We play from 6400-7000. I don't mind as I like to hit my hybrids and we play a different course every week. My handicap would probably be a stroke or so better if I played the same course most weeks, but that will never happen unless I retire on a course. I feel I can make birdies from any distance and I actually like long par 3's, 180-220, they are challenging. As long as I am still having fun and can hit the ball a decent distance, I do not see me dropping down below 6300-6400ish.

DC300 I get jacked up when I get those intermedia distances that stick me with 50 to 90 yards after the driver... hate those!

You don't carry a 3wd?

    My birdies this year have been few and far between. I doubt I've gotten 2 in a single round at all. I'll list them all below.

    Par 4, 458 yards
    Par 5, 484 yards
    Par 5, 513 yards (ok, these two par 5's were the same day)
    Par 4, 303 yards
    Par 5, 456 yards
    Par 4, 307 yards (ok, here were two more the same day. The par 5 was very short. I was playing black tees with a group I met on the first tee and ended up playing the same tees with them)

    EAGLE - Par 5, 450 yards
    Par 3, 131 yards
    Par 4, 313 yards
    Par 4, 397 yards

    This is back to 7/19. I can add more later, but this shows decent data. Looks like my birdies are the result of me pulling my head outta my arse to hit a decent drive. I don't get many on par 3's.

      puttnfool - I plugged your yardages into my spreadsheet and your "fun distance" would be from tees that measure around 5983 yards. The lone birdie on a short Par 3 and too many birdies on really short Par 4s weighed your averages down. I'm guessing your average distance for a 5i is greater than 166 yards in the alternate calculation being kicked around here.

          It's all about putting for me. I don't make birdies cause I can't putt, period. Anything outside 3 feet is an adventure. I shot an 80 in a tournament with 37 putts. Hit 5 of the first 6 GIR and three putted 4 of them. And I'm talking from 8-15 feet.
          I don't like par 3's where I need to hit anything longer than a 7 iron. I feel a par 3 should be a scoring hole.

          I think I've only had maybe 6-8 birdies all year. I just don't have length enough from the tee box to get into decent birdie range anymore. I can only think of two birdies that I made with a putt. The others came from chipping in from short of or beside the green. I would call decent birdie range on a par four as being 85-100 yds.out after my drive. Our 9-hole course has three par 3 holes. #3 is 190 yds. somewhat uphill and into a prevailing wind that reaches 20-30 MPH a good share of the time. I can no longer reach that unless there is no wind. #6 is 172 yds. and I rarely hit it although I can reach it much of the time. #8 is 184 yds. with the green 40-50 feet below the tee box. The wind is mostly from the left here. I rarely hit this green either unless the wind is behind me or there is no wind. I'm told that it's quite unusual to have three par-3's with each of them playing more than 170 yds. from the tee box.

          Interesting read. I really don’t make enough birdies or eagles for that matter to develop a real number. Thinking about it, the yardage number that would carry more meaning for me is what some call ‘go to number’. The approach shot, be it the par 3 tee ball, the par 4 or par 5 shot to the green is to me what sets up the scoring opportunity.

          The other number that is of interest to me is the number of shots that find the putting surface from various yardages, 75, 100, 125, 150, etc.

          An average can mask too many variables that could lead to disappointment in scoring.

          Course length is another subject altogether IMO.

          The 5 iron rule of thumb originated back in the 70s as I recall. A 5 iron was about 32 degrees. Today a 6 or even 7 iron is about 30 to 32 degrees, so maybe the rule should be updated. The PGA and USGA published a Tee It Forward chart based on driving distance. I most would be surprised at the recommended course length.

          Driver Recommended
          Distance 18-Hole Yardages
          275 6,700-6,900
          250 6,200-6,400
          225 5,800-6,000
          200 5,200-5,400
          175 4,400-4,600
          150 3,500-3,700
          125 2,800-3,000
          100 2,100-2,300
          My guessing few of us follow the guidelines…

          9 days later

          mikeintopeka throw these numbers in if you have time and see what it comes to. Probably not much different, but this is all year. Couple of longer holes in there now. A 437/4 and a 210/3 should help the numbers slightly.

          Par 4, 458 yards
          Par 5, 484 yards
          Par 5, 513 yards (ok, these two par 5's were the same day)
          Par 4, 303 yards
          Par 5, 456 yards
          Par 4, 307 yards (ok, here were two more the same day. The par 5 was very short. I was playing black tees with a group I met on the first tee and ended up playing the same tees with them)
          EAGLE - Par 5, 450 yards
          Par 3, 131 yards
          Par 4, 313 yards
          Par 4, 397 yards
          Par 4, 368 yards
          Par 4, 390 yards
          Par 4, 368 yards
          Par 3, 135 yards
          Par 4, 335 yards
          Par 5, 535 yards
          Par 3, 210 yards
          Par 3, 104 yards
          Par 3, 135 yards
          Par 4, 437 yards

              rsvman

              No idea on my bogey yardage, probably an extra 20 yards a hole average. I've got way too many over par scores to try that one out.

              I'm revising my decision, my birdie yardage is a 15 ft eagle putt!