Knowing average golf club distances should be one of your priorities if you want to play good and strategically. Let’s dive in and look at the average club distances for high, middle and low handicap golfers, but in meters. Since I'm from Europe, it's even easier for me to write in meters, so hopefully this will be helpful for you 😉😊

Average Driver Club Distance For High, Middle And Low Handicap Golfer In Meters

Let’s start with the big one, the one that every player wants to smoke. The driver. Who doesn’t love hitting the driver and getting it right? And whether you’re a scratch player or a hacker playing off a handicap of 36, few feelings on the course better the buzz of crunching a driver straight down the fairway.

Typically, golfers playing off a handicap of 21 and above tend to drive the ball somewhere around 170 meters. Those playing off a handicap between 13 and 20, on average, achieve an average driving distance of 185 meters, while mid-handicappers, those between 6 and 12, average between 200 meters and 225 meters with a driver. Five handicappers and below are currently averaging 230+ meters, which is solid, yet still quite a way from the pros, with average driving distances on the PGA Tour up around 270 meters.

Now let’s break it down into high, middle, and low handicaps for all golf clubs.

Average Golf Club Distances For High Handicappers - Meters

Average Distances For Middle Handicappers - Meters

Average Club Distances For Low Handicappers - Meters

What Can Affect Average Golf Club Distance In Meters?

Knowing what can affect average distance is key too. You may be able to hit a driver 215 meters, but you’re not going to be hitting such a distance if you’re driving the ball into a strong wind. In this case, the distance achieved will be less. Similarly, if you tee off with a driver on a hole where the fairway slopes downwards, you’ll probably find that you’ve hit the ball a lot further than you would typically.

So, if you do happen to be playing a particularly hilly course, you’ll find that your average distances for that round differ from normal. Things such as weather conditions and course layout can dramatically affect distances. For instance, let’s say you play most of your golf in a warm climate, on an in-land course that’s mostly flat, but then journey to somewhere coastal to play on a course with numerous undulations, in howling winds, your average distances will start to look markedly different.

Average Golf Club Distance In Meters By Age - Men

Ability is not the only thing that affects average distance. Just like average distances vary depending on handicap, age can affect how far a player hits the ball. After all, a junior is unlikely to hit the ball further than a seasoned mid-handicapper in their 30’s, while seniors also don’t tend to hit the ball as far.

Below is a table showing the average driving distance by age:

Average Golf Club Distance In Meters By Age - Women

Below is a table showing the average driving distance by age between women. These are total distances, not carry.

When we think about it, it’s only to be expected. As is the case with most sports, peak performance tends to occur when players are in their 20’s, so typically, golfers between the age of 20 and 30 hit the ball the furthest, on average, and as they get older, their distances decrease. It’s probably fair to say that for most amateurs, once a player reaches the age of 30, they’re going to lose roughly ten meters, with every club, every ten years.

Yes, the truth hurts I know (I'm writing this in my 30s, haha)

Conclusion

The bottom line is that amateur golfers, even the best ones, don’t hit the ball as far as many people think. In general, the average amateur golfer will drive the ball somewhere between 180-200 meters, with the best amateurs, those playing of a low single-figure handicap hitting averages around the 220-meter mark. As the tables above show, most players tend to hit the ball ten meters further every time they go up a club, and vice versa.