One of my favourite things to do at the end of the season is to take a deep dive into the numbers which have made up my year. I felt that 2019 was one of my more consistent seasons to date, which came from playing fairly regularly, but also from having a clear understanding of my abilities and limitations as a golfer.
Make sure you check out my Instagram for more pictures and comments on the various statistics over the coming weeks.
Overall
As you all know by now, my main aim each year is to try and play as many new courses across Sussex as I can, documenting my journey on @thesussexgolfer along the way.
Rounds Played : 43.5
Courses Played : 36
Shots Hit : 3627
Putting
As with last year, I know the below number might seem high, but when expressed as a percentage it doesn’t seem too bad. Out of the 3627 shots hit in 2019, 38.2% were putts. As always, to put this in perspective, a round in regulation would equate to 50% putts!
Putts Hit : 1385
Putts per Round : 31.83
Putts Per Hole : 1.77
The following numbers give more of a representation of how my putting actually was last year, with a putting average of less than 2 (which means I am making more birdies when hitting the green in regulation than bogies), but a 3 putt percentage of greater that 5.5%, meaning on average I am 3 putting more than once per round which needs some improvement!
Putts Per GIR : 1.96
Putters Per Missed GIR : 1.64
3 Putt Percentage : 9.6%
Fairways and Greens
Two areas which continue to need some major work if I am to take my game to the next level: FIR % and GIR %. On the whole, I have felt that I have driven the ball better than previous years, and I feel a lot more confident with my driver as a result, but the stats don’t seem to back that up! In previous years I have turned to long irons or a hybrid to try and get the ball in play, but having a 3 wood and driver as an option has meant that I am typically a lot further up the hole, even if I am just off the fairway a lot of the time! Both statistics being just over the 30% mark leaves a lot to be desired.
Average FIR% : 34.76%
Average GIR% : 34.60%
Scoring Averages
Since 2018, this is one of the areas which I use to best judge how my game is doing. Previously it has highlighted my strengths on par 3’s, and difficulties on par 4’s. This year has been no different- but it has improved from previous years.
Whilst par 4’s remain the weakest part of my game, dropping my Par 4 Scoring average by 0.18 Shots from 2018 to 2019 I believe is saving me approximately 2 shots per round, and it shows in my overall Scoring Average. The key to future improvements is going to be driving that number down closer to 4.5!
Scoring Average Par 3 : 3.55
Scoring Average Par 4 : 4.81
Scoring Average Par 5 : 5.53
Scoring Average : 83.35 (+12.72)
Hole Performance
Overall, I am happy with my performance here. It averages out over 7 pars and 1 birdie a round, which I’m fairly happy with. Unfortunately no Eagles for me in 2019!
Pars : 315 (40.23%)
Birdies : 51 (6.26%)
Eagles : 0
The important ones!
One of the main numbers people want to know when they’re talking about people’s golf games… handicap.
So, I finished 2019 with an (unofficial) handicap of 10.4, exactly what I started the year on! Given the fact that every round counts as a qualifying round for me (not having a home club, and entering all my cards online), I am happy with that, despite not managing to hit my goal of reaching single figures.
As with previous years, I have prioritized playing new courses over practice, which playing 43.5 rounds across 36 different courses shows!
I do feel that my game has become more consistent in 2019. I had a streak of 28 consecutive rounds in the 70s/80s, before 3 rounds in the 90s in the space of a week put pay to that!
Handicap : 10.4
Best Round : 74 (+2) Chartham Park GC (03/02/2019)
Worst Round : 92 (+26) Worthing Golf Club – Upper Course 05/08/2019
The Sussex Golfer 