How to Break 100 in Golf
To break 100 on a par-72 course you need to shoot 99 or better, which is 27 over par. That means you can make a double bogey on half the holes and a bogey on the rest and still do it. You don't need a single par.
That's the most useful thing to know. Breaking 100 isn't about hitting great shots. It's about removing the disasters: lost balls, penalty strokes, shots that don't get out of a bunker, and four-putts.
The maths of breaking 100
| Holes | Score on each | Strokes over par |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Bogey (+1) | +9 |
| 9 | Double bogey (+2) | +18 |
| 18 | +27 = 99 |
So the target on every hole is simple: bogey is a good score, double bogey is fine, triple bogey is the enemy. On a par 4 that means getting on the green in four shots and two-putting for a 6 at worst. Need a refresher on the names? See golf scoring explained: birdie, par, bogey.
Where beginners lose strokes
Most rounds over 100 have the same leaks:
- Penalty strokes: balls in water or out of bounds cost a stroke and distance, often two shots or more.
- Duffed and topped shots: the ball goes 20 yards and you're still a long way from the green.
- Bunkers: two or three attempts to get out.
- Three- and four-putts: long first putts that finish nowhere near the hole.
- Hero shots: trying to escape trouble with a shot you've never pulled off.
Fix even two of these and 100 usually takes care of itself.
A plan for breaking 100
1. Tee off with your straightest club
Forget distance. Use the club that keeps the ball in play most often, even if it's a hybrid or an iron. A ball in the fairway 160 yards away is worth far more than one lost in the trees at 220.
2. Play every par 4 as a par 5
Give yourself an extra shot to reach the green. Two comfortable shots plus a pitch is much safer than trying to reach in two with long clubs. Do the same with par 5s: plan to be on in four.
3. Get out of trouble in one
In trees, deep rough or a bad lie, chip back to the fairway. In a bunker, your only goal is to get the ball onto the green or even just out. Our guide on how to hit out of a bunker covers the basic technique.
4. Aim for the middle of every green
Ignore the flag. A ball in the middle of the green is two putts from a bogey or better.
5. Lag your long putts
On a long putt, the goal is to finish close enough that the next one is easy. Concentrate on the pace more than the line. Most three-putts start with a first putt that's well short or well past. Read more in lag putting tips.
6. Practise your short game more than your driver
Chipping and putting make up a big share of a beginner's strokes. Half an hour on the practice green does more for breaking 100 than a bucket of balls with the driver.
On the day
- Warm up with a few short pitches and putts, not just full swings.
- Don't count your score until the end. Play one shot at a time.
- After a bad hole, reset. A triple bogey is just one hole; going for hero shots to make it up is how you get two more.
- Play forward tees if they're available. There's no shame in it, and shorter holes make breaking 100 far more achievable.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy plays nine holes at a time, with par between 27 and 32, so the 9-hole version of breaking 100 is breaking 50, or roughly bogey and double bogey on alternate holes. The same lessons apply: keep the ball out of the water and the out-of-bounds woods, aim at the middle of the green, and get your long putts close. The drag-and-release putter and green-read overlay make it a handy way to practise lag putting between real rounds.
Frequently asked questions
Is breaking 100 in golf good?
Yes. Breaking 100 is a common first milestone for new golfers, and many recreational players regularly score above it. It shows you can keep the ball in play, avoid most big numbers and get round a full course with a sensible plan rather than relying on lucky shots.
What do you need to average per hole to break 100?
On a par-72 course you need to average a little better than one and a half over par per hole. In practice that means a bogey on half the holes and a double bogey on the other half, which adds up to 99, without needing a single par.
How long does it take a beginner to break 100?
It depends on how often you play, practise and take lessons. Some new golfers break 100 within their first season, while others take longer. Focusing on the short game and avoiding penalty strokes usually gets you there sooner than working on distance off the tee.
What is the fastest way to break 100?
Stop making triple bogeys. Tee off with your straightest club, chip out of trouble instead of attempting hero shots, aim at the middle of greens and work on lag putting to avoid three-putts. Those changes cut more strokes than any swing change for most beginners.
What is the 9-hole equivalent of breaking 100?
Breaking 50 for nine holes is the rough equivalent, because 49 on a par-36 nine is 13 over par. On a shorter nine, such as a pitch and putt or a Mashy course with par 27 to 32, set your target relative to par rather than a fixed number.