GIR means greens in regulation. A GIR is achieved when your ball lands on the green in two fewer strokes than the par number: 1 on a par 3 hole, 2 fewer on a par 4 hole, or 3 fewer on a par 5 hole. The final two strokes would be your two putts to make par.
If you have noticed this statistic on your score card or while watching golf coverage on TV and thought “What is GIR in golf?” The quick explanation is that GIR is the purest form of ball striking statistics in golf. It shows you how often you give yourself a chance to make par. Below we discuss precisely how the GIR statistic is calculated, what constitutes a GIR, how many greens in regulation players average at each handicap level, and the best way to hit more greens.
The Short Version
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does GIR stand for? | Greens in regulation |
| What counts as a GIR? | Reaching the putting surface in par minus two strokes |
| Par 3 | On the green with your tee shot |
| Par 4 | On the green in two shots or fewer |
| Par 5 | On the green in three shots or fewer |
| Does the fringe count? | No. The ball must be on the putting surface itself |
| PGA Tour average | Around 65%, which is roughly 12 greens a round |
| Typical 15 handicap | Around 23%, which is about 4 greens a round |
| Why it matters | More greens hit means more birdie putts and far less scrambling for par |
What Greens in Regulation Really Means
Every golf hole comes with its own par that consists of two components – shots taken to get to the green and two putts after reaching it. Par 4 is calculated as two shots to the green and two putts. Par 5 is calculated as three shots to the green and two putts. Par 3 is calculated as one shot to the green and two putts.
Greens in Regulation evaluates the first component. When you hit the green in the given number of strokes, you make greens in regulation and you are left with two putts to earn par.
It does not matter what technique was used. Driving the ball directly to the green in a short par-4 hole is counted. Same goes for a hole-in-one, lucky ball bouncing off a tree branch or a shank shot. Also, if you complete fewer strokes than regulated, you will be considered hitting greens in regulation number. All the stat asks is whether your ball is on the green with two putts still available for par.
How to Count a GIR on Each Hole
| Hole | Shots allowed to reach the green | Examples that count |
|---|---|---|
| Par 3 | 1 | Tee shot finishing on the green, or a hole-in-one |
| Par 4 | 2 | Any drive and approach that finds the green, or a drive that reaches the green on a short hole |
| Par 5 | 3 | Drive, layup and pitch onto the green, or a big drive and long second that gets home in two |
| Par 6, on the rare course that has one | 4 | Any combination that reaches the green in four shots or fewer |
What Does Not Count as a Green in Regulation
The ball must be on the putting surface. This is what usually causes confusion.
If the ball lies on the fringe, collar, or apron, it does not count as a GIR, even if you pull out the putter and putt from that spot. A ball lying in a greenside bunker, in the rough near the green, or on a fringe lying an inch away from the surface does not count as a GIR either.
In addition, a ball holed from outside the putting surface does not earn the player a GIR either. You may chip-in to make birdie from the fringe on the fourth shot on a par 4, and your birdie would not count as a GIR, because your ball did not touch the surface except for going inside the hole.
How to Calculate Your GIR Percentage
Greens in regulation are easily calculated. Make a mark for each hole you manage to get onto the green in regulation. The marks should be made either in circles or as ticks and counted at the end of the game.
To calculate the percentage, you just need to divide the number of greens you were able to get on by the number of holes you have played, and then multiply the result by one hundred. So 7 greens out of 18 holes would mean 7/18=0.39 or approximately 39%, while 3 out of 9 holes would mean 33%.
One game is not enough to draw any conclusion about the ability to use irons properly due to changing weather conditions and different course difficulties.
How Many Greens Golfers Actually Hit
Most golfers badly overestimate this stat, and the real numbers are a relief once you see them. Tracked data from thousands of amateur rounds shows how many greens each handicap level hits on average.
| Skill level | Greens per round | GIR percentage | What that looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGA Tour player | About 12 of 18 | Around 65% | A green missed on roughly one hole in three |
| Tour leaders | About 13 of 18 | Over 70% | The best ball strikers in the world |
| Scratch golfer | About 9 of 18 | Around 52% | Half the greens hit, and the short game covers the rest |
| 5 handicap | About 8 of 18 | Around 44% | A birdie chance on nearly half the holes |
| 10 handicap | About 6 of 18 | Around 35% | Roughly one green every three holes |
| 15 handicap | About 4 of 18 | Around 23% | Roughly one green every four holes |
| 20 handicap | About 3 of 18 | Around 17% | Scrambling is where the score is made |
| 25 handicap and above | About 3 of 18 | Around 16% | Getting close to the green in one extra shot is the win |
Two things are obvious here. Even a scratch player misses almost half of the greens they hit, and even a pro misses six of them in one round. If you are a medium handicap golfer who gets annoyed at missing the greens, you are playing a perfectly normal game of golf.
What Counts as a Good GIR Percentage
A good number is very dependent on your ability level. For a high handicapper, a 3 or 4 greens hit is a good round. For a mid handicapper, 6 or 8 greens is a good performance. And for a low-handicapper, 9 or more is a good start to making a score.
What would be better is to compare it to your own average. An increase in GIR percentage throughout the season indicates that your iron game and course management skills are getting better.
It would also be beneficial to analyze your GIR statistics relative to your handicap and score results. If you are hitting more greens than you should by your handicap but your scores remain stagnant, then there is no doubt where the trouble is.
