Proximity

Scoring Potential:

• • The closer your ball is to the pin, the better your chances of making birdies or easy pars.
  • Shorter putts are statistically easier to hole. For example, PGA Tour players make:
    • 99% of putts from 3 feet.
    • 50% of putts from 8 feet.
    • 15% of putts from 20 feet.
  • Being closer to the hole drastically improves scoring opportunities.

Consistency:

• • A tight proximity means you can attack pins more confidently, but this requires understanding your realistic shot dispersion.

Avoiding Trouble:

• • Missing the green entirely or leaving your ball far from the hole increases the difficulty of your next shot, leading to more bogeys or worse.

Unrealistic Expectations:

• • Many golfers expect to hit approach shots consistently within a few feet of the hole, but this is not how golf works—even for the best players.
  • PGA Tour Averages:
    • From 100–125 yards, the average proximity is 18 feet.
    • From 150–175 yards, it’s 27 feet.
    • From 200+ yards, it’s 40+ feet.
  • These numbers demonstrate that even the world’s best golfers rarely hit approach shots “close” to the hole.

Skill Level:

• • Amateurs typically have larger shot dispersion patterns due to inconsistent swings, less precise ball striking, and poorer distance control compared to professionals.
  • While PGA Tour players might miss a target by a few yards, amateurs can miss by tens of yards.

External Factors:

• • Wind, slope, and lie (e.g., rough vs. fairway) make approach shots harder to execute precisely.
  • Many amateurs fail to account for these variables, leading to poor proximity.

Club Selection and Misjudgment:

• • Amateurs often misjudge distances or choose the wrong club, coming up short of the green or missing wide.

According to Scott Fawcett, creator of the DECADE Golf system, even professional golfers hit their approach shots inside 15 feet only about 20% of the time from 100–125 yards.

A 2019 Golf Digest survey found that amateur golfers tend to overestimate their abilities, expecting proximity results closer to 10 feet from 100 yards, which is highly unrealistic.

Golf Is a Game of Averages:

1. • Proximity to the pin doesn’t mean every shot will be close; it means some will land farther away, even with good swings.

Mistakes Are Normal:

• • Golf is inherently difficult. Even pros miss greens and leave long putts. Amateurs shouldn’t expect perfection.

Mental Pressure:

• • Unrealistic expectations lead to frustration. A golfer who thinks they “should” always hit it close will feel unnecessary pressure, which can harm their confidence and performance.

Proximity to the pin is an essential metric for scoring, but even professional golfers rarely hit it as close as people think. PGA Tour players often leave themselves 20-30 feet from the hole, even with ideal conditions. For amateur golfers, larger dispersion patterns are normal due to skill and external factors.

Understanding and accepting these realistic outcomes can reduce frustration and improve your mental game. The next time your approach shot lands 30 feet from the hole, remind yourself: “Even the pros do this.” Focus on making your next shot count and enjoy the challenge of the game.