Golf Evaluation Form

A 10-handicap golfer and a scratch player might both stripe their driver down the middle—the difference shows up on the scorecard at the end. Golf evaluation reveals why some players convert good swings into good scores while others don't. Your assessment needs to capture not just ball-striking, but course management, mental game, and the short game where strokes are actually saved.

These forms cover six areas that define golf performance: driving, iron play, short game, putting, course management, and mental game. Rating rubrics describe what you observe at each skill level, so your evaluations stay consistent whether you're assessing junior golfers learning fundamentals or competitive players working toward scratch status.

Free Printable Golf Evaluation Form

Rate driving, iron play, short game, putting, course management, and mental game on a 1-5 scale. Each rating describes what you actually see on the course—not swing aesthetics, but whether shots find fairways, approaches hold greens, and putts drop. The rubric below translates round performance into actionable feedback.

Skill Evaluation Table

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Driving	○	○	○	○	○
Iron Play	○	○	○	○	○
Short Game	○	○	○	○	○
Putting	○	○	○	○	○
Course Management	○	○	○	○	○
Mental Game	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 30

Rating Scale Definitions

The scorecard tells the story. A "3" golfer might hit good shots but gives back strokes with mental lapses or poor course management. A "5" converts solid ball-striking into low scores by eliminating big numbers and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

Skill	1 (Needs Work)	2 (Below Avg)	3 (Average)	4 (Above Avg)	5 (Excellent)
Driving	Inconsistent contact, frequent mishits, direction unpredictable	Occasional solid contact, struggles with slice or hook, limited distance	Decent contact and direction, some distance control, fairway hit rate around 50%	Consistent ball flight, good distance, can shape shots when needed	Reliable distance and accuracy, controls trajectory, hits 60%+ fairways
Iron Play	Poor contact, distance control varies by 20+ yards, misses greens consistently	Inconsistent contact, struggles with longer irons, approach shots often short	Solid contact on mid-irons, green in regulation rate around 30-40%	Good distance control, can work ball left/right, GIR rate 40-50%	Precise distance control, hits specific yardages, GIR rate 50%+
Short Game	Chunks and skulls chips regularly, no feel for distance around greens	Basic chip motion, struggles with varied lies, bunker play unreliable	Can get up and down occasionally, consistent chip technique, basic bunker play	Good touch around greens, reads slopes well, saves par from 50+ yards	Elite touch and creativity, controls spin, up-and-down rate 60%+
Putting	Poor distance control, misses short putts frequently, no read awareness	Basic stroke, struggles outside 6 feet, three-putts common	Decent lag putting, makes most inside 4 feet, reads basic breaks	Good speed control, confident inside 8 feet, reads subtle breaks	Excellent touch, holes out from 10+ feet regularly, rarely three-putts
Course Management	No strategy, takes unnecessary risks, doesn't know distances	Basic club selection, some awareness of hazards, struggles with tough lies	Knows own distances, avoids big numbers, plays to strengths	Smart course strategy, manages risk well, plays within abilities	Expert strategy, knows when to attack vs. play safe, minimizes mistakes
Mental Game	Easily frustrated, dwells on bad shots, loses focus quickly	Affected by bad shots, inconsistent focus, struggles under pressure	Recovers from mistakes reasonably, maintains focus most of the round	Strong composure, stays present, performs well in pressure situations	Unshakeable focus, thrives under pressure, turns bad breaks into motivation

Junior Golf Evaluation Form

Junior golf evaluation requires age-appropriate expectations. Research on early-stage golf development(opens in new tab) emphasizes process-oriented assessment over outcome-based scoring—watching how a young player swings matters more than where the ball lands. Your evaluation criteria should match the developmental stage.

Ages 8-10: Building the Foundation

At this stage, evaluate grip, stance, and basic swing motion. Can they make consistent contact? Do they maintain balance through the swing? Most importantly, do they enjoy being on the course? The best predictor of future development at this age is enthusiasm for the game, not ball-striking prowess.

Focus on etiquette and rules awareness. Young golfers who understand pace of play, repair ball marks, and follow basic rules develop habits that serve them throughout their golf journey.

Ages 11-12: Developing Consistency

Players at this age should demonstrate consistent fundamentals and basic course management. Evaluate whether they can select appropriate clubs for distances and whether they understand when to play safe versus attack. Putting distance control becomes assessable—can they lag long putts close?

Watch how they handle frustration. Golf tests patience more than most sports. Players who stay composed after bad shots will progress faster than those who let one mistake derail their round.

Ages 13-14: Competitive Readiness

Competitive juniors should show shot-shaping ability and strategic thinking. Evaluate whether they can work the ball left or right when needed and whether they manage risk appropriately. Mental game becomes more important—can they maintain focus over 18 holes?

Physical development varies widely at this age. Focus on technique and decision-making rather than distance. Players with solid fundamentals will add power as they mature physically.