Why GIR Matters So Much
Greens in regulation correlates with scoring more closely than any other traditional statistic. The explanation is straightforward. When you hit the green, the most pessimistic result that is possible for you is bogey via three-putt. If you miss the green, then a decent chip and put must be made by you to salvage par. Otherwise, you will get double bogey right away.
A lot of problems and hazards are eliminated when you hit the green. You get rid of greenside bunkers, deep rough, bad lie on the downslope and short-sided chipping zones. A poor performance in GIR even when it is in the middle of the greens is always better than an aggressive round where you miss everything.
But there is a downside to this statistic. A green in regulation from 60 feet is not the same as one from 15 feet and therefore is not evaluated properly. This is why proximity to the pin and strokes gained approach are used alongside it.
Other Stats That Work Alongside GIR
| Stat | What it measures | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Fairways in regulation | How often your tee shot finds the fairway on par 4s and par 5s | Whether your driving is setting up good approach shots |
| Scrambling | How often you make par or better after missing a green | How well your chipping and putting rescue you |
| Putts per GIR | Your average putts on holes where you hit the green | A cleaner read on putting than total putts, which flatters players who chip close |
| Proximity to the hole | How far from the flag your approach shots finish | Whether the greens you hit are giving you real birdie chances |
| Strokes gained approach | How your approach shots compare with a benchmark from the same distance | The most precise picture of iron play, but it needs an app to track |
How to Hit More Greens in Regulation
Take Enough Club
The common miss among amateur golfers is one that falls short of the green, and it is far off. The data recorded indicates that the amateurs fall short of the green approximately 30% of the time when the ball is 100-150 yards from the green, 40% of the time when the ball is 150-200 yards from the green, and 65% of the time when the ball is farther than 200 yards. Golfers select a club based on their best shot and not the average one.
Know Your Real Carry Distances
Learn how far your clubs really fly, not how far they go when you hit them dead on. Some lessons with a launch monitor or several rounds with a tracking app will show you the truth, and the truth is what makes you pin high.
Aim for the Middle of the Green
Shooting at flags is why the greens are not hit. Shooting at the middle provides you with the largest safety cushion on either side, and in most cases, the difference in putting length from the middle to a tucked pin is not as large as the penalty from a short-side chip.
Play to Your Favorite Yardage on Par 5s
If you cannot reach a par 5 in two, lay up to the distance you hit best rather than as far forward as possible. A full wedge from 100 yards finds greens far more often than an awkward 40-yard pitch.
Pick the Tee Shot That Sets Up the Approach
Hitting the green is much easier from the fairway than from the trees. On tight holes, a fairway wood or long iron off the tee that leaves a mid iron in will beat a driver that leaves a chip out sideways.
Choose the Easier Club From Long Range
From 175 yards and beyond, most amateurs hit more greens with a hybrid than a long iron, because the ball gets up faster and lands softer. If your long irons are a struggle, the bag is the problem, not your swing.
Play the Right Tees
If you find that your approach shots are usually longer than your preferred distance, there is nothing a technical adjustment can do for your GIR percentage. Moving back one set of tees will give you a club that is closer to a wedge much more often.
Common Misunderstandings About GIR
There are some players who believe that a shot in regulation means getting a par. This is not necessarily the case as even three-putts are possible and a 60-foot birdie can turn into a bogey on the fast greens.
Another thing players believe is that tour professionals hit almost all their greens. This is not true as even the best among them manage to hit only about two-thirds and rely on their short game for par.
Yet another thing that many players believe is that a putt from the fringe does count. However, it does not matter how close the ball gets to the surface as it is that one rule which makes the statistic comparable across the players.
Final Take
So, what does GIR stand for in golf? Greens in regulation – the number of holes where you get to the green with two putts left to make par: one shot if you’re playing a par 3 hole, two shots on a par 4 and three shots on a par 5. It doesn’t include the fringe and doesn’t matter if you chip in. Tour pros usually make about 12 GIRs per round, while scratch golfers usually make nine and a 15 handicap makes four. Monitor your own GIRs in 10 rounds, take an extra club on approach shots and target the center of the greens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does GIR stand for in golf?
GIR stands for greens in regulation. It counts the holes where you reach the putting surface in at least two strokes fewer than par, leaving yourself two putts for par.
Does the fringe count as a green in regulation?
No. The ball must be on the putting surface itself for a GIR to count. A ball on the fringe, collar or apron does not count, even if you put it from there.
What is a good GIR percentage for an amateur?
For most amateurs, hitting 6 to 8 greens a round, which is roughly 33% to 44%, is a strong result. Higher handicappers are doing well with 3 or 4 greens, while single-digit players usually hit 8 or more.
What is the average GIR on the PGA Tour?
The PGA Tour average is around 65%, which works out at about 12 greens per round. The leading ball strikers each season push past 70%.
How many greens does a 15 handicap hit?
A 15 handicap hits around 4 greens in regulation per round, which is roughly 23%. That is about one green every four holes.
Does a chip-in count as a green in regulation?
No. If you hole a chip from off the green, your ball never came to rest on the putting surface, so it is not recorded as a GIR even though you may have made par or birdie.
Is GIR more important than fairways hit?
Greens in regulation line up more closely with scoring than fairways hit, because it measures whether you gave yourself a putt for par. Fairways still matter, since a good tee shot makes hitting the green far easier.
How do I track greens in regulation during a round?
Circle each hole on your scorecard where your ball finished on the green in regulation, then count the circles at the end. Most golf apps and shot-tracking systems will also record it for you automatically.
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