole (par)
A very good score, playing under par on the longer holes

As demonstrated above, golf scores encapsulate a player’s performance across different hole lengths and difficulties. Understanding the format and pars allows you to interpret any golf score.

How Does 67 Compare to Different Handicaps?

To further understand a golf score of 67, it helps to compare it to what players of different skill levels typically shoot. Here’s how a score of 67 generally stacks up for players with different handicaps:

Scratch Golfer (0 handicap)

A scratch golfer with a 0 handicap index would consider 67 a high score, maybe 8-10 strokes above their average round.

These highly skilled players typically shoot scores in the 60s or low 70s. So shooting a 67 with 6s and 7s would reflect an uncharacteristically poor round.

10 Handicap Golfer

For a golfer with about a 10 handicap index, a score of 67 would be on the higher side of average. These intermediate-skill players generally score in the 80s over 18 holes.

While they might average around 83-84 typically, a 67 shows the ability to sometimes break 80 and shoot in the high 70s on a good day.

20 Handicap Golfer

For a higher handicap player of about 20, a score of 67 would represent one of their better rounds, likely 5-10 strokes lower than their average.

Most 20 handicappers normally shoot between 90-100 for an 18-hole total. So a score of 67, while above their best rounds, shows the talent to occasionally break 80 with a good day.

30+ Handicap Golfer

For a very high handicap golfer with a 30+ index, a score of 67 would be an exceptionally good round, probably 20+ strokes lower than their typical scores.

These players mostly shoot above 100 over 18 holes. A round in the 60s demonstrates unusual progress and success for their skill level.

How to Break Down and Analyze a Golf Score

To summarize, here are some tips to break down and analyze any golf score like 67:

Know the two numbers represent par 5 and par 3 stroke totals
Compare each number to par – lower is better, higher is worse

Evaluate if certain hole lengths were stronger or weaker
Factor in the player’s skill level based on handicap
Consider their averages and best/worst rounds

Identify if the score reflects progress, regression, or their typical performance

Using these steps allows you to interpret any golf score in context and understand how well the player performed across different holes and their overall skill level.

Conclusion

In golf, a score of 67 over 18 holes represents 24 total strokes on the par 5s and 28 strokes on the par 3s. This indicates a decent par 5 performance at 1 over par each hole, but subpar par 3 play at 4 over par per hole.

For an average recreational golfer with a 10-20 handicap, a score of 67 is above their average and represents one of their better rounds, potentially breaking 80 on a good day. But for highly skilled scratch golfers, it reflects an uncharacteristically high score significantly above their norms.

By analyzing the par 5 and par 3 stroke totals, comparing to par and handicap levels, and contextualizing based on skill, any golf score can be interpreted hole by hole and overall to understand a player’s performance.