What Is a Green in Regulation?
A green in regulation, or GIR, means your ball is on the putting surface in two strokes fewer than par. That's one shot on a par 3, two on a par 4 and three on a par 5.
Hit the green in regulation and you have two putts for par. It's one of the most useful statistics in golf for understanding where your score comes from.
The GIR formula
Par always assumes two putts. So a green in regulation is simply par minus those two putts:
| Hole | Par | Strokes to reach the green | Then |
|---|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 3 | 1 | Two putts for par |
| Par 4 | 4 | 2 | Two putts for par |
| Par 5 | 5 | 3 | Two putts for par |
Reaching the green in fewer strokes also counts. A par 5 reached in two is still a green in regulation, and gives you two putts for a birdie.
What counts as "on the green"
For GIR purposes, at least part of the ball has to be touching the putting surface. Some details trip people up:
- The fringe doesn't count. A ball sitting just off the green on the collar is a missed green, even if you putt from there.
- Holing out counts. If you hole a shot from the fairway, you've hit the green in regulation, and done rather better than that.
- Penalty strokes count. If your tee shot on a par 4 goes in a penalty area, your next shot is your third, so reaching the green with it is not a GIR.
How to track GIR
On your scorecard, add a small tick or circle next to each hole where you reach the green in regulation. At the end, count them up:
- Out of 18: "I hit 7 greens."
- As a percentage: 7 out of 18 is about 39%.
Track it for a few rounds next to your putts per round, and patterns appear quickly. Lots of greens but high scores points to putting. Few greens points to your approach play.
What's a good GIR number?
It depends entirely on your level. Top professionals hit roughly two-thirds of greens in regulation over a season, and the best ball strikers hit more. Club golfers hit far fewer, and beginners might hit only one or two greens in a round. The general rule is simple: the more greens you hit, the lower you tend to score.
What if you miss the green?
Missing a green in regulation doesn't mean you'll drop a shot. You can still make par by chipping or pitching close and holing one putt. That's called an up and down, and the percentage of missed greens where you still make par is called scrambling.
Good scrambling saves a round. Bad putting on greens you've hit costs one, especially if it leads to a three-putt.
How to hit more greens
- Club up. Most amateurs come up short. Taking one more club often puts the ball in the middle of the green.
- Aim for the middle. The centre of the green gives you the most room for error on every side.
- Set up the approach. On a par 4, a tee shot in the fairway makes the second shot far easier to hold on the green.
- Know your distances. A golf club distance chart for your own swing removes much of the guesswork.
Greens in regulation in Mashy
Mashy is a pitch and putt game, with par 3s and par 4s only. On a par 3, hitting the green from the tee is a green in regulation and leaves a putt for birdie, the best score you can make on that hole. On a par 4, it means finding the green with your second shot. The dotted notch on the swing meter shows the power you need to reach your aim spot, which helps a lot when the wind is up. Once you're on, switch on the green read overlay to see the slopes before you putt.
Frequently asked questions
Does the fringe count as a green in regulation?
No, for GIR the ball has to be on the putting surface itself. A ball on the fringe or collar around the green counts as a missed green, even if you choose to putt from there. At least part of the ball must touch the green.
What percentage of greens do pros hit in regulation?
Top tour professionals typically hit around two-thirds of greens in regulation over a season, with the very best ball strikers a little higher. The exact figure varies by tour, season and course difficulty, but it's far above what most amateur golfers manage.
How many greens in regulation should a beginner hit?
There's no fixed target, and many beginners hit only one or two greens in regulation per round. Improving by even a few greens per round tends to lower scores noticeably, so tracking the number is more useful than comparing it with anyone else's.
Is a green in regulation the same as a par?
No, a green in regulation only describes reaching the putting surface in par minus two strokes. You still need to two-putt to make par, and a three-putt after hitting the green in regulation gives you a bogey. A one-putt gives you a birdie.
Does a chip-in count as a green in regulation?
If you hole out from off the green with a shot that's within the regulation number, it counts as a green in regulation. If your chip-in comes after missing the green in regulation, it doesn't, but it still saves your par or better.