Recommended Evaluation Weighting by Age

Age Group	Technical Skills	Fundamentals	Attitude/Focus
Ages 8-10	20%	30%	50%
Ages 11-12	30%	35%	35%
Ages 13-14	40%	35%	25%
Ages 15+	50%	30%	20%

Green highlights show the highest priority category for each age group. Attitude dominates at younger ages; technical skills become primary as players mature and compete.

Skill Category	1	2	3	4	5
Fundamentals	○	○	○	○	○
Ball Contact	○	○	○	○	○
Putting	○	○	○	○	○
Attitude & Focus	○	○	○	○	○
Rules & Etiquette	○	○	○	○	○
Notes
Total Score	_______ / 25

Junior Rating Definitions

Category	1	2	3	4	5
Fundamentals	Grip, stance, or posture needs significant work	Basic setup but inconsistent, forgets fundamentals under pressure	Solid setup routine, maintains posture through most swings	Excellent fundamentals, consistent pre-shot routine	Tour-quality setup, athletic posture, repeatable routine
Ball Contact	Frequently tops or chunks, contact point varies widely	Occasional solid contact, struggles with consistency	Makes decent contact most swings, ball gets airborne	Consistent ball-first contact, predictable ball flight	Pure contact, compresses ball well, confident on all clubs
Putting	Inconsistent stroke, poor distance control	Basic stroke, makes most 3-footers, struggles with longer putts	Decent lag putting, reasonable read awareness	Good speed control, confident inside 6 feet	Excellent touch and read ability, low putt count per round
Attitude & Focus	Gets frustrated easily, distracts others, poor sportsmanship	Inconsistent effort, loses focus during round, needs reminders	Positive attitude, stays focused most of the time, respectful	Excellent attitude, encourages others, maintains focus	Natural leader, handles adversity well, always fully engaged
Rules & Etiquette	Unaware of basic rules, needs constant reminders on etiquette	Knows basic rules, sometimes forgets pace of play or repair duties	Good rules knowledge, repairs divots and ball marks, keeps pace	Strong rules knowledge, helps others, excellent course care	Expert rules knowledge, role model for etiquette, promotes good habits

Strengths:

Areas to Develop:

Goals for Next Session:

Is a 2.8 Handicap Good in Golf?

A 2.8 handicap places you among the top 5% of golfers. For context, the USGA reports the average male handicap(opens in new tab) is around 14, while the average female handicap is closer to 28. Breaking into single digits puts you in elite amateur territory—a 2.8 means you're nearly scratch.

Handicap Levels Explained

Handicap Range	Typical Score	What It Means
Scratch (0)	Shoots par or better	Elite ball-striking, consistent short game, strong mental game
Low Single (1-5)	Shoots 73-77 typically	Very good all-around, occasional great rounds, few blow-up holes
Mid Single (6-9)	Shoots 78-82 typically	Solid fundamentals, some inconsistency, can score when putting well
Low Double (10-14)	Shoots 83-88 typically	Decent ball-striking, short game needs work, course management improving
Mid Double (15-19)	Shoots 89-95 typically	Developing fundamentals, some good shots mixed with mistakes
High Double (20+)	Shoots 95+ typically	Learning basics, contact inconsistent, building foundational skills

What Separates a 2.8 from Scratch?

Statistical analysis shows scratch golfers(opens in new tab) average 2.3 birdies per round with only 0.25 double bogeys. They hit around 60% of fairways and 50% of greens in regulation. The gap between a 2.8 and scratch often comes down to eliminating one big mistake per round—that one double bogey that turns 73 into 75.

At this level, small improvements in any area translate directly to lower scores. Your evaluation should identify which specific skill holds you back. Is it approach shots that end up 30 feet away instead of 15? Is it three-putting once per round? Your rubric can quantify these gaps.

Using Handicap in Evaluations

Handicap provides overall context, but your evaluation form identifies specific strengths and weaknesses. Digital evaluation tools help track how individual skills progress—showing whether a player's short game improves faster than their driving or vice versa.

What Is the 60/40 Rule in Golf?

The 60/40 rule suggests allocating around 60% of practice time to short game (putting, chipping, pitching) and 40% to full swings (driving, irons). This ratio reflects where strokes are actually saved—nearly 70% of golf shots occur from within 100 yards(opens in new tab), yet most amateurs spend 80% of range time on full swings.

Why Short Game Dominates

Consider a typical 90-shooter's round: maybe 14 drives, 14 approach shots, 20 chips and pitches, and 36 putts. That's 56 short game shots versus 28 full swings. Yet most amateurs spend 80% of their range time pounding drivers. The 60/40 rule corrects this mismatch.

Even tour pros follow this principle. Phil Mickelson famously practices short game for hours. The logic is simple: shaving 3 putts per round (going from 36 to 33) drops your handicap faster than adding 10 yards to your drive.

