What birdies should be made depending on your handicap? Here is a chart which breaks it all down for you.

Nick Dimengo of Nick Dimengo Consultants Ltd
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Amateurs often have unrealistic expectations when it comes to birdies. Jon Sherman presents this chart that details their frequency by handicap. Getty Images
Everyone desires more birdies on every hole; but, do you have realistic expectations as to the number a player with your handicap can score each round? It could surprise you.

Unfortunately, golfers tend to be unrealistic about what constitutes success on a par-3 hole and often get frustrated when two-putting after hitting it with their tee shot and landing it within striking distance of hitting it with their second shot. Yes, birdie would be nice; making par is still success — especially for players with mid to high handicaps!

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Since birdie opportunities for mid-to-high handicap players tend to be rarer, when presented with opportunities they tend to press instead and make bad decisions that often end in higher scores and frustration for all involved.

Course management remains one of the cornerstones of golf for lower handicap players compared to mid and higher handicap players, because better players avoid making too many errors by adapting their play to each hole’s demands and playing within their ability. They know a par is good; bogey or worse is unacceptable while birdie counts as bonus!

How feasible would birdie shots be given your skill level?

Jon Sherman shared an Instagram chart showing how often birdies occur based on your handicap. Not only did he outline how likely amateur players were of making birdie attempts, he also provided data regarding Tour players’ scoring averages on certain holes.

As can be seen here, even scratch golfers typically only birdie 1.5 holes each round — not necessarily on par-3s which many amateurs mistakenly believe are easier. That means just one more birdie than would be achieved by players with 11-15 handicaps!

Although low-handicappers might appear to hit every shot perfectly, what makes these golfers stand out is how well they address mistakes and commit fully to each shot taken. They focus on controlling what can be controlled while being open about which areas need improvement, taking great strides toward eliminating errors from play.

In case they miss a fairway, for example, these players simply punch out and hit an accurate approach shot with hopes of saving par. Unfortunately, few mid-to-high handicappers possess such discipline to attempt this method of play.

So if you want to lower your score, the key is playing bogey-free golf — something which requires careful thought and planning. Avoiding bad shots doesn’t involve hunting birdies but more about consistently avoiding their snowball effect: one bad shot leads to several more.

Rather than getting upset over leaving birdie opportunities on every round, use Sherman’s chart above as a reminder. Not only will it demonstrate just how rare birdies actually are (even for experienced players), but it may help manage expectations as well.

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Nick Dimengo, Editor-In-Chief for Golf.com.