Applying 60/40 to Evaluations

When time is limited, weight your assessment toward short game skills. A player who chips close and rarely three-putts will outscore someone with a picture-perfect swing but poor touch around the greens. Your evaluation form should reflect this reality—putting and short game deserve equal attention to driving.

Track practice allocation alongside skill ratings to see whether players actually follow 60/40 recommendations. Development plans become more effective when practice habits align with scoring realities.

What Is Scrambling Percentage in Golf?

Scrambling percentage measures how often you save par after missing the green in regulation. PGA Tour tracks this statistic(opens in new tab) as a key indicator of short game skill—it captures your ability to chip close and sink the putt when your approach shot misses the target.

How Scrambling Is Calculated

The formula is simple: divide successful par saves by total missed greens, then multiply by 100. If you miss 12 greens during a round and save par on 4 of them, your scrambling percentage is 33%. This single number reveals how well your short game rescues wayward approaches.

Scrambling Benchmarks by Skill Level

Scrambling percentages vary significantly by ability: PGA Tour professionals average 58-62%, with elite scramblers reaching 65-70%. Scratch golfers typically scramble 50-60% of the time. A 10-handicap might manage 30-40%, while 20-handicaps often fall to 15-25%.

These gaps explain why short game practice pays off. Moving from 25% to 40% scrambling saves roughly 2-3 strokes per round—enough to drop a full handicap point.

Using Scrambling in Evaluations

Track scrambling during playing assessments. A player who hits greens but scrambles poorly might have putting issues. Someone who misses greens but scrambles well has solid short game fundamentals. This metric pairs perfectly with the 60/40 rule—players with low scrambling percentages should prioritize short game practice.

Digital evaluation tools help track scrambling across multiple rounds, revealing whether short game improvements translate to better scores over time.

What Is the 90% Rule in Golf?

The 90% rule states that good golfers hit their ball at least 90% of the target distance(opens in new tab) on every shot. From 150 yards, that means advancing the ball at least 135 yards—no chunks, tops, or significant mishits. This single metric separates scoring golfers from struggling ones.

Why 90% Matters

A skulled chip that runs 40 yards past the hole costs strokes just like a topped drive. The 90% rule captures this: it's not about perfect shots, it's about avoiding disasters. Scratch golfers achieve 90%+ on nearly every swing. High handicappers might hit 70% of their shots at 90%+ distance—those other 30% destroy their scores.

Contact quality drives the 90% rule. Players who consistently find the center of the clubface meet the threshold; those who hit off the toe or heel fall short. Evaluate contact patterns during assessment drills.

Tracking 90% Compliance

During an on-course evaluation, note how many shots meet the 90% standard. A round with 60/70 shots at 90%+ distance indicates solid contact. A round with only 50/70 suggests the player needs fundamental work on ball-striking before focusing on strategy or specialty shots.

Platforms like Striveon let you track this metric across multiple rounds, showing whether contact quality improves over time. Progress on the 90% rule often predicts handicap drops before the scorecards reflect it.

Golf Skills Assessment Drills

Structured assessment reveals more than hitting random shots. When you systematically test each skill area, you get comparable data across players and sessions. The Player Development Index (PDI)(opens in new tab) demonstrates this approach—standardized testing that produces scores out of 100 for golf skills, physical attributes, and mental game.

Sample Assessment Drills

These drills test golf skills efficiently. Each targets specific abilities you need to evaluate.

Drill	Duration	Purpose	What to Watch
10-Shot Driving Test	10 min	Assess driving consistency	Count fairway hits out of 10 drives. Note typical miss pattern (fade/draw/straight).
Approach Shot Ladder	15 min	Test distance control	Hit to targets at 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 yards. Score proximity to target.
Up-and-Down Challenge	10 min	Evaluate short game	5 chips from different lies, 5 bunker shots. Track up-and-down conversions.
Putting Gate Drill	10 min	Assess putting stroke	10 putts through a gate from 6 feet. Then 5 lag putts from 30 feet.
On-Course Assessment	90 min	Real-world evaluation	Play 9 holes. Score each shot type separately. Note course management decisions.

On-Course Assessment: The Real Test

Range performance doesn't always translate to course play. The on-course assessment captures decision-making, pressure handling, and recovery skills that only emerge during actual golf. Watch which clubs players choose on tight holes. Notice whether they manage risk or take unnecessary gambles.

Score each shot type separately during playing evaluation: drives, approaches, chips, bunker shots, and putts. This breakdown reveals patterns—a player might hit greens well but struggle with lag putting, or drive straight but miss short irons consistently.

Post-Assessment Review

Compare drill results to on-course performance. Players who score well in controlled drills but struggle on the course may have mental game gaps. Those who perform better on the course than in drills might have competitive instincts that override technical limitations.

Build your evaluation framework with both drill scores and playing assessments. The combination gives a complete picture of where each golfer stands and what they need to work